Positive Disintegration

In episode 23, Chris and Emma were joined by psychologist Jennifer Harvey Sallin, founder of InterGifted, a worldwide community and support organization for gifted adults. This conversation is a celebration of gifted diversity in adulthood! We talked about what giftedness can look like in adults, how it manifests, and the great range of diversity within giftedness. Jen shared her model of giftedness with us, which describes the areas of giftedness, and shows how everyone’s ‘gifted profile’ can look different. What is success, and what does it mean in today's commercial context? Jen described being a generalist or “multipotentialite,” and going against the normal expectations society might have for gifted people and their careers. We discussed the beauty of doing things that bring meaning to you and trying many things in life, as opposed to being a “specialist” or trying to conform to what others think success should mean. We addressed considerations for therapists, clinicians, and coaches when working with the gifted. Jen shared the story of creating InterGifted and filling the need for an international community in this population. She is one of the few people in the world who provide training for clinicians and coaches working with the gifted, and we talked about that work as well. Resources mentioned in this episodeInterGifted websiteRediscovering Yourself (Jen’s website)Gifted Psychology 101 Daniels & Piechowski’s book Living With IntensityHigh, Exceptional, and Profound Giftedness (Chris mentioned this link around the 11-minute mark)Chris joined Jen on her podcast Conversations on Gifted TraumaConnect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 22, Chris and Emma talked with Bob Yamtich, a coach who uses Nonviolent Communication to build poise, joy, self-connection, and choice. We talked about Nonviolent Communication with Bob, as well as empathy, needs, and strategies. We discussed shared connection and living in a shared reality, as well as connection requests. This is a primer in NVC with someone who lives it and uses it as a coach. Bob and Chris worked through an issue she had on social media and how she might have handled it differently. We talked about having the option, but not the obligation, to engage in a restorative process. We had an open and vulnerable discussion about how to navigate challenging interactions.Resources from this episodeBob’s websiteBob on TwitterMarshall B. Rosenberg’s book Nonviolent Communication (Indiebound)Connect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 21, Chris and Emma were joined by Marc Smolowitz, a director, producer, and executive producer who is currently in post-production on THE G WORD, a feature-length documentary that aims to be the most comprehensive film ever made on the topics of gifted, talented, and neurodiverse education across the United States. We were happy to talk with Marc and help celebrate THE G WORD's second annual Gifted / Talented / Neurodiverse Awareness Week. GTN Awareness Week included a great selection of panels and programming from October 24-28, 2022. In our discussion, we covered a range of topics, including storytelling, intensity, intersectionality, trauma, empowerment, and #GiftedJoy. Marc told us about THE G WORD and shared his history and experiences in the context of positive disintegration and giftedness. Chris is a part of THE G WORD’s Global Partnership Network, and we encourage others to consider supporting the film and its mission. Links from this episodeGTN Awareness WeekTHE G WORD websiteTHE G WORD’s Global Partnership NetworkConnect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

This episode wraps up year one of our podcast! It has been a privilege to share Dabrowski’s theory with our audience, and we want to thank you for listening and becoming a part of our community. In episode 20, Chris and Emma explored the values that guide the Dabrowski Center, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the Theory of Positive Disintegration through advocacy, education, and innovation. The values discussed in this episode include: Truthful—We strive for accurate representation and preservation of Dabrowski’s work and to deal with people in a straightforward and kind manner.Authentic—We will be authentic in our speech and actions and in our desire to promote mental health and help others. We maintain this desire to help others as our primary focus.Inclusive—We are inclusive of everyone and affirming of their identity and personal experiences. We stand against bigotry, harassment, and discrimination.Kindness—We strive to act in a way that seeks to do no harm. We will act with altruism, humanity, and promote the good of others.Connecting—We aim to bring people together and forge a community based on respect and friendship.Honorable—We act in an ethical manner, with integrity, fairness, and transparency, and speak up against those who do not.Supportive—We support people in their educational journey, making information accessible and available, and providing ways for people to seek guidance and help.Encouraging—We