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Depression is believed by the medical profession to be the most prevalent disease of our time. The fear of developing heart problems or cancer alone is enough to cause tremendous stress and accompanying depression. There is a tremendous malaise circulating our world today. Both the medical profession and the media are constantly “warning” us of the dangers and probabilities of different diseases, some of which seem more than likely to shorten our life span. For instance, if there is cancer in your family, you’re most likely going to get it! And of course, if cancer is not threat enough there is always the West Nile virus, Bird flu, AIDs and a host of other diseases to frighten us…

One thing is for sure, we will never hear the end of calamities that are likely to beset us, whether from disease or some other form of challenge we may face. It seems inevitable that there will always be “something” that will get our blood pressure soaring.

So, what is the answer to this problem? How can we carry-on with our lives without being constantly afraid of what lies around the next corner? Here are several suggestions about how to effectively deal with life’s challenging situations:

1) Seek interpersonal support

People need other people, and there are many good and practical ways to relieve stress and anxiety. Exercise, good nutrition and positive thinking are great antidotes. These not only help relieve the angst; they actually give us a sense of empowerment over our lives.

2) Seek spiritual guidance about spoken words

The Bible tells us that the power of life and death are in the tongue. Words can both bless and curse (James 3). Negative words can evoke fear, anxiety and actually produce negative effects in a person’s life.

Whenever a word is heard - any word - the mind paints a picture of it. For instance, when someone says “black cow” immediately you will see that cow in your mind’s eye. Although words are not tangible, they have the power to bring about emotional and physical change! Remember - The Bible teaches that the earth was created by the Word of God! Now that’s real word power!

We all have a choice when it comes to listening and what we hear. We can choose to empower ourselves by listening to positive words and encouraging thoughts or we can do otherwise. Think about the last time you listening to some of your favorite music…Did your feet start tapping? Did you start to hum the melody? Didn’t your mood lighten-up a bit as a result of hearing the melody and the words? Negative words almost always produce negative results, whether seen or unseen. On the other hand, positive words instill a sense of well-being. A mere smile and a quick, happy-sounding, “Have a great day!” can instantly produce good feelings and joy.

3) Develop a “thankful” attitude.

Thankfulness is one of the greatest virtues. A wise man once said that if we divided a page in two and wrote all our setbacks on one side and all our blessings on the other, we would find that the blessings far outweigh the negatives. The Bible teaches us to give thanks with a grateful heart for all things. Don’t look back on past hurts, nor fret about tomorrow. Live “today” to the fullest…choose joy and thankfulness.

In conclusion, remember that our thoughts respond to what we feed the mind through our senses. Therefore, it naturally follows that happiness is a choice. This may be a foreign concept to many of us at first, but when applied, the results can be truly amazing! Break the habit of feeling trapped in a world of negative thoughts and decide to switch-on the power of positive thoughts, today.

Dr. Isaac Schumann brings to you a life time of experience in the mental health field
www.depressionhelpguides.com

It’s frustrating when your co-workers, teenager or even your dog won’t listen. While you can’t control how they receive what you say, you can control how you send it. Here are a few tips on why people don’t listen and what you can do to change it.

1. Short Attention Spans

Problem: When asked to guess the average adult attention span, most people say around thirty minutes. According to statistics, however, the average adult attention span is actually only seven seconds. That’s right! Every seven seconds you go away somewhere. You think about something else. In fact, you could actually be taking a mental break right now. It is a normal part of how the brain integrates external stimuli - like when your computer starts defragging for a moment while you type.

Solution: It helps to pause from time to time when you speak. This allows people to integrate your information or ask a clarifying question. Also, include examples to anchor your concepts. For example (see–I’m doing it now!), a concept without an example is like tree without roots, a house without a foundation, or Sonny without Cher. It just doesn’t have as much staying power.

2. Too Many Distractions

Problem: I was in a meeting the other day and five people coughed, four people side talked, three cell phones rang, two people went to the restroom, and a partridge did email on his PDA. Distractions are a big part of modern life.

Solution: Your best bet is to acknowledge the distractions in a playful way. A manager who recently led a meeting I attended did this. When a cell phone rang, he grabbed for it and said, “Hello, Greg is in a meeting right now and he forgot to turn off his cell phone. So, please call back in a minute and leave a message. Beep.” That prompted everyone to turn off their phones.

