Our Community

 

 

Since 2015, we have cultivated a dynamic online community of 900+ gifted adults around the world, where we explore questions and themes of giftedness integration, self-development and self-leadership together. Our members are conscientious, dedicated gifted adults who are actively learning about and applying their giftedness to their lives in creative and purposeful ways. In our community, you can meet other gifted adults who are invested in their personal and professional growth, and who are ready to connect with other equally dedicated and engaged gifted adults.

About our community culture

We meet on Facebook in a moderated secret group (learn more about this here), and group members also connect outside of our Facebook group for one-to-one and group connections. Our community is administrated by our director Jennifer Harvey Sallin. We've designed our community to be a positive, creative, inspiring and edifying space, and we moderate group interactions accordingly. You can ask questions and expect to get lots of helpful insight and feedback from our community members. You can also expect to make friends and find potential collaborators and other resources that will enrich your life even beyond the bounds of our group.

We have extended sub-groups, including a creatives' group, a business builders' group, and a group for highly to profoundly gifted people. These groups are open to our community members, once they've successfully integrated into our main community space. To learn more about how our community is structured and what our community culture is like, read our Frequently Asked Questions.

We also have a gifted mindfulness practice community for women via our Gifted Mindfulness Collective, which you can learn about here.

What our members say

Here are a few highlights of our members' experiences of being in our community, in their own words. You can read their extended feedback and hear from more members on our community testimonials page.

"The sense of community is unlike any other…it feels like home.

I come to InterGifted's peer group for recharging, insight, connection and inspiration. I particularly love the outpouring of genuine love and heartfelt, non-judgmental support and understanding extended to all who are struggling with some of the many difficult challenges associated with giftedness."

"Since joining InterGifted, I’ve discovered that it’s wonderful to connect when people get you, and when you can be your full self with them!

It took me a while to feel comfortable, but once I saw how open everyone is in this community, I felt safe to explore and express all that I’ve been keeping inside for a lifetime. I’m still surprised to see what a different person I’ve become thanks to simple friendships with other gifted people like me!"

"The InterGifted community has been a haven of support for me, and a continual source of inspiration.
Never before in my life was I able to find peers who understood me or encouraged me to keep growing beyond traditional societal expectations."
"If I could sum up my experience in Intergifted in one word, it would be: validation.
Validation of all the struggles I’ve had over the years, of how my gifted mind works and why it didn’t work well in the world I grew up in. That’s allowed me to discover how to create a world in which it does work well! It’s changed everything for me."
"What I really enjoy about InterGifted is the welcoming atmosphere and acceptance of all – internationally!
I love being able to hear similar ideas as well as different perspectives from not only the variety of individuals that are part of this group, but perhaps from the various experiences which can be part of different locations in the world. It feels like home."
"Finding InterGifted...has been an unexpected kind of homecoming.
To be able to talk about my own giftedness openly and without apology has brought about a whole new level of awareness...I feel like, in this secret world, I am invited to grow more fully into all that I am meant to be."
"Intergifted is one of the best things that ever happened to me."

How to know if you're ready to join us

You'll know you are ready to join us if you feel excited to learn more about yourself and your gifted mind amongst gifted peers, and feel ready to apply that knowledge to your personal development and self-leadership process. Conversely, if you feel resistant to or scared about the idea of being gifted, or even feel angry about the concept for any reason, it is not the right time to take this step on your journey. Furthermore, if you are struggling with issues related to social safety, depression, or other overwhelming negative emotions, you may need to work toward feeling safe and in a constructive space before joining us. If that's the case, we recommend seeking a gifted-specific therapist to support you where you are right now.

If you're not sure you're gifted, we suggest you start by reading more about what it is. A good place to begin is our article What is Giftedness?, which also provides links for additional exploration. We also welcome you to schedule a qualitative assessment with us if you'd like to explore your potential giftedness and learn about your unique intelligence profile.

How to join

We charge a one-time entry fee of 125 Swiss Francs to cover our administration costs and to support the continuation of our community.

