Mind Reading, A Crossover Talent 

This month the topic of mind reading is in the news because of a government scandal involving the misuse of funds. Apparently, the services of a mind reader were used at a conference for entertainment and were one example of an alleged  inappropriate expenditure. Mind reading, as a form of entertainment, involves tricks and learned techniques. Real mind reading is a psychic ability and can be very powerful. Mind reading can assist us in gaining insight into another person but it must be used properly to respect the rights and privacy of others.

The concept of telepathy is used when considering mind reading by some people and usually it is accepted by the participating parties. Telepathy is when two people have the ability to transfer thoughts between each other. It is a skill that is recognized by psychology and is considered a talent existing beyond the capacity of our five senses. This type of psychic ability is often used by people familiar to one another such as siblings, spouses, friends or children with their parents.  

Mind reading, however, has other elements associated with it and the following is an excerpt of an article from the website psychology today:

"Mind reading of this sort-not to be confused with the infallible superhero kind of telepathy-is a critical human skill. It's the way we make sense of other people's behavior and decide on our own next moves. Mind reading enables us to negotiate, compete, cooperate, and achieve emotional closeness with others. It lets us figure out when we're being manipulated or seduced. It's how we know when someone finds our jokes hilarious or is humoring us out of politeness. Mind-reading ability is perhaps the most urgent element of social intelligence."  Here is a link to the entire article: Psychology Today 

All of us mind read at some time or another in our life. If you are a spouse, parent, friend, boss, or owner of a mischievous pet you have most likely known the thoughts of another person or an animal in your life. This talent can help avoid problems and misunderstandings if you speak up and let your thoughts be known when you notice the thinking of those around you. The talent can take many forms such as judging body or face expressions to determine the actions of another. Some people, mind reader entertainers, use tricks to mind read and this website gives you examples of them, Mind Reading Tricks 

Physical impressions made by others and recognized by us can be a tool to mind read but there is very powerful psychic sense that is often used to capture thoughts. The psychic sense of clairaudience can be developed to "hear" the thinking of others. This ability can be called "mind hearing" instead of "mind reading" and may be the most common form of the gift. We can often finish the sentences of those we know best because our minds are in sync and we hear their thoughts. We anticipate the next few words they are going to say. Others may be able to do this with you.

Sometimes just being silent, you can hear the chatter in another person's mind. This can be violation of a person's privacy and must be acknowledged when it happens. Hearing a person's thoughts comes with a responsibility and it should not be taken lightly. Noticing the chatter in another person's mind comes easy for some and never happens for others. The practice of mind reading begins by raising your awareness and focusing on others. Recognizing words coming from a person not verbally expressing themselves is hearing them think.

Mind reading is a "crossover" term because it is used in many contexts. Entertainers have tricks and techniques to "mind read." Some people have a connection with those close to them and can project their thoughts to each other. Finally, the other most common nuance of this concept is simply hearing the thoughts of another person. There may be other forms of mind reading to consider but they are less common but not less important.

The recent government scandal has brought "mind reading" into the public discussion and created the topic for this article. The subject, as entertainment, is done for fun but it is a serious topic for all of us to recognize and understand. For us, this is a good time to use mind reading to read our mother's minds and figure out a good Mother's Day present!

John Cappello 

Being A Perfectionist  

Isn't All Bad

By Sylvia Tooker,  

Certified Handwriting Analyst

How can you tell if someone is a perfectionist by their handwriting? The baseline of their handwriting is so straight and even that you could draw a straight line below it. While we were all taught to write with the bottom of each letter touching the line, only perfectionists will continue to conform to the copybook model as they mature beyond childhood. Anyone who is not a perfectionist will write with a baseline that is uneven with many letters sitting above or dropping below the line. Because handwriting is a form of body language that reveals personality traits, it follows that people who are meticulous about things of importance will strive to make sure their handwriting puts forth their best image.

Some people are natural-born perfectionists. For others, perfectionism is fostered as they develop a strong fear of failure, ridicule, criticism, or even a fear of success. Fearful people strive to avoid unpleasant consequences by attempting to be perfect and maintain control of their lives. Psychologists classify perfectionist behavior on a scale ranging from normal to neurotic. Let's address some of the healthier manifestations of perfectionism.

Perfectionism spurs excellence and leads to high accomplishments. It often keeps people from straying too far from the accepted norm. It may help a person stay on an even keel.

Perfectionists are comfortable with rules, ritual, and tradition.   They can be relied upon to get things done right because they will persist until a goal is accomplished to their satisfaction. They are often conscientious and helpful to others. Because of their high standards, perfectionists may pursue idealistic goals which will benefit themselves as well as others.

While perfectionists can be annoying at times, we can certainly be grateful for the contributions made by these well-known perfectionists: Mohandas K. Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Mother Teresa, to name only a few.

" Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable." -- Lord Chesterfield , British Statesman, Diplomat and Wit, 1694-1773

To see handwriting samples of the perfectionists mentioned above, please view the full article:

Perfectionists in Handwriting Analysis