3. Lack of Training

Problem: Few of us were formally taught how to listen. You probably took Reading 8, Writing 11, but did you ever take Listening 10? Its little wonder listening is challenging.

Solutions: Quite accidentally, I learned how to listen by trying meditation. After a five-day retreat, I went to visit my aging father who was hard of hearing. My habit was to sit vacantly for hours while he complained about his arthritis, the error on his bank statement, and how hard it is to find good slippers. On this occasion, I surprised myself by totally paying attention to him with patience and compassion. After about ten minutes of complaining he suddenly changed tracks and started telling me fascinating stories about his childhood. Then he cranked up his hearing aidand asked about me! Learn how to give people your full, undivided attention and be ready for some pleasant surprises.

4. Language Barriers

Problem: The world of business is fast becoming a multicultural world. Although English is the default language of commerce, many people in your audience may speak English only as a second language. Last month I was addressing a large insurance company where most attendees turned out to be new immigrants from China. I used the expression “getting jiggy with it”, and I saw people rifling through their dictionaries. This prompted me to say “I’m sorry, that went way over your head”, and a number of people looked up at the ceiling.

Solution: If your listeners are ESL or have a more basic educational background, you need to simplify your language. Use much more literal descriptions rather than cultural expressions. Use facial and body language to express humor, and fewer words.

5. Unchecked Assumptions

Problem: Back in the 70s, Gilda Radner a comedienne who regularly performed on Saturday Night Live was well known for her popular character Emily Litella, a social activist with a hearing problem. Her causes included such important issues as violins on television, Soviet jewelry and endangered feces. Believe it or not, those Emily Litella types can be found in your audiences.

Solution: One way to clear up false assumptions is to state your point in many different ways, then ask for summarizing statements from your listener. For example, “I just want to make sure you understand what I’m trying to say. Can you repeat back to me what you think I just said?” You would be surprised how often people have completely misinterpreted you, especially if the issue is complicated, or a touchy subject.

6. No Reason to Listen

Problem: Finally, the main reason people don’t listen is because you haven’t answered their favorite question: “What’s in it for me?”
Solution: Before you start a long-winded monologue, tell your listener why you need their attention and make sure they understand how it will be benefit them. For example, “I’d like to tell you about this free software that will block all the spam before it gets to your Inbox…interested?” That will give you much better results than “When I was a youngster and I sat down in front of my first computer, I asked myself–how can I make this machine work for me? Then in 1972…” In general, put yourself in your listener’s shoes before you talk. And just remember the greatest of all wisdom–no one ever listened himself out of a job.

Carla Rieger is an expert on creative people skills at work. If you want a motivational speaker, trainer, or leadership coach to help you stay on the creative edge, contact Carla Rieger.

Web site: http://www.carlarieger.com
Tel: 1-866-294-2988
Email carla@carlarieger.com

Self hypnosis is usually thought of as a person listening to an audio tape, mp3, or other mass-produced media, intended to induce a willingness to absorb suggestions centered around a specific topic such as weight loss, stop smoking, etc. Unfortunately, this kind of hypnosis is generally prepared by someone who has never met the person being hypnotized, often presenting unwanted, even unpleasant imagery and suggestions. For example, if you sunburn easily, that last thing you want to hear about is a slow walk on a sunny beach. In this case, the “self” in self hypnosis simply means that you listen to it by yourself!

A true self hypnosis would necessarily be designed and created by the very person who will ultimately use and benefit from it. Unlike the mass-produced hypnosis, this hypnosis is made for the exact purpose the person wishes, including the precise words and phrases that mean the most to that particular person. The true self hypnosis is thus crafted by the person to suit his or her own needs. The benefits derived could only be accomplished with such a personal, one-of-a-kind hypnosis. In this case, the “self” in self hypnosis really does mean that you are hypnotized by yourself!

