Our Philosophy

We believe that one must master the ordinary to sustain the extraordinary.

Many people with chaotic characteristics have accomplished extraordinary feats: Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark) just to name a few. Ted Turner revolutionized our news delivery system with CNN. Best-selling author, Pat Conroy has brought hours of enjoyment with his eloquent embracement of people with chaotic characteristics.

Accomplishing extraordinary achievements takes one set of skills. Maintaining them requires another. One study of modern-day great literary figures shows “a staggering 18% of poets committed suicide. The literary group showed 2-3 times the average rate of psychosis, suicide attempts, mood disorders, and substance abuse.” (The Awakenings Project)

The most damaging feature of those with chaotic characteristics is a staggering lack of ordinary skills. Self-management is an ordinary skill that ordinary people learn by young adulthood:

• Able to follow instructions
• Adhere to a daily schedule
• Self-regulate emotions and moods
• Auto-correct behavior, attitude and demeanor
• Meet responsibilities and obligations
• Develop insight into how one’s own behavior affects his/her environment

One must practice living an ordinary life before he can constructively manage his dangerous gifts. For someone with chaotic characteristics, this truly is an extraordinary feat.