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Personal growth: One possible path to a life with less fear and worry October 11, 2018

Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Overcoming Fear.
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None of us is entitled, nor likely expects, to enjoy a life free of problems and major challenges, but it would be a relief and make us more effective if, while experiencing the normal difficulties of existence, we could be largely free of worry and anxiety.

Some problems in life are so life-altering or threatening that we cannot escape a significant emotional impact, such as the death of a loved one, a catastrophic illness, a sudden physical disability, or possible financial ruin.

But for many of our problems, even major ones, it may be possible  to replace worry, fear, and anxiety with their less crippling emotional cousin, namely, the emotional and intellectual quality of “concern.”

An endless cycle of worrying, visiting “our problem” again and again, playing an eternal loop of regret of the past and/or foreboding about the future is destructive and counter-productive.

Conversely, concern about a problem implies a moderated approach coupled with the important ingredient of action, of goal-directed activity.

In  fact it is the quality of action that helps turn worry into concern, because it is the beginning of finding a solution to our problems.

Not suggesting anything here that we don’t already know, if only intuitively.

But we do need to constantly remind ourselves that worry in itself does not move us forward, rather it paralyzes us, eventually making us go backwards.

I’m still learning on this particular internal journey.

Dennis Mellersh

Personal development: The ongoing quest for doing our best work October 8, 2018

Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Concept of personal growth.
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In our study and practice of personal growth programs and ideas, one of the key purposes is the achievement of self-actualization and the realization of our full potential; but for many, this is an effort filled with uncertainty.

We may feel that our life is passing by at a rapid rate and we haven’t hit our zone yet.

Actually, it’s never too late.

A new study reported in the New York Times suggests that our best work may be ahead of us.
Reporting in the Times Smarter Living newsletter, editor Tim Herrera comments:

“A study published in Nature found that about 90 percent of people will experience a “hot streak” in their career, which is that span of a few years when a person’s greatest, most effective work is produced. And — here’s the good part — your hot streak can appear at any point in your working life, meaning that it’s never too late (or too early) to hit your peak.”

The study examined the careers of artists, film directors and scientists.

Here’s a link to the newsletter which provides more detail:

Dennis Mellersh