Custom Hypnosis Scripts

The form of hypnosis in this discussion entails the use of the spoken word. There are other forms - drug induced, fixation of sensory attention, etc. But for our purpose, let us confine ourselves to the spoken word, which is by far the most popular of modern methods. The hypnosis, therefore, requires the composition of what will be recited to the person, otherwise known as a script. It has been shown in the literature that the choice of words included in the hypnosis script can have a profound effect on its success in conveying the beneficial ideas to the user. Even if it is written using widely accepted grammar, and just the right jargon to reflect society’s opinions on the topic of the hypnosis, this does not guarantee that those words will have any powerful meaning for the person being hypnotized. It must be meaningful to the user, even if to no one else. A fabricated nonsense word fitting no frame of reference to the rest of the world, may be just the thing for the person who made up the word and knows just what it means. This is one of the great advantages of the custom hypnosis script. Particular people, familiar objects, events, routines, etc. peculiar to the person (and possibly no one else) are probably the most effective words to use. Always keep in mind that the aim of the script is to create a supremely meaningful experience for the person from start to finish. Therefore, all elements of the script should be to the taste, vocabulary, and possess a complete resonance with the beliefs of the individual using the hypnosis. As in the sunburn example above, if the imagery is objectionable to the person, it will probably be at that point in the script that the person “turns off” to t hypnosis experience. Likewise, if an objectionable behvioral idea is presented, that idea will either not be acted upon, or may even have some unwanted collateral effect, worsening the sitiuation. However, if the person to be hypnotized can truly say something like, “I wish I could think about this topic using the ideas contained in this hypnosis script.”, we would have every reason to anticipate success. Though there is such a thing as “brainwashing”, forcing the commission of behaviors and accepting concepts against the will of the person, it is not self hypnosis. In self hypnosis, the user must want to be hypnotized, and must want the ideas presented in the hypnosis, as well.

Having extolled the virtues of custom wording in hypnosis, we may now move on to the common elements found in many hypnosis scripts, regardless of wording. They may be termed in this way: stillness of the physical body; the imagination gateway; suggestion ideation; return to ordinary consciousness.

The Hypnosis Script Elements:

Stillness of the Physical Body

Since hypnotic induction depends on the mind concentrating on an “inner reality”, stimulation to the physical body should be at a minimum. Many scripts begin with instructions to relax the various muscles, moving from one group to another. This is called progressive relaxation. However you want to accomplish this “stillness” is your option. The body function of breathing is, of course, one movement that can’t be stopped and so it may be used as part of the relaxation, with instructions for slow and rhythmic breathing. Truly, the simple act of giving one’s self permission to be still and quiet may suffice, and prove quite enjoyable to those who lead generally hectic lives.

The Imagination Gateway

This next portion of the hypnosis script is essential, as it provides the entry point into one’s inner reality. When the person is engrossed in the imagination and dissociated from the surroundings, the person becomes more suggestible. This is the goal of hypnotic induction, to raise the level of suggestibility. Imagination is not limited to the laws of the physical universe. You may imagine any place, anywhere. Usually, though not necessarily, it is a place where you will feel comfortable and want to return to often. As you construct your scenario, be sure to include all of the five senses, plus movement (or the lack of it). Mention them in the context of the place you are creating and as you touch upon them all, you will find that you have created a rather complete experience. Remember, this need not be the relaxing lakeside or stroll on the beach that one might expect, unless you want it to be. It all depends on your own free flowing imagination. This is the ultimate in freedom!

Suggestion Ideation

Once you are thoroughly surrounded by your imagined place, it is time to give yourself the ideas you want/need. Though the whole thing takes place within your own mind, we can still call these ideas suggestions because you will hear them spoken to you, even if they are of your own invention. There has been much written about how to word a suggestion - keep it positive and direct, etc. In this case, all it has to be is meaningful to you. It doesn’t matter if you use negativity, double negatives, or negative numbers, so long as it makes good sense to you. Suggestions may be thought of as falling into one of two categories: philosophical and behavioral. The philosophical variety would consist of those ideas that form the reasoning behind something that we do or feel, the why. For example, a stop smoking hypnosis may delve into the rationale for quitting - my family is important to me and needs me to be healthy; It is better to live a long life than a short one, etc. The behvioral suggestions would give direct instruction regarding what to feel, or what to do. To continue the smoking example - cigarettes taste like burning garbage and are abhorrent to me.

It may seem unecessary, even artificial to categorize ideas in this way. If it seems so to you, then it is unecessary. In truth, it is best to write any suggestion that you desire.

There is one more type of suggestion worth mentioning. On occasion, it may be useful to trigger some sort of behavior or emotion at the mention of a particular word, or the sight of a particular person, thing, or even imagining a particular symbol.. For example, to combat anxiety, the suggestion might be, “when I say the word ‘playful’ to myself I will instantly regain my composure and will calmly face the challenges before me.” Picturing a symbolic object or person may also be very effective for this purpose. Symbols in themselves have a powerfully hypnotic connection to non-conscious thinking. For more about the non-conscious, please see the article, “What’s Hard to Find, but Always With You?” at http://www.hypnosoft.com.

Closing Your Hypnosis Script

After making the suggestions, it is time to wind down the hypnosis and return to ordinary thinking. You may want to extend the pleasure of relaxation, giving yourself some time to rest. If the hypnosis is to be used just before sleep, you may wish to give yourself instructions on how you want to fall asleep and what time you want to awaken. For other types of hypnosis, you will want to give the instruction to awaken. Many scripts use backward counting to give the mind a chance to prepare for the return. For example, “you will hear counting, moving backward from three to one. When you reach one, you will awaken and return to your ordinary thinking. Three…two…one. You are awake.”

Recording Your Hypnosis Script

When your script is complete, you will want to record it on a cassette tape, computer file, or other medium. Some people like to have music playing in the backgound. Many do not, finding it a distraction. Also, some people like to look at something hypnotic while listening to their hypnosis. Such pictures are available at http://www.geocities.com/hypnosis_self_hypnosis.

About The Author

The work of Richard A. Blumenthal, MS, NCC has been published in such esteemed journals as Medical Hypnoanalysis, The International Journal of Psychosomatics, The Journal of Human Behavior and Learning, and The British Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Mr. Blumenthal is the originator of Rational Suggestion Therapy, and the inventor of HypnoSoft Self Hypnosis Software, located at http://www.hypnosoft.com, for which he was awarded a United States patent.

rbtw@optonline.net

Science-of-Learning

Is learning a ’science’ or an ‘art’ - if it’s a science it can be analyzed and replicated. An ‘art’ is much harder - personality plays a large role in communicating effectively with executives, professionals and students.

There are three authentic ‘geniuses’ in teaching - Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.),who is credited with pointing us toward sensual pleasures and luxury. He actually taught that humans are born to pursue pleasure and avoid pain.

Second, is Abraham Maslow, who offered the Hierarchy-of-Values, and the Four Stages of Learning - and helped changed psychology from Behaviorism (no feelings or emotions), to Humanism. More later.

Third, is Roger W. Sperry, who spent thirty-years of his career discovering the evidence that we have two cranial independent brains. He received the Nobel Prize for his Split-Brain research while at California Institute of Technology.

Professor Maslow Said

The most difficult aspect of speed reading is getting students to believe they are capable of Tripling their reading speed - and practicing and rehearsing to create
a neuroconnection and neuropathway in their brains. Once they have physically practiced for fifteen-minutes daily, between 21 to 42 days, using a RasterMaster to underline the sentences, they begin to acquire a habit - and speed reading becomes natural and an automatic skill.

Every athletic team - football, baseball, soccer etc. must practice daily to hone their skills and gain team feedback. To triple your reading speed - with excellent comprehension - you have to rehearse your strategies and techniques.

It applies to physical skills and absolutely is a requirement for your cognitive gifts and talents. Griping does not change the need for practice - until it becomes a
habit.

The Four Stages of Skill

First, ‘Unconscious Incompetence’ - some call it ’subconscious’ or ‘non-conscious’,
but we are referring to not using logic-reason-ordered thinking.

This is the ‘worse’ of the four - because we don’t even know that we are ignorant of how to perform the skill. We don’t have the information to realize we are ‘out-of-the-loop. Imagine functioning today without computers and the Internet - and not even being aware how you make them function.

Second, Conscious Incompetence - we know that computers and the Internet exist and are valuable - but personally have no idea how to turn-on the damned thing.
Every time we pass the computer - we want to run out of the room - it makes us
anxious and stressed because we know we are not competitive in the 21st century.

Add this - it is outside of our ‘comfort-zone’, and when we attempt to discover the
secrets of the computer - we screw it up. It is frustrating and annoying.

Third, Conscious Competence - we can do the darn-thing, but it requires all our Intention-Attention and Concentration. We are thinking our way through the process, and it feels unnatural and foreign.

Fourth, Unconscious Competence - it is a habit - we are operating on auto-pilot, we are operating holistically without having to tell ourselves what to do step-by-step.
Ever see a professional secretary operate the keyboard, handle a telephone call, and
order lunch for the staff simultaneously? Remember when you first learned to surf-the web, and all the errors you made? I couldn’t even ‘point-and-click’, or find ‘edit’, to hit Select-All and Copy. Now your brains and hand fly through the commands.

We forget the tension, frustration and lack of control in learning to ride-a-bike,
drive-a-car, or way-back - walking upright.

Strategies to Learn Anything

OK - there are four stages of learning - here’s how I remember them.

a) University of Iowa (Unconscious-Incompetence) -
b) CIA - Conscious Incompetence,
c) Carbon-Copy - Conscious Competence,
d) University of California - (Unconscious Competence).

What strategies help our brain shift-gears from #1 to #4?

The first step to moving between learning stages is to send orders (commands)to our brain. The three most powerful senses to communicate back-and-forth to our brain are: Vision - Hearing and Kinesthetic (tactile - touch).

Stay with me - if you write or word-process a Target-Affirmation (order), to your brain - using new programming - it grabs attention. When you write or type you hear the words in your mind, see the sentences with your Primary Visual Cortex, and by using your fingertips - use your tactile - sense of touch. Simultanously firing all three primary-senses reinforces your new programming.

Example for Speed Reading:

“Everyday in every way,

I give myself permission

to triple my reading speed,

and get better-and-better.”

Write or type these four sentences eight (8) times daily, for
21 days, and it becomes implanted as a brain-command. Write or type with feeling and emotion - to make it stick.

Act as-if, think as-if, and feel as-if you already have
the object of your burning-desire. Give it a Duchenne-Smile, laugh and feel great
about it. Expectations and your emotions rule!

Permission

Why do you have to give yourself permission to do something new-and-different?

Humans operate 99% on habit and experience - it creates our ‘comfort-zone’.

Everything else is seen by our brain as invading our comfort-zone and rejected.

Only by creating a new habit - running on auto-pilot - will we be happy and comfortable in accepting newsness-and-change into our lives.

How to Speed-Up Your Learning Stages

Whatever you see in your mind’s eye is immediately transmitted to both your left-
and right-hemispheres (brains). Mental imagery occurs ’spontaneously’ based on our neurocircuitry (see stream-of-consciousness) - or by using our Volition (choose, will), to insert it in our visual-cortex. Some believe imagery begins in the precuneus
area of our brain.

Whatever appears as a mental-image is treated by the brain as reality. The original work was done at Harvard by Professor Stephen Kosslyn, and has been replicated
over the following thirty-years. When we practice creating mental-movies of the goals we desire - they are treated as Target-Affirmations by our brain. It is a computer-command and must be implemented. Think of our mind as the software, and the brain as the hardware.

When we are writing or typing our dailyTarget-Affirmation as an exercise, simultaneously imagine and create a simple mental-picture of what you want to occur. The picture can be simple - but the greater the detail - the more effective.

An example for Speed reading is seeing your pacer underlining the words
down the page, or your pen ‘underlining’ the sentences. See the pacer -moving and
leaving a trace. Some students mentally-visualize the Z-for-Zorro down the page or
the Backward ‘S’ strategy - to shift your brain from incompetence to unconscious-competence, competence on auto-pilot.

Sperry’s Split-Brain Theory

Since 1981 when Dr. Sperry won the Nobel to date, the general public has accepted
the concept of specialization and localization of our brain - faster than the scientific
community.

We live and operate in a left-brained society - based on language, deductive and inductive thinking, reason and order. It has created skyscrapers and dams, wealth and a growing economy. We behave linearly and serially (one job-at-a-time), and
have been taught to distrust emotion - and our right-brain.

Our right-hemisphere is generally non-verbal, but is very skillful in pattern-recognition, visual-spatial skills, intuition, and operates as a parallel-processor,
(multi-tasking).

The two brains which can operate independently of each other - share knowledge
through the corpus-callosum, and the anterior and hippocampal commissures.
Our left is dominant 95% of the time while we are awake. When we sleep our left
brain releases its dominance and merely supervises. Our cognitive skills work
at their optimal-level when both brains are mutually involved.

Speed Reading is a psycho-motor skill - combining left-brain language skills,
with a right-brain dominance for pattern recognition, imagination and creativity.

EndPage

To obtain your burning-desires from cognitive-skills to new or improved relationships, together with wealth and success - you might consider using
modified Target-Affirmations and Mental-Visualizations. They work if you
practice and rehearse using ‘persistence-and-determination’.

Even those of us with inborn natural gifts and talents - born-to-play the piano - require massive practice and rehearsal to develop and maintain our acute optimal level.

We are not advocating ditching our left-brain skills - merely admitting to the game
our right-brain talents to release our personal brilliance.

We have received emails and telephone calls from graduates worldwide indicating
Speed Reading is the tip of the iceberg in producing positive-personal-growth.

The secrets of acquiring wealth and happiness begin with giving yourself permission
to enlarge your comfort-zone. The next step is practice and rehearsal of the
specific strategies that produce your burning-desires.

It appears that executives, professionals and school-students are capable of producing their own promotions, wealth-creation, and personal-relationships
far beyond the mere tripling of their reading speed, and doubling their memory.

Go for it today.

See ya.
copyright © 2005
H. Bernard Wechsler
www.speedlearning.org
hbw@speedlearning.org

Author of #1 book on Speed Learning, published by Barron’s
Educational, partner of Evelyn Wood, the creator of speed reading,
graduating 2 million, including the White House staff of four
U.S. Presidents.
http://www.speedlearning.org
hbw@speedlearning.org

Chapter III. Evolution of the person

All into all and All is God: In light of stars and dust of road,
In silent wood and dreaming flight, And knocks of heart in your
inside.