You can send your entry fee to our Paypal link with a note that your payment is for our InterGifted Community. Once we receive your payment, you'll receive a welcome email, invitation to our Facebook group, and community guide, from our director Jennifer Harvey Sallin (typically within three business days). If your email address is different than the one on your Paypal account, please send us a note at connect@intergifted.com so that we know where to send your invitation.

We are also able to take payments via bank transfer in Europe and Twint in Switzerland. Please contact us at connect@intergifted.com for that option.

If you have further questions or trouble receiving your group invitation, see our Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't find the answer to your question/problem there, you can email us at connect@intergifted.com.

More from our members…

“InterGifted has helped me to realise that there are others like me out there”

As well as boosting my self-esteem immeasurably, InterGifted has helped me to realise that there are others like me out there, and that I should perhaps now go out to meet them rather than wallowing independently in my (and our) unfortunate statistical rarity.

J.B.Q. - UK

“If I could sum up my experience in InterGifted in one word, it would be: validation”

If I could sum up my experience in InterGifted in one word, it would be: validation. Validation of all the struggles I’ve had over the years, of how my gifted mind works and why it didn’t work well in the world I grew up in. That’s allowed me to discover how to create a world in which it does work well! It’s changed everything for me.

A.M. - Germany

“I have felt more real connection and community within InterGifted than I have in all the years prior”

I’m 31 and have felt more real connection and community within InterGifted in the last six months than I have in all the years prior. I begin to “feel” human, rather than my previous sense of self – an object that existed for other people’s purposes. I find myself bursting with unreserved love and gratitude as a result of this connection. I am far more alive than I have ever been.

Karin - Germany

“The friendships I have made have been some of the first true friendships of my entire life”

The friendships I have made via the InterGifted community have been some of the first true friendships of my entire life. I had gotten used to keeping myself small and tame, quiet and introverted, even with people I considered my close friends. I used to think of myself as a total introvert. Since joining InterGifted, I’ve discovered that it’s wonderful to connect when people get you, and when you can be your full self with them! It took me a while to feel comfortable, but once I saw how open everyone is in this community, I felt safe to explore and express all that I’ve been keeping inside for a lifetime. I’m still surprised to see what a different person I’ve become thanks to simple friendships with other gifted people like me!

G.M. - Germany

“Focusing on my differences has lead to self understanding”

InterGifted has been great for me because it has allowed me to cope with the fact that the vast majority of humans are not my community. A lot of us here have a different relationship to ‘people in general’ than normal folks, and the farther you are on the graph the more that is the case. I can understand them, and relate on a basic human level, but it’s not reciprocal and I enjoy deeper relation than that. I connect to humanity more than to people and a lot of us are that way. Attempting to focus on my similarities with others has often lead to confusion and anxiety, because the differences have had far more of an impact on my life than the similarities. Focusing on my differences has lead to self understanding and releasing the need for non-gifted people to understand and accept me. I’m not searching for what I have in common with everyone anymore; I’m searching for the people I don’t have to try so hard with. I love humanity deeply but do not have a strong underlying sense of community as a whole, and moving away from desiring one is what has been (finally) saving me from the pain of giftedness.

Coral - USA

“InterGifted’s community for me has been a portal to deeply meaningful friendships and collaborations”

I’m so proud of this community I’ve formed. It is full of kind, caring, passionate, unique and fascinating people from all over the world. There is never a lack of inspiration, support, and creativity in this group. I had never been interested in belonging to groups before I formed InterGifted. Now even I love to check Facebook and participate in discussions – something I thought I’d never do! It’s because of the quality of the members and the depth of their minds and hearts. No less important is that InterGifted’s community for me has been a portal to deeply meaningful friendships and collaborations, something I too thought might have not been meant for me.

Jen - Switzerland

“It has helped me accept myself and better my relationships”

InterGifted is the best resource I’ve found for understanding adult giftedness. I have benefited so much from the blog, the group discussions, and the general atmosphere of down-to-earth smart people. It has helped me accept myself and better my relationships.