will encourage people who seek new ways to explore, present, research, and work with the theory of positive disintegration.Bold—We will be bold, brave, and innovative in our mission to bring the theory of positive disintegration to the world in new ways.Connect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 19, Chris and Emma were joined by Stephanie Tolan, an author and long-time advocate and champion of the gifted. This episode was inspired by Stef’s chapter in the book Living with Intensity called “What We May Be: What Dabrowski’s Work Can Do for Gifted Adults.” We’ve had enough feedback from listeners to know that we needed a deeper dive into the theory’s levels of development and that we needed to push back a little on the established dogma. We’re grateful for Stef’s willingness to join us for this conversation about Dąbrowski’s levels. Stef talked with us about her realization that there are more people at the highest level of development than Dąbrowski acknowledged in his writing. We talked about how her beliefs about consciousness and higher-level development have changed over the years. We discussed exemplars, reincarnation, and the limited understanding that we currently have about the levels of development and their many permutations. Resources mentioned during this episode:Stephanie S. Tolan’s websiteLiving with Intensity by Daniels & Piechowski (from Gifted Unlimited, LLC)Lives of Positive Disintegration by Michael M. Piechowski (links to ResearchGate)A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph LocontePeace Pilgrim websitePeace Pilgrim’s works are available for download in multiple languages for free.Support the podcastIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review.Thank you for listening to Positive Disintegration. Please, feel free to share! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 18, Chris and Emma were joined by Rachel Fell, a coach, consultant, educator, and guide working with creatives, thinkers, leaders, and groups to create perspective change that achieves real-world results. The focus of this episode was on disintegration, giftedness, neurodivergence, and trauma. We discussed nervous system differences, definitions of trauma, and the importance of embracing the process. When does sensitivity become fragility? How do you learn to respect and embrace your intensities? How do you recognize your stress and sensitivity as it starts to show itself in your body? How can you rebuild neural pathways that have been laid down in your childhood? How can inner reflection help you develop empathy and, in turn, make the world a better place?Rachel talks about developing inner authority, reclaiming ‘the seat’ of your authority from the external, and bringing it back to the internal. The process of developing inner authority, and breaking down external ideas and values, mirrors Dąbrowski’s theory of positive disintegration—breaking down external socialization, reclaiming your authenticity through inner reflection, and establishing your own hierarchy of values.Resources mentioned in this episodeRachel’s websiteRachel on InstagramSoulSpark Learning Empowerment Series 2020 (on YouTube)Five Benefits of Creativity in Positive Disintegration (Emma’s finger-painting video)Connect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 17, Chris and Emma were joined by Elizabeth Mika, a Polish-born psychologist and expert on the Theory of Positive Disintegration. Elizabeth shares how she first became interested in Dabrowski’s theory as a teenager in Poland, how it inspired her to go into the field of psychology, and her journey into working with the theory once she immigrated to America.Our conversation covered a wide range of topics, focused on the ‘lows and highs’ of Dabrowski’s levels, from the sub-levels of unilevel integration to the Fourth Factor and drive for self-transcendence. We talk about the dangers of narcissism and its various forms, the role of positive maladjustment, and how self-reflection and inner transformation is the first step in making the world a better place.“We need to look within before we start changing the world. The greatest gift we can give to the world is our transformed self.”This is the image we discussed with Elizabeth around minute 31 from her 2018 Dabrowski Congress slideshow. See the resource list below to download her slides. “Self-education is about personality development on the ever higher levels. Its highest goals is in the natural dimension the fullness of humanity, and in the supranatural dimension – becoming God-like. Self-education should go hand in hand with introspection, and those two activities should become one effort, lasting a lifetime, to come close to the ideal.” Resources Mentioned in this EpisodeTyranny as a Triumph of Narcissism (article on Medium)On Primary Integration, Psychopathy and the Average Person (article on LinkedIn)Sudden Dynamic Insight: Moving from Conflict to Peace (PDF)What Disintegrates? (PDF)Pathocracy and Andrzej Łobaczewski (by Dr. Steve Taylor for Psychology Today )Follow Elizabeth on Twitter*A transcript of this