Let's Sermo

Let’s get talking again! (And Psychology for Self Insight)

Firstly I have to apologise to all the loyal readers for not updating Let’s Sermo for a very long time. Times have really changed since I started the blog. I  had to juggle a lot between work, studies and more. I did not want to post just anything for the sake of updating the blog.
During this time I receieved lots of mails / comments about the blog being inactive- I promise to reply to each and every one of them.

I am setting a goal to update the blog at least once a month- with a post that will add value to everyones lives. And as usual I look forward to guest posts.

Also, I want to share with you my company’s revamped website- Rockstah Media.

Anyways, its never too late to start afresh. So here goes. This is a guest post by Allison Gamble and its called “Psychology for Self Insight”. Its an interesting read.

Know thyself. This advice, which goes back to Ancient Greece, is deeper and more difficult to follow than it may seem. However, self-awareness and insight can make a world of difference in your life. Truly self-aware people are more likely to make the right choices in relationships, business and personal matters.

Luckily, psychology, the study of behavior, can tell us a great deal about why we do, think and feel certain things. One way to learn more about yourself is through psychological counseling, but you can learn a lot about yourself outside of therapy. For instance, you can learn the basic principles of psychology without even getting a psychology degree, by simply taking beginning psychology classes either online or your local community college. You can also do simple exercises and activities that inspire you to think about yourself and why you make the choices you do. Besides learning how to make better choices for yourself, you can also gain insight into the motives of the people around you.

Basic Psychological Ideas

One of the most basic psychological ideas is that our life experiences, beginning in infancy, affect our responses and are partly responsible for who we become as we mature. These are called our psychodynamic influences. We are also affected by our personal chemistry and by the expectations of culture and society.

Different branches of psychology study these influences to determine not only what effect they have on people, but how people can gain insight and change unwanted behavior. For example, if you had loving parents who smoked, you might enjoy smoking because it reminds you of the good times you had with your parents. However it would do you well to find other ways to evoke these memories so you can quite smoking and improve your health.

Keeping a Journal

One of the best ways to gain insight into your own past and present is to keep a journal. Get a notebook or use a computer program and just start writing. If you don’t know what to say, write down that you are at a loss for words. Many people begin self-insight journals by writing memories of their past and childhood. You can also try getting a photograph that’s meaningful to you and describe what it reminds you of or how it makes think or feel. Another technique to gaining self-insight is making an art journal. Drawing or using collage can help you associate your thoughts, make connections and sort things out.

Simple Exercises

One popular method that often used to change the way people think is cognitive psychology. Business people often employ this technique when meeting with clients, as it is helpful for understanding and meeting their needs. Although no branch of psychology has all the answers, you might find some of the following exercises useful.

One exercise is based on Abraham Maslow’s theory of personality. The main principle of this theory is we all have certain types of needs that must be met. Therefore our goal is to find out which of our needs are not being met and modify our behavior to achieve them. To do so, try creating journal entries describing your needs and how to fulfill them according to Maslow’s system.

Another insight-oriented approach related to Maslow’s ideas, is Gestalt psychology. The idea is to see people, things and problems as whole entities rather than as assemblages of parts. Instead of interpreting and analyzing everything, Gestalt therapy focuses on paying attention to your current sensory impressions, thoughts, feelings and actions. Use to your journal to find out what is stopping you from meeting your own needs or expressing yourself.

Connecting with Nature

Finally, many psychologists believe that human beings must connect with nature to reduce stress, yet as we become an increasingly urban society this becomes more difficult. Find botanical gardens, parks, national or state forests in your area and go there if you can. If it’s simply impossible, bring nature into your home. Some people even have small trees in tubs. If your apartment has a patio or balcony, create a container garden. Even a few flowers can make a lot of difference.

Clearly, psychology is not just one area of study, but a combination of several different approaches. By working with your journal, doing mental exercises or just meditating, you can gain insight and self-understanding. Ultimately you will be able to improve your life, and the lives of those around you, simply by knowing yourself.

Over To You:

What psychology-based practices do you have that help you know yourself? What have you gained from them?

Tags: Allison, Ancient Greece, Blog, Choices In Relationships, Firstly, Guest Post, Infancy, Insight, Kno, Life Experiences, Local Community College, Long Time, Loyal Readers, Motives, Personal Matters, Principles Of Psychology, Psychological Ideas, Psychology, Psychology Classes, Psychology Degree, Psychology Online, Right Choices, Sake, Self Awareness, Sermo, Time Times, Unwell

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 4:41 pm and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.