Bill - South Africa

“InterGifted is one of the best things that ever happened to me”

InterGifted is one of the best things that ever happened to me. And when I say that it can save people’s lives, I mean it in the very literal sense of the words. Through InterGifted, I learned that I am not a weirdo who doesn’t fit in, but a person with different views on things and a good personality, which I first had to fully explore to finally find happiness with myself and live up to my full potential.

Chris - Switzerland

“The InterGifted community has been instrumental in reclaiming a sense of wholeness and well-being”

The InterGifted community has been instrumental in helping me, a late/adult-identified gifted person, in reclaiming a sense of wholeness and well-being, through community belonging and support. The private IG Facebook groups offer a very safe and compassionate space for gifted adults, young and old, to slowly feel they can drop their social survival facades and just be their naturally kaleidoscopic intense selves. To even have the option to be who we are, without censorship, filtering, toning down or any other restrictions and repressions, is crucial to healthy identity and self-worth understanding, development and recovery.

Silver - Australia

“I come to InterGifted’s peer group for recharging, insight, connection and inspiration”

I come to InterGifted’s peer group for recharging, insight, connection and inspiration. The sense of community is unlike any other…it feels like home. I particularly love the outpouring of genuine love and heartfelt, non-judgmental support and understanding extended to all who are struggling with some of the many difficult challenges associated with giftedness.

Gord - Canada

“What I really enjoy about InterGifted is the welcoming atmosphere and acceptance of all”

What I really enjoy about InterGifted is the welcoming atmosphere and acceptance of all – internationally! I love being able to hear similar ideas as well as different perspectives from not only the variety of individuals that are part of this group, but perhaps from the various experiences which can be part of different locations in the world. It feels like home.

Sarah - USA

“I feel such profound gratitude for having become part of this group”

I feel such profound gratitude for having become part of this group that is exactly like another member worded: like an overdue family reunion. I broke contact with the larger part of my family of origin, and have all life felt so in need of kindness and support and the gentle softness in which I could spread my wings, not just be a one-way adviser, one-way conveyer of love and knowledge and for some the sacrificial lamb. Having deeply meaningful conversations here or by other means with members of InterGifted fills my heart with such joy. I can finally let go of all the shame over not finding what I needed, not even daring to admit how much I need and how little I found outside myself. It really hit me when reading Jennifer’s article on high+ giftedness: the always sooner or (very rarely) later being confronted with the limited mutual interest, understanding, intensity span or any other mutual field of anything meaningful I’d be looking for in others. Jennifer describes it so accurately as “just getting started” and the other just wanting to get out of the intense contact. There wasn’t very much reason for celebration of life before, even if I kept lighting my candle for me vigourously and in spite of what I saw in the world outside me. I’d like to give you all in InterGifted a thank you hug for being who you are and sharing that with me, and making me be more and more OK with who I am.

Charissa - The Netherlands

“InterGifted has been a lifeline for me”

InterGifted has been a lifeline for me. I was going through severe existential depression when my friend suggested I contact InterGifted. Through coaching and the community, I have found hope again. I finally see that there is a positive side to my giftedness, and I’m excited to see how I can develop a better relationship with that previously hidden side of me.

Grace - USA

“InterGifted helps to remind those struggling with just how special they are to know they’re extra special”

I am so happy to have found InterGifted. It has unlocked a lot of things for me; most of what I need to deal with, but also a renewed passion to explore topics I’ve touched on such as taking a different view on personality styles that is seen from a gifted perspective. You provide such a great platform which incorporates all of its members. I’ve been like the Lochness monster submerged for many years and suddenly resurfaced, realizing just what opportunities and info gathering I missed. Thanks for this great initiative, and being supportive and a mine of information. InterGifted helps to remind those struggling with just how special they are to know they’re extra special. That’s what it did for me.

Erika - South Africa

“The InterGifted community has been a haven of support for me”

The InterGifted community has been a haven of support for me, and a continual source of inspiration. Never before in my life was I able to find peers who understood me or encouraged me to keep growing beyond traditional societal expectations. Thank you for this wonderful community!

L.M. - France