Oh! I really love this piece. (Writing from the perspective of a “slow processor”.) I’ve experienced a version of this before but, until reading this, didn’t have this framework to understand what was happening.
Another wonderful post - thank you! I appreciate the way you keep the labels neutral. It's just a description of a style vs portraying one style as better or worse than another.
As a fast processor, I learned to slow down and listen. At first the term listen wasn’t really true. I gave them space to think and talk but I was already in the next thing in my head. With maturity and lessons learned from paying careful attention to leadership courses and applying principles I learned to enjoy the conversation more. If I’m being honest, I still have moments when the irritation troll shows up in my head, and I’ve learned to be in tune enough to know when I have to reset and get grounded…. One of my favorite hacks for getting grounded is lying on my kitchen floor with the NYT mini puzzle 🙃
Side note. When I’m in a big crowd, my mind buzzes and I really struggle to pay attention. I noticed that surface this past weekend when two people asked me if I was ok. I was, and I was aware that I was buzzing … my inner head was working so hard to try to pay attention. For the first time, I answered the people honestly and said that I struggle with a lot of people and being able to focus and I am trying to settle in with the activity. It was such a relief to say that out loud instead of saying ‘I’m fine’.
Also...the insights about your mind buzzing have me intrigued...buzzing with the energy of the other people, buzzing with thoughts of your own? The "buzz" sounds like over-stimulation. So glad you are seeing it, feeling it, and can acknowledge it now out loud to the people around you so they can "know you" a little more.
Oh! I really love this piece. (Writing from the perspective of a “slow processor”.) I’ve experienced a version of this before but, until reading this, didn’t have this framework to understand what was happening.
So good to hear your feedback, Vanessa!
Another wonderful post - thank you! I appreciate the way you keep the labels neutral. It's just a description of a style vs portraying one style as better or worse than another.
Thank you so much, Maggie! Hearing your feedback is valuable to me.
Great piece! I used to do this a lot…over the years I’ve recalibrated to reflect the fact that speed is not the highest value.
Thanks for reading, Deb! Love your insight - "speed is not the highest value!"
As a fast processor, I learned to slow down and listen. At first the term listen wasn’t really true. I gave them space to think and talk but I was already in the next thing in my head. With maturity and lessons learned from paying careful attention to leadership courses and applying principles I learned to enjoy the conversation more. If I’m being honest, I still have moments when the irritation troll shows up in my head, and I’ve learned to be in tune enough to know when I have to reset and get grounded…. One of my favorite hacks for getting grounded is lying on my kitchen floor with the NYT mini puzzle 🙃
Side note. When I’m in a big crowd, my mind buzzes and I really struggle to pay attention. I noticed that surface this past weekend when two people asked me if I was ok. I was, and I was aware that I was buzzing … my inner head was working so hard to try to pay attention. For the first time, I answered the people honestly and said that I struggle with a lot of people and being able to focus and I am trying to settle in with the activity. It was such a relief to say that out loud instead of saying ‘I’m fine’.
Things I love about your reflection:
"I was already in the next thing in my head"
"irritation troll"
"lying on my kitchen floor" to reset
Also...the insights about your mind buzzing have me intrigued...buzzing with the energy of the other people, buzzing with thoughts of your own? The "buzz" sounds like over-stimulation. So glad you are seeing it, feeling it, and can acknowledge it now out loud to the people around you so they can "know you" a little more.