episode is available on our website. Connect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 16, Chris and Emma were joined by Dr. Shelagh Gallagher, for a discussion of overexcitability (OE) and openness to experience (OtE), based on her paper which compares the two frameworks. Shelagh is an independent consultant in gifted education and President of the National Association for Gifted Children. We discussed the controversy in the field of gifted education about OE and OtE, and the value both frameworks can provide in informing us about the gifted student experience in education. We talked about the impact and difference having multiple OEs can have in a person’s life, and Shelagh shared insights from her research and pointed out directions for future work in gifted populations. Resources mentioned in this episodeOpenness to Experience and Overexcitabilities in a Sample of Highly Gifted Middle School Students by Shelagh GallagherBuilding Bridges: Research on Gifted Children's Personalities from Three Psychological Theories by Shelagh Gallagher24-item Overexcitability QuestionnaireA Comparison of the Concept of Overexcitabilities with Measures of Creativity and School Achievement in Sixth-Grade Students by Shelagh GallagherCreative Personality Characteristics and Dimensions of Mental Functioning in Gifted Adolescents by Shirley SchieverShelagh’s websiteNAGC Videos from the 15th International Dabrowski Congress:Full Dabrowski Congress 2022 YouTube PlaylistShelagh’s keynote (YouTube)* A transcript of this episode is available on the Dabrowski Center website.Connect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In Episode 15, Chris and Emma were joined by Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of Melissa & Doug Toys and author of LifeLines. We learned about Melissa’s inspirational journey to self-acceptance and living authentically after spending decades of her life suffering from existential depression and angst. Melissa discovered Dąbrowski’s theory in her late 40s and described the relief she felt from learning about overexcitabilities as a framework for understanding her lifelong intensity and sensitivities. She described reading Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning and learning the word “existential” for the first time, and feeling that it was like being hit by a lightning bolt.Melissa talked about her path, which started out traditionally with therapy and grew to include autopsychotherapy and deep exploration into philosophical and spiritual works. We discuss strategies she has developed to challenge negativity and nihilism, and combat perfectionism, such as channeling darkness into light through her creative work. We also explore how sharing our creative outputs with others can help us find meaning and purpose, and the importance of taking time out to look after ourselves.Resources mentioned in this episodeLifeLines websiteMelissa’s book LifeLines on AmazonThe LifeLines workshop videos Chris mentioned watching in spring 2021. LifeLines Community Facebook groupThe Melissa & Doug websiteListen to Melissa’s episode on The Good Life Project PodcastEmma’s blog on Self CareClick here for the playlist of videos from the 2022 Dabrowski Congress in Denver. * Transcript is available on the Dabrowski Center websiteConnect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 14, Chris and Emma were joined by Dr. Michele Kane, an educator, storyteller, and long-time Dąbrowski enthusiast. She has done wonderful work tending relationships in this community, and she shared herself with vulnerability and courage in this episode. Some of the topics touched on include the reality that learning about the theory changes your relationship with yourself, how well the theory captures differences in emotional range, and the importance of connection. We learned that feeling and being seen are critically important, and receiving mirroring is one of the blessings of discovering and participating in the Dąbrowski community. We talked about the Dabrowski Congress, which Michele has hosted twice (in 2010 and 2018, click on the year to download a PDF of the proceedings). Click here to watch videos from the 2022 Dabrowski Congress in Denver. Emma read the following poem from Dąbrowski’s 1972 book Psychoneurosis is Not an Illness: *A transcript of this episode is available on our website.Resources mentioned in this episodeThe books Dąbrowski wrote under the pseudonym Paul (and Paweł) Cienin called Existential Thoughts and Aphorisms and Fragments from the Diary of a Madman. These books can be purchased from Bill Tillier as part of a larger download package. Beyond Old Age by Annemarie RoeperSome of My Best Friends are Books by Judith Wynn HalstedEmma’s post The Beauty of Imperfect Self-CareConnect with us!Positive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookDabrowski Center and Positive Disintegration Podcast Community on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! <3Please share with others who would appreciate learning about Positive Disintegration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe