By Josie Malinowski — 2020
An exclusive chapter from 'The Psychology of Dreaming' by Josie Malinowski, published by Routledge Psychology as part of their 'Psychology of Everything' series.
Read on thepsychologist.bps.org.uk
CLEAR ALL
Living a self-determined life doesn’t mean that you have to quit your job or move countries or make any other radical changes, it’s all about the small steps.
Humans are the only animals on earth who punish themselves a thousand times or more for the same mistake, and who punish everybody else a thousand times or more for the same mistake.
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If you use your awareness, you will see everything you believe, and this is how you live your life. Your life is totally dominated by the system of beliefs that you learned.
Natalie Goldberg’s classic Writing Down the Bones introduced writing as a spiritual practice. She discusses Zen and the writer’s practice with author and Buddhist teacher Steve Hagen, moderated by Scott Edelstein.
We don’t have to reject scientific logic in order to benefit from instinct.
Getting to know yourself is equal parts intimidating and exhilarating. It allows you to open a window of understanding and acceptance that can have a tremendously positive impact on your life.
Self-reflection is the key to self-awareness: it allows us to look neutrally at our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions. Through this practice, we are able to look at ourselves with interest and curiosity.
Many world champion athletes, business people, and spiritual teachers all cite self-reflection as an essential key to success. This is also true for ‘everyday people’ who are fulfilled and happy with their lives.
Have you ever thought about your own thoughts or questioned your mental processes? Do you sometimes take time to clarify your values in a moment of doubt or uncertainty? If you answered “yes,” you are no stranger to self-reflection and introspection.
Research has shown that reflection boosts productivity. Yet few leaders make time for it. Why? For one, they often don’t know where to start. You can become more reflective by practicing a few simple steps.