Personal growth: One possible path to a life with less fear and worry October 11, 2018
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Overcoming Fear.Tags: life, negative thinking, philosophy, positive thinking, problem-solving, psychology, reducing anxiety, reducing worry, the benefits of action, writing
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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
How you can be your own personal growth advisor May 5, 2018
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in personal development ideas.Tags: inspiration, life, personal development ideas, personal growth, personal growth advisor, personal growth program, philosophy, problem-solving, psychology, self-actualization, writing
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One of the reasons that we turn to “experts” for help in our personal growth challenges is because our own thoughts are often colored by anxiety and other emotional baggage, so we seek objectivity in the words of others; but what if there were a way we could remove our encumbering anxiety and emotionalism.
What if we were able, at least some of the time, to provide our own custom personal growth and self-actualization advice?
Actually, we each have this capability but usually don’t consciously realize it.
Even though we all have our own troubles and challenges, I am sure most of us have, at one time or another, given suggestions to help a friend or relative who came to us for advice on dealing with a problem.
And we gave that advice without being weighed down by personal anxiety or emotionalism.
We were able to deal with their problem(s) objectively.
Although it will take some practice and work, the next time a problem comes up, or you are fretting about a current problem, try pretending (so to speak) that you are giving advice on the problem to your friend or relative.
Write your advice down as a number of points, complete with action steps directed towards a solution.
It may be harder to do than it sounds, but this is one way we can begin to examine at least some of the difficulties we face as solvable challenges.
Solvable through our own personal resources.
— Dennis Mellersh
Personal Development Ideas 