Best of Our Blogs: October 9, 2012 | World of Psychology

For all of you out there who think that you?re just average, abnormal students of life, take heart. There is hope for all of you.

I was a C average student in elementary school. And I scored higher in math than English on my SATs. I wasn?t very good at math either. I needed a tutor to get by. And art? I gave up once I realized I had to stay within the lines.

Instead I developed my own way of living. The older I got, the easier it was to do so. In college, I had the opportunity to take classes that I enjoyed. Once again, I began to draw outside the lines instead of worrying that it was imperfect. I stopped listening to the people who said, ?Everything unique has already been invented.? I used my anger toward the teacher who called me a ?bad writer? to fuel my career forward.

I realized after years of sitting in the shadow of other people?s light that we?re all special. And in having compassion for what gifts other people brought to the table, I was more able to appreciate my own.

If that sounds like you, you?ll feel like you finally found your tribe in this week?s post. Learn why being an underachiever may mean you?re truly gifted and highly creative. And discover the out of the box, alternative ways to heal your own wounds. Feel stressed? Try equine therapy. Want an alternative to medication for mood disorders like depression? Consider exercise. Feeling negative and cynical about life? Act on your compassion. These creative tips will get you off the sidelines to be an engaged and active participant in life.

Maybe Gifted Underachievers Are More Creative
(The Creative Mind) ? According to this post, your school achievements (under or over) may be the result of low self-esteem and high creativity. Perhaps it?s not laziness like your parents or teachers said. Maybe like Einstein, your creativity just doesn?t mesh well in a traditional classroom environment.

Five Ways Equine Therapy Can Reduce Stress
(Equine Therapy) ? If stressed, you may have considered massage, meditation, exercise, but equine therapy? Read the five benefits of healing with horses.

Don?t Let Online Comments Get You Down
(Therapy Soup) ? Why do commenters comment in the first place? If that?s the question you?ve been asking yourself in response to an onslaught of negative responses lately, read this. You?ll also get answers on how to cope.

Exercise Instead of Medication
(The Gentle Self) ? Medication isn?t a cure-all for mood disorders like depression. They have side effects and some people over time can even become treatment resistant. One remedy you may want to consider that has potential positive effects like an increase in well-being and self-esteem is exercise. It?s not just good for your physical health, but your mental health too.

It?s Not Enough to Be Compassionate. You Must Act
(Mindfulness & Psychotherapy) ? Compassion is one thing, acting on it is quite another. For the quickest way to feel better and engender positive emotions, try doing something nice for someone else this week. Helping others through volunteering or donations is a surprising way to uplift others and yourself.

Brandi-Ann Uyemura is a freelance writer. After obtaining a BA in English and Ethnic Studies, she received a MA in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. She writes for various companies and publications. For more information, see her website Brandi-AnnUyemura.com.

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????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 9 Oct 2012
????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
Uyemura, B. (2012). Best of Our Blogs: October 9, 2012. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 10, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/10/09/best-of-our-blogs-october-9-2012/

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Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/10/09/best-of-our-blogs-october-9-2012/

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