Posted by: Uticopa in self esteem, confidence on
Jul 14, 2009
There are times when many of us can feel particularly worthless, depressed, discouraged, sad and defeated. Life is hard.
The way to deal with it is to tell yourself how special and important you are.
Each of us is unique: some of our mental components are handed down to us by our genetic ancestors, others by what we have experienced in our own lifetime. Do you have any idea of some of the gifts you have within you? My guess is probably not or you wouldn't be feeling the way you are feeling. Indeed, when you are feeling better, who better than you could offer to assist others? You've been through the mill and therefore know exactly what others may be experiencing.
There are many instances in literature and history that show how individual vulnerability can turn to amazing, even heroic, feats in overcoming disaster. Think of Viktor Frankl who was able to find it even in the Nazi concentration camps. You can read his book "Man's Search for Meaning."
Think of the great love poets. To my mind, how could they have experienced so much intense emotions had they not experienced so much emotional pain? In fact many poems express this pain and many of the great poets themselves had mental health disorders.
Posted by: Uticopa in self help, big change on
Mar 24, 2009
Most people will probably admit to certain times in their working lives when they lack the motivation to do honest hard work.
If this relates to you, ask yourself honestly whether you're the type who has constantly cut corners, doing the minimum amount of work necessary for a certain project, and making excuses for handing-in papers late.
For many young people just starting out at work, there is the assumption that this tendency would end when they started doing a regular, paying job. However, in practice, this often proves extremely difficult - especially in a large, open-plan office where there may not be an obvious supervisor standing overseeing the job. In this sort of working environment, there are many employees who spend the majority of their time messing around on the internet, writing or even doing anything to waste time and not do the work for which they are being paid.
Posted by: Uticopa in new year resolutions on
Jan 07, 2009
As Big Ben made its first chimes in the icy chill that heralded the New Year, many were those who decided to make a new year's resolution for the first time in their lives. After all the economic disasters of last year, it was perhaps inevitable there would be a collective inner wish for a better life in 2009. But are our resolutions doomed to failure as soon as life intrudes? Furthermore, do men make different New Year resolutions from women, and what can we learn from psychologists on how to sustain our inner pledges?
Prof Richard Wiseman, an eminent psychologist from the University of Hertfordshire, found that in smokers, only 12 per cent were successful in their resolution to stub out their last cigarette. Of those pledging to lose weight, only 28 per cent succeeded in avoiding the temptation to continue their largely sedentary habits.
To achieve success, men and women must follow different rules. Men are significantly more likely to succeed if asked to set a goal for themselves: for example, instead of trying to lose weight, focus on a measure of success, such as becoming more attractive to women.
