When You Feel Doubt Deeply, Do You Stop or See The Opening to the Goal Line?

Please know that if you feel lots of doubt, it does not indicate what’s wrong with you. It merely reflects the reality of what you’re capable of — i.e. disruption.

Alex Mathers wrote that in his Substack called Untethered Mind, in one of his many articles each week that always stops the scrolling and makes us think differently and more clearly than 5 minutes ago or a day ago.

Here’s the whole article, for a quick look at how Alex takes complex ideas and conveys clearly and concisely what matters. Know these seven things if you’re tired of feeling ashamed about your life choices

Is Boredom Your Kryptonite?

Alex scores high in communication and professionalism, but how many of us ever thought of whether or not we possess or even show the world our traits of giftedness? When You Are Gifted, Boredom is Your Kryptonite, Paula Prober said. Do you see that boredom factor and the ability to do many things very well in Alex Mather?

“I’ve never followed the expected path, and I feel like a rat in jelly when I slide closer to conformity. I’ve always felt different, weird, and even a potential source of discomfort for many,” Alex writes.

“I haven’t had a ‘proper’ job in over 15 years. I’ve spent more time living abroad than in my home country. I don’t party, have no interest in politics, prefer to be single, and want to spend the rest of my life writing books, making art, and running my off-grid homestead” he continues. “It has taken me a long time to reach a point where I feel more at ease with how I choose to live my life (and I’m still working on it).”

This Keeps Getting Better

Alex Mathers is a talented writer who demonstrates strong communication skills, creativity, and a keen eye for detail. His writing is engaging, articulate, and well-structured, suggesting that he may possess a high level of intelligence and analytical thinking. Additionally, his ability to convey complex ideas clearly and concisely indicates a strong aptitude for problem-solving and critical thinking.

Overall, Alex appears to possess giftedness traits such as analyzing, designing, reflecting, building, composing, contemplating, researching, reading, philosophizing, experimenting, introspecting, musing, daydreaming, hiking, and creating.

What about isolation, depression, and mental health issues that sometimes pop up in discussions with gifted professionals and communicators? Alex speaks to those aspects in ways we can see ourselves, see each other, and reclaim our focus.

“Many of us endure depression because we allow ourselves to be molded by the opinions and judgments of other people,” Alex writes. “We relinquish our power by giving it up for others to pick at, like vultures in an open field.”

“We do this because we lack faith in our own ability to perceive what’s right for us. We grew up waiting for other authority figures to touch us on the shoulder and give us permission. And we lost our way.”

Gifted awareness

Q: Is this true for you? Because you are a deep thinker, highly intuitive, creative, analytical, and curious, you bring a particularly complex dimension to professional relationships.

Alex: Life has taught me that while I may be good at analyzing and understanding the processes and people around me, I am not very good at understanding myself. I am more of an enigma to me than the people I interact with and coach. So this certainly adds complexity into the mix. I don’t see my relationships with anyone as ‘professional’ relationships, more personal relationships. I prize authentic connection over most other things. I try not to separate friendships from professional connections. It helps me make sense of the connection and this approach has served me well.

Professionalism focus

Q: Did you become a professional on purpose or did your career path open a door into the profession you identify with today?

Alex: I studied Geography, then a Masters in Real Estate, before working as an illustrator, then a coach, then a writer and YouTuber. Nothing I have done was ever planned, though I still spend a disproportionately huge amount of my time unnecessarily planning. It brings me joy.

Communication focus

Q: Which of your communication skills do you seem to work on constantly, always learning, always evolving?

Alex: I’m not the sort of person who can spend all his time working on only one project or craft. I am communicating in different ways all the time, from podcasts to videos to writing and now fiction. I suppose you could view those as outward forms of communication, but you can’t communicate well in these ways if you don’t spend some time absorbing the material of other people and listening. So the latter I am working on too. It’s an ongoing process and – as I view communication as a craft to be mastered – it’s something I anticipate learning until I die.

Words to Live and Laugh By

The power of quotes and rhetoric is part of the professional, gifted person’s thinking.  Here are the quotes Alex often uses:

“Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things.” Ray Bradbury

“All we are is peace, love, and wisdom, and the power to create the illusion that we are not.” Jack Pransky

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

More of his favorite quotes are in this post he wrote for Medium—Illustrated quotes to raise your frequency and make you fearless

Often, if not weekly, we feature professionals who initiate meaningful conversations with other gifted minds and storytellers–and who they serve. They connect regularly through this blog, our newsletter, and their emails to nurture and support the network that enriches them. See if their words and actions work for you or engage directly by sending a comment and sharing your insights.

If you are curious about how sensitive, creative, intense, multipotential, professional, ethical, expressive, and clear you are about your intentions, wants, and needs, go here to check your GPC Score.

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