Self-Improvement Archives

Psychosomatic Disease Is Subconscious Self-Sabotage

What causes psychosomatic disease? How can a mental problem manifest physically? According to Gay Hendricks, psychosomatic ailments often ensue following very positive or pleasurable experiences. For example, if you get sick on your honeymoon, this may be a psychosomatic effect of nearing what he calls “the Upper Limit Problem.” If this is the case, it may be your mind affecting your body as a means of self-sabotage, or self-punishment. Here’s how your mind makes you sick, according to Hendricks.

How to Turn Negativity Into Positivity

Can you transmute negative emotions? How can you turn negative emotions into your greatest advantage? If the negative emotion you’re feeling is not appropriate based on the situation, it doesn’t serve you—it’s only making you miserable. The good news is that emotional states are malleable—you can transform negative emotions into positive ones. Here’s how to turn negativity into positivity, according to mind coach Vex King.

The 80 20 Principle by Richard Koch: Book Overview

What is Richard Koch’s The 80/20 Principle about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book The 80/20 Principle, Richard Koch explains that the successful few are simply leveraging a fundamental truth at work in all of our lives: 80% of results stem from 20% of inputs. Therefore, Koch says you must spend more time on what matters, and less time on what doesn’t—for example, by finding work you enjoy, spending less time on things you’re not good at, and avoiding people who drain your energy. Below is a brief overview of the key themes.

Taking Responsibility: Nathaniel Branden’s Advice

What do you do when things don’t go your way? Do you blame external circumstances, or do you take it on your own account? What does it mean to take responsibility for your life? Taking responsibility, Nathaniel Branden says, means taking ownership of your life, behavior, and well-being. In other words, you stop the external factors for your misfortunes—you take responsibility where it’s due. Keep reading to learn what taking responsibility is, why it matters, and how you can facilitate it by completing practical exercises.

Decision Hygiene: Principles and Best Practices

What is decision hygiene? How can following the decision hygiene principles help you filter out noise and bias and make the best choices? The term “decision hygiene” comes from the book Noise by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein. The book focuses on how to improve the judgments that affect some of the most important aspects of our lives, including our justice system, medical care, education, and business decisions. Here’s how to practice good decision hygiene, according to Noise.

How to Take a Compliment: Let People Appreciate You

How do you respond when people compliment you? Do you often shy away from accepting praise? Many people don’t know how to take a compliment because they feel like they don’t deserve it. If you feel uncomfortable when people compliment or praise you, you likely have a self-limiting belief that the compliment contradicts. Here’s why you may feel uncomfortable when being praised or complimented.

How to Be Grateful No Matter What

How to Use the Law of Gratitude to Attract Wealth

Do you tend to focus on the things you have or the things you lack? How can practicing gratitude help you shift your focus from lack towards positivity and abundance? When you are grateful for your good fortunes, you emit good vibes, which attract more goodness into your life. However, it can be hard to appreciate what you already have when you focus on the things you lack. Here’s how to be grateful, no matter how little you have.

How to Act With Integrity: Honor Your Values

You can heal with love. Discover how the love you feel in your heart can improve your physical health and help you overcome illness.

What does it mean to act with integrity? Why is it important to align your actions with your values? What does acting with integrity entail in practice? When you act with integrity, your behavior reflects your values. You may not choose the perfect option every time, but you strive to find and follow the option that best reflects your values. If your values point to opposing behaviors, you weigh your options and select what seems best. Keep reading to learn why integrity matters and how to act with integrity.

Why You Must Redefine Your Relationship to Time

Do you feel like there’s never enough time in the day? Do you tend to overfill your schedule to make the most of the time available? According to Richard Koch, the author of The 80/20 Principle, we need to give up the belief that there is a shortage of time. From his perspective, time isn’t scarce, but we regard it such. As a result, we feel compelled to stuff our schedules with more activity without thinking whether that activity is worthwhile. Here’s why you should abandon the scarcity mentality when it comes to your relationship to time.

The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem: Exercises & Prompts

Are you looking for The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem exercises? How can you put the book’s lessons into practice? In his book The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, psychotherapist and self-esteem expert Nathaniel Branden describes what he believes are the key components of self-esteem: 1) Living With Awareness, 2) Accepting Yourself, 3) Taking Responsibility, 4) Asserting Yourself, and 5) Living Intentionally. He explains how each pillar contributes to self-esteem and provides practical strategies for improving your self-esteem by practicing the six pillars or categories of behavior. Here are some reflection prompts and exercises that will help you consider the book’s lessons