There is one alive essence which still has not reached the
perfection and in which all evolution is embodied. It is a
person. In daily life, probably, each of us met such
contradiction: the quivering attitude of the person to animals
and the cruel attitude of the same person to another people. The
matter is that he feels the perfection of animals and the
imperfection (i.e. a present stage of development) of people.
Distracting from the basic direction, we shall notice, the
imperfection of the person is influencing on homeostasis of
biosphere and it can result in irreversible process of
infringement of biosphere unity with pitiable consequences for
the person, the similar situation already was and will be
described below. So who is a person? Whence has he appeared and
when will be reached his perfection? There are some facts from
joint research of anthropologists and geneticists: about 250
thousand years ago there was a first expansion of the reasonable
person primogenitors from Africa to the Eurasian continent; the
reasonable person with physiology corresponding to us has
appeared about 150 thousand years ago in Africa; one woman is a
primogenitor of mankind; sharp reduction of prepersons number
(it was up to several thousand on one data, it was up to several
hundreds on another’s ) was preceded before occurrence of the
reasonable person; the (already) reasonable person began the
next worldwide expansion about 50 thousand years ago. There are
several hypotheses about the reasons of occurrence of the
reasonable person, beginning from influence of radiation and
finishing influence from space. We shall bring our hypothesis to
the common list. Occurrence of the reasonable person was
accompanied by infringement of biosphere homeostasis principles
and of unity. Infringement of the first principle of “narrow
specialisation” has taken place, when the premankind became
omnivorous, premankind passed from consumption of vegetative
food to animal. Infringement of the second principle of
“adaptability and birth rate” has arisen at sharp growth of
premankind adaptability and not reduction, more likely, increase
of ability to high rate of birth. We shall describe the script
of development of events of that epoch. Some millions years back
our ancestors had a little difference from modern humanoid
monkeys. They ate basically vegetative food, occupying a narrow
niche; otherwise, they were one of parts in a chain of
ecosystem. They were complete essences. They lived in harmony
with themselves and with an external world though this harmony
was not realised by them. They were perfect, more precisely the
perfect part of the whole. To them, instead of to modern
mankind, Marks’s definition “person is a public animal” is
approached, by virtue of an animal perfection. The mentality and
behaviour of the preperson too were as complete, fully
corresponding with ecological niche and a part in the ecosystem
with which he occupied. It would be well, if rudiments of the
preperson intelligence which we notice at humanoid monkeys have
not started to develop. Researches of monkeys have been carried
out at first half of the XX century by German scientist Wolfgang
Keller. Ability of humanoid monkeys to the solving of simple
tasks has been named “insight”, that means inspiration. Insight
allows the humanoid monkey to solve a task instantly or never to
solve it. Besides, paying attention on the theory of oriented
activity and the oriented reflex, open by Russian scientist I.
Pavlov, we suppose that the mentality of animals adheres to the
following complex of actions. Being based on the main instincts
(reproduction and self-preservation), having the centres of
pleasure, displeasure and the centre “That such?” (an oriented
reflex), during a training, the mentality of the supreme animals
is formed through formation of the associative structures
necessary for all occasions. When the animal gets in a familiar
situation, the mentality finds necessary associative structure
and an animal starts to operate according to this structure,
achieving reception of pleasure or avoidance of displeasure. In
a unfamiliar situation there is a oriented reflex (”That such?”)
which forces to create new associative structure from already
available, fastening of new structure occurs at achievement by
an animal of pleasure or at avoidance of displeasure. Therefore
animals can quickly change the behaviour at sharp change of
external conditions. As against them, insect’s life is
completely dictated by instincts. An insect at change of
external conditions will continue to carry out the started
earlier of actions programme even if it will result in senseless
result. Feature of the preperson is in creating of complex of
associative uniting structures with the associative detailed
structures. It promoted development of subject’s application and
instruments manufacturing, that in turn was the cause of
transition to animal food. Ability to detailed elaboration has
discharged the preperson from fauna and has given the
precondition to development of speech. The first associative
structure responsible for detailed elaboration has arisen when a
casually cracked stone found the useful application. In the
further evolutionary development the mentality of the preperson
was divided into two spheres. Associative generalising
structures were included in the first sphere. Associative
detailed structures were included in the second sphere. It
allowed with the help of instruments and joint actions of
prepeople with the minimal expenses of energy to direct the
whole herds of animals in an abyss or in a bog. It was a first
step to infringement of a homeostasis of an ecosystem,
infringement of the principle of “narrow specialisation”.
Ability to hunt on large animals became the cause of a prepeople
breeding and moving on the big distances from places where
animals were destroyed to places where there were an abundance
of animals. For 200 thousand years before expansion of the
reasonable person there was a first prepeople expansion.
Anthropologists have found remnants of prepeople in Africa and
on Eurasian continents. Anthropologists gave them the
Neanderthal men name according to a place of the first finding.
Neanderthal men are a deadlocking lateral branch of mankind
development. That part of premankind which did not begin to
participate in expansion and has remained in Africa according to
geneticists researches is our direct primogenitor. This part of
prepeople has kept the pantophagous as against returning to
specialisation at hunting of Neanderthal men. The use of fire,
the creating of dwelling in caves, the manufacturing of clothes
from skins of animals became the second step for the homeostasis
of ecosystem infringement. Constant rather comfortable
conditions of existence of our primogenitors have reduced an
interval between mating seasons, actually having made the
continuously mating season. Similar process is presently
observed in domestic animals. If for Neanderthal men while they
were at expansion this increase of ability to reproduction was
not acting to any way, for our primogenitors and for an
ecosystem where they existed it has turned back great disaster.
Unreasonable prepeople number increase was accompanied by
destruction of all accessible sources of nutrition; expansion on
other terrains was handicapped by Neanderthal men who have
already occupied all terrains. The tendency to the expansion,
warmed up by intrinsic tendency to a breeding, absence of the
united-limiting principle similar to principles of an ecosystem
homeostasis, and impossibility to be expansion has broken off a
generality of. One way remained to our ancestors. Way was to eat
similar prepeople, further it became norm, that has resulted in
sharp reduction of prepeople number. All this meat grinder and
unnatural selection developed ingenuity of prepersons; they have
learnt to distinguish himself from others (for the first time
appears an associative structure of self-identification). It was
a process having given a push to development of individual and
having sped up unnatural selection in struggle of all against
all. It lasted until one family has realised himself (under
pressure of a self-preservative instinct) as the united force
capable to resist against existing chaos. This was fixed by
genetical and physiological change. A potent associative
generality structure arose in mentality and on its basis the
system of behaviour rules and interdiction are assumed, first of
all interdiction on murder of a family member. The further
killing (continuation of unnatural selection process) has been
directed to interdiction infringers (owners of high aspiration
to a breeding and gluttonies) already from the part of a
community. Interdiction braked and pushed down the aspiration to
expansion into the unconscious. Associative structure linked
with behaviour in a community and in a society was formed in
“Super ego” (described by Z. Freud as the mental structure not
realised by the person arising under influence of social rules
and educational interdictions, shown in consciousness as
conscience). The aspiration to the interdiction breaking (i.e. a
part of structures inherent for an animal including a
reproductive instinct and all associative structures linked to
expansion) was pushed down under influence “Super ego” into the
unconscious. “Unconscious” has been formed by the pushing
(discovered by Z. Freud and named as “It”). On border between
“Super ego” and “Unconscious” appeared “Me-consciousness” on the
basis of associative frame of the self-identification generated
during an epoch of struggle of all against all. So was born a
reasonable person. Evolution has destroyed wholeness of animal
mentality in the reasonable person. Animals do not have “Ego”,
“Super ego” (conscience or moral) and complexes that pushed out
into “Unconscious”. Evolution has allocated these three
structures and has fixed their physiological and genetic
changes. Now evolution of mentality of the person occurs due to
development of these structures and mutual relation between
structures without genetic changes. The description of mental
processes of the person, his installations
(introversion-extroversion) and preferable functions are well
submitted in K. G. Jung’s works. Feature of a person world
perception consists in following. The person simultaneously
perceives general picture of world around a through associative
structures of the right hemisphere (the sensing function of
Jung) and distinguishes details through associative structures
of the left hemisphere (the cogitating function by Jung). A
person only details during his conscious process or builds logic
chain which does not accept the contradiction (the cogitating
function). “Unconscious” comes to the aid for overcoming
contradictions. The inspiration (insight) or the intuition forms
new associative structure in “Unconscious” and gives out a full
done picture into the consciousness, removing contradictions.
For example we can see Newton’s inspiration at discovering laws
of Heavenly mechanics or we can see Mendeleyev’s sleep which has
opened the Periodic table of chemical elements. The intuition of
the person is advanced insight of the supreme animals (the
intuitive function of Jung). Frequently the person perceives the
situation entirely and determines the attitude to a situation by
a principle” it is pleasant - it is not pleasant”. That is
comparison (not realised) of a situation with structures “Super
ego” (the feel function of Jung). Evolution has put (with the
help of division of mentality on “Super ego”, “Unconscious” and
“Me”) the contradiction not only inside the person, but also the
contradiction between people due to different main mental
function in the individual. Actually, because of it we speak
with each other in different languages, but about it in the
following chapter. So the person is an inconsistent essence. Its
self-identification is limited to consciousness and frame of the
body. And the large part of mental processes is not realised,
this is processes in “Super ego” and “Unconscious” structures.
We perceive phenomenon of “Unconscious” that achieve
consciousness more often sharply negatively. Why it occurs? The
alive matter law was embodied into “Super ego” of the person
(the aspiration to chaos at the bottom level unites system at
the top level). The law of a lifeless matter was embodied in
“Unconscious” (the aspiration to association at the bottom level
gives rise the variety of the top level). The consciousness
reflects but not understands this contradiction and remains as a
wanderer between heaven and earth.

