Self-Improvement-Resources

A Phobia Can Be Like Gaol Sentence

2009-08-28T14:46:00.004+01:00

Many years ago, I had a friend whose husband died very suddenly.

They had been happily married for over twenty years and they had been inseparable. Now she was alone.

She had sons and daughters and they used to visit here regularly but, essentially, here reason for being alive had been taken away from her.

Months passed and it became noticeable that she didn't go out very much anymore. She preferred to stay at home behind closed doors; away from people. Her family were concerned but they were unable to coax her out to any kind of social event.

Gradually, she began to develop a fear of going outside altogether. Taking that small step over her front door began to be a traumatic event. And finally, it became obvious to her loved ones that she needed help.

I tell this little story because I have seen how a phobia can cripple and even destroy an otherwise healthy personality.

It makes me appreciate the value of mental health and freedom.

And it makes me fully empathise with those who can fall victim to their irrational fears.

Phobias - Causes

2009-08-12T10:43:00.007+01:00

So when does a fear actually become a phobia? And why do some people exhibit a phobia for some quite normal, everyday situations or objects?

Being overly fearful - showing signs of a phobia - is very much dependent upon past, personal experience.

For example, if a person is trapped in an elevator for some length of time, that fearful experience can evolve into a general discomfort with being in enclosed spaces and can then advance to the condition known as claustrophia. The subconscious has embedded within it the conditions of a fearful experience and when those conditions are duplicated then an extreme fear can be created.

Also, the influence of our parents can lead to the emergence of a phobia. If a child senses and realises that their mother or father is afraid, for example, of dogs then that fear can be transmitted and the child can then develop a canine phobia.

Of course, all phobias are psychological and that is where their solution lies. If a sufferer can understand why he is afflicted by a particular phobia then the fearful experiences held in the subconscious can be addressed. But it is often very difficult for a sufferer to discuss their phobia openly with others.

And because of that, solutions are available that deal directly with the subconscious mind, going to the very root of the problem.

Knowing Yourself

2009-08-05T14:37:00.005+01:00

I would like to bring your attention to a Teacher for whom I have the greatest respect. His message of self discipline, tolerance and love has had a profound effect upon mankind.

He was a man who fully understood the immense potential of the human being. Further information for you here.

I hope you will be stimulated and inspired.

Are Subliminal Messages Effective?

2009-08-04T14:46:00.004+01:00

Subliminal messages work by bypassing the conscious mind and being delivered straight to the subconscious mind.

Many believe that subliminal messages can influence our behaviour and there is evidence that the technique has been used in advertising, music and film. Even the great, Walt Disney has been accused of allegedly incorporating subliminal messages into their cartoons!

There is, of course, a link between the conscious and the subconscious mind, which allows the subconscious mind, in turn, to affect the conscious mind. Thus, any ideas, suggestions or goals that are embedded in the subconscious can be eventually ‘materialised’ into reality, no matter how unrealistic they may seem at that time. This is because the subconscious is unable to debate or critically uncover the fallacies of these thoughts.

The mind absorbs vast amounts of information every waking minute. Most of this consists of the minutia of living that we are able to ignore at a conscious level. If we did not have the capacity to do this then we could soon become mentally exhausted and unstable.

In 1985, Dr Joe Stuessy in a statement to the United States Senate believed that heavy metal music could contain covert or subliminal messages. Such messages, considered to be detrimental to the listener, are heard by the subconscious but not the conscious mind. Also, sometimes the messages are audible but are backwards - known as 'back masking - and this causes the mind to make a special effort to understand it. Subliminal messages take advantage of this system.

Subconscious stimulus by single words is well known to be effective in changing human behaviour or emotions. Psychologists and scientists have been aware of the positive benefits of subliminal messages and used it to improve motivation in business and sports.

Today, there are many subliminal messaging aids available that are used to enhance human performance.

Subliminal Messages – Use or Abuse?

2009-07-29T14:44:00.006+01:00

Many believe that subliminal messages can influence our behaviour and there is evidence that the technique has been used in advertising, music and film. Even the great, Walt Disney Empire has been accused of allegedly incorporating subliminal messages into their cartoons.

But whatever your views on subliminal messaging, it has in fact been around for some time: 1898 to be precise, when it was expounded by E. W. Scripture in 'The New Psychology.' Over the decades, the technique has developed and it was used, for example, during the Second World War to train soldiers to recognise enemy airplanes.

