Why Smart People Hurt Journal

Eric Maisel, PhD, is the author of more than 50 books in the areas of creativity, psychology, coaching, mental health, and cultural trends. He is a psychotherapist and the founder of the creativity coach profession, regularly working with lawyers, doctors, scientists, writers, painters, businesspeople, and folks from every walk of life. They include folks settled in a profession as well as folks struggling to find an outlet for their intelligence and looking for work that will allow them to be as smart as they are. They include individuals who are successful in their careers and those who, because of the realities of the marketplace, struggle to achieve success. And through his books, they could include you.Sought after as an expert in his field, Dr. Maisel regularly contributes to Mad in America, writes a monthly print column for Professional Artist Magazine, and writes the "Rethinking Mental Health" blog for Psychology Today. He has been the keynote speaker at many conferences and leads Deep Writing workshops worldwide.Dr. Maisel currently resides in Walnut Creek, California. Visit him at www.ericmaisel.com.Lynda Monk, MSW, RSW, CPCC is a Registered Social Worker, a Writing for Wellness Coach, and the Director of the International Association for Journal Writing, IAJW.org. She leads a global creative community especially for journal writers with members from countries around the world. Lynda is co-editor, with Eric Maisel, of two books, including Transformational Journaling for Coaches, Therapists, and Clients: A Complete Guide to the Benefits of Personal Writing and The Great Book of Journaling: How Journal Writing Can Support a Life of Wellness, Creativity, Meaning and Purpose. She is the co-author of Writing Alone Together: Journaling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion and Connection. She developed Life Source Writing: A 5-Step Journaling Method for Self-Discovery, Self-Care, Wellness and Creativity.Lynda regularly teaches, writes, and speaks on the healing and transformational power of journaling and expressive writing. She is currently writing a memoir called Adopting Love: An Adoptee’s Journey with Finding Her Birth Mother and Losing Both Her Parents to Alzheimer’s. Lynda lives with her family on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. She has discovered the voice of her own heart's wisdom in the pages of her journal for over 40 years.

• ContentsIntroductionEntry 1. Your Unfriendly Family Entry 2. Society and ReligionEntry 3. Workplace UnfriendlinessEntry 4. The Role of Mass CultureEntry 5. The Bigger PictureEntry 6. Feeling DifferentEntry 7. Feeling MisunderstoodEntry 8. Feeling UnderutilizedEntry 9. Feeling AlienatedEntry 10. Feeling Special … And SmallEntry 11. Stuck on the Dull TrackEntry 12. Aimed in the Direction of “Safety”Entry 13. The Family BusinessEntry 14. How Social Pigeonholing WorksEntry 15. Hiding Your Light Under a BushelEntry 16. The Day Job ProblemEntry 17. The Right Day JobEntry 18. Your Remaining NeuronsEntry 19. Too Long at the Day JobEntry 20. When the Day Job Plan FailsEntry 21. The Second Career ProblemEntry 22. Your Brain After DinnerEntry 23. Surprising ShortfallsEntry 24. Second Career = Chaos?Entry 25. Sheer OverwhelmEntry 26. Trapped in SmallnessEntry 27. The Uninteresting Day-To-DayEntry 28. Standard ThinkingEntry 29. A Name for YourselfEntry 30. Stick to That, Please!Entry 31. Nothing of InterestEntry 32. Interest … But No PassionEntry 33. Passion … But No Passion ProjectEntry 34. Passion Project ResistanceEntry 35. The Stalled Passion ProjectEntry 36. Inner Noise and Monkey MindEntry 37. Underestimating Your SmartsEntry 38. Being Too VigilantEntry 39. Feeling UnsafeEntry 40. When Anxiety StrikesEntry 41. Your Tangled ThinkingEntry 42. Unwanted ObsessionsEntry 43. A Rain of ThoughtsEntry 44. Repetitive ThoughtsEntry 45. Lost ThoughtsEntry 46. Thought InvestigationEntry 47. Defensive Not KnowingEntry 48. Having LanguageEntry 49. No CommentEntry 50. Getting a GripEntry 51. Tolerating ProcessEntry 52. The Reality of CircumstancesEntry 53. Tolerating SolitudeEntry 54. The Dangers of SolitudeEntry 55. InsatiabilityEntry 56. CompetitionEntry 57. Mismatched IntelligenceEntry 58. The Smart GapEntry 59. Inevitable SadnessEntry 60. Inevitable AnxietyEntry 61. Addiction RisksEntry 62. DistractibilityEntry 63. The Story of EnergyEntry 64. In Short SupplyEntry 65. Energy SuppressionEntry 66. Racing Down the TracksEntry 67. Rollercoaster EnergyEntry 68. Sitting on a High HorseEntry 69. Alienating CoworkersEntry 70. I Am So Special!Entry 71. A Sense of EntitlementEntry 72. RupturesEntry 73. Torn ApartEntry 74. Defend Yourself!Entry 75. The Bullying DebaterEntry 76. I Am Right!Entry 77. The Heck with Good Will!Entry 78. Cognitive DeclineEntry 79. Loss of PrideEntry 80. Loss of IdentityEntry 81. Loss of MotivationEntry 82. Loss of PurposeEntry 83. Rationality PlusEntry 84. Emotions?Entry 85. Meaning and MysteryEntry 86. Smart and CreativeEntry 87. Smartness Made RealEntry 88. Smart and WellEntry 89. Smart and WiseEntry 90. All the Rest of LifeAfterwordAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author

“Eric Maisel’s wisdom has been a guiding light in my own pursuit of mental wellness. Grounded in research, deep knowledge and years in his practice, Maisel understands what smart, creative and highly sensitive people need. The gentle guidance, inspiring affirmations, and prompts in this wholly unique journal can be a companion for you in your journal to well-being and self-understanding.”—Becca Anderson, author of bestselling Badass Affirmations