The question of whether, say, a man should have the right to take away his life granted pain and suffering have overcome him is a very important question today. A different way of putting this question is this: ‘Should a man have the right to take away his life if he ceases to function as a human being?’ This matter would have been laid to rest had it not been that it strikes at the heart of law, key matters of health, and morality. It is a subject that, if not properly addressed, can cause some nasty consequences to the lives of people and pose unwarranted danger to the stability of a society.

The present question bears the amazing name “euthanasia”. Those who think that a man, for instance, has the right to take away his life under the condition stated may have some important points to put forward. Yet their points, upon closer inspection, could be seen to be overtly subjective, and, hence, moot.

A man - call him John - should have the right to function properly and contribute, in whichever form, to the collective movement of life. When this primary function is taken away, it ought not bring about a burden to people close to him or to others bearing no direct relation to him. But if his awful suffering prompts others to direct much of their time into taken care of him, then the multiplying effects are huge. The patient in question suffers severely and the others in question suffer mentally and emotionally.

Consider the three children of John who are engaged in skilled jobs. Their respective companies prize them as essential toward the general success of the company. But following the terminal illness of John, they have to spend much time in looking after him. One can see that this state of affair weighs heavily on the creative capacity of John’s children. Most likely, it would sting their emotional and mental health as well as their respective financial capacities. Furthermore, if matters of health in the society are largely supported by the state, then much money has to be spent on John to help sustain his life. In fact, the moral bases of these actions are in keeping with the fundamental tenets of