It was an American psychologist, Harry Levi Hollingworth, who suggested that subliminal messages could be used in advertising. The technique seemed to lend itself to increasing desire for a product and, thereby, improving sales. Many experiments were performed, with mixed results, but the general overview is that subliminal messages are effective.

And the use of subliminal messages in music has also received some attention.

In 1985, Dr Joe Stuessy in a statement to the United States Senate believed that heavy metal music could contain covert or subliminal messages. Such messages, considered to be detrimental to the listener, are heard by the subconscious but not the conscious mind. Also, sometimes the messages are audible but are backwards - known as 'back masking' - and this causes the mind to make a special effort to understand it.

Subconscious stimulus by single words is well known to be effective in changing human behaviour or emotions. Psychologists and scientists have been aware of the positive benefits of subliminal messages and used it to improve motivation in business and sports.

Although the use of subliminal messages in advertising, in film and in music has caused some controversy, the advancement of subliminal messaging as a form of therapy has enabled the individual to discover for themselves whether it may improve areas of their thinking and attitudes.

Courses, software and CD's are now available and there is evidence that the personal use of subliminal messages, especially those tailored to the individuals specific need, can prove beneficial and effective.

Let's Have A Laugh...

2009-07-28T11:40:00.006+01:00

I am a great believer in laughter.

Not at the expense of others, I might add, but just an honest to goodness laugh at something that is funny.

We are told that laughter stimulates us physically, mentally and spiritually. So, with the intention of providing you with a little pick me up, I hope you don't mind if I tell a joke once and awhile. So, here we go...

Harry pins a warning sign to his front door saying, 'BEWARE OF THE BUDGIE.'
A passer-by sees this and says, 'Excuse me, but I didn't know budgies could be dangerous.'
'They're not,' says Harry. 'But this one can whistle for the Rottweiler.'

Smileeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Subliminal Messages Can Enhance Well Being

2009-07-27T10:43:00.003+01:00

If you feel a little uneasy about the use of subliminal messages then you are probably not alone. It can appear as indoctrination and mind control to many of us. But, whether for good or evil, subliminal messages appear to work.

So what exactly is a subliminal message?

It can be defined as a signal or message embedded in another medium, designed to pass below the normal limits of the human mind's perception. The basic principles of subliminal messaging were first described way back in 1898 by E.W. Scripture in 'The New Psychology.'

Since then, it has been proven in various, scientific studies to influence the behaviour of those exposed to it. Most of us are aware of the use of subliminal messages in advertising and the controversy that it has caused. But, the technique was also used during World War 11 to train soldiers to recognise enemy airplanes.

And today, many professionals involved in the fields of self development and motivation recognise the effectiveness of subliminal messaging. Software is now available - despite attempts to ban it - to help anyone improve their life situation.

Being regularly exposed to positive suggestions, chosen by the individual themselves to suite their exact needs, is considered an effective way of improving one's personality, habits and general outlook on life.

Self Improvement Hassle

2009-07-21T11:32:00.006+01:00

As I am now approaching middle age, I am mindful of the good news about reaching this time of life. The glass is still only half full. But the bad news, of course, is that pretty soon my teeth could be floating in it!

As we advance in years, it becomes important to make the most of ourselves: to discover new areas of living: improve our relationships: learn new skills and new ways of looking at life.

At some time, many of us take a long, hard look at ourselves and question the way we have dealt with life's challenges. The idea of self development and self improvement begin to have a relevance that they never had before.

Both young and old, have a desire to find self improvement solutions. We may have a certain area of our personality that we feel needs polishing or even demolishing altogether and totally rebuilding. We search for self improvement ideas to enhance our enjoyment of life itself.

And this is where the problems and frustrations often arise.

There is such a vast amount of self improvement information available. You only have to look, for example, on Amazon or search the web and you will be presented with a staggering selection of books, CD's and study courses.

Self improvement and motivation are of major interest today. All of us want to be successful in our lives and to achieve anything at all we must be motivated. And for modern women, self improvement seems to be a particular area of concern.

But, in my experience, finding quality material is difficult. It can be a real 'self improvement hassle.' And it is possible to waste a great deal of time and money before you find exactly what you want.

Because of this problem, I have spent some considerable time identifying some of the highest quality products dealing with the whole area of self development and improvement.

Finding the best, self improvement resources has become something of a quest for me and I want to share the fruits of my searches with you.

So hopefully, I intend to look at particular areas of self improvement and bring to your attention topics that may be a source of inspiration and help.

And finally, one of the serious signs of getting old, so I am told, is that you soon realise that you can live without sex but not without your glasses!.