Call Us Gifted

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains content around self-harm and suicide and brief mention of sexual violence against children.

“They tried to ‘fix’ my stigmas to make me like everyone else, rather than leveraging my gifts. I said, ‘screw that, I'm gonna manage my gifts.’ And I started developing my gifts and ignoring the stigma.”

— Tim Nelson

In this episode of What’s In Your Toolbox: An Honest Discussion on Mental Health, Bobby Koven interviews Tim Nelson about his mental health journey. This conversation is raw and authentic, and at times may be triggering to some listeners. We have noted the timestamps for the triggering content.

Tim Nelson is an expert problem solver, but he wasn’t always able to use his dyslexia and dyscalculia to his advantage. Tim was diagnosed in his early twenties, but through the lens of stigma. And his late diagnosis prevented him from integrating into the mainstream school system.

But as a creative problem solver, Tim chose to see his diagnoses as little annoyances rather than burdens, and followed the path of his dyslexia as a gift. 

In his youth, Tim developed seven skills that helped him navigate his childhood through learning disabilities and other mental health challenges. The skills are creativity, coaching projects, running programs, improving people, knowing oneself, understanding interactions and defining standard work. Developing these consistent skills was key in overcoming the challenges of dyslexia and dyscalculia, and the consistency has paid off, putting Tim in charge of some of the largest projects in the world. 

Tim has also put his RECOVER system into practice to recuperate from life events that had a massive impact on him.  RECOVER is an acronym; R is receive help, E is exhibit compliance, C is care, O is outline a schedule, V is venture out, E is establish purpose, and R is reach for the stars.

This‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌

✔ How dyslexia and dyscalculia impact learning and education and self-esteem

✔ The seven skills Tim developed to overcome dyslexia and dyscalculia challenges

✔ Tim’s RECOVER acronym

Highlights:‌ ‌

00:01  Intro

02:53 Meet Tim Nelson

09:10 Tim’s Gifts

11:33 Growing up

12:48 Tim’s seven skills

15:08 Diagnosing dyslexia and dyscalculia

20:55 Leveraging gifts

22:57 Bipolar diagnosis and mania

23:52 TRIGGER WARNING: Self-harm and suicide

26:42 Tim’s RECOVER acronym

28:30 TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual violence towards children

30:59 Tim’s Amazing Support Team

33:28 TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide

35:18 Tim’s advice to others

About Guest:

Tim Nelson is an expert problem solving coach, change agent, global diversity and inclusion ambassador and author and inventor.
Links:‌

Connect with Tim:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-nelson-0270526

Website https://onefivefifty.com/

To get in contact or learn more about Living Jewishly:  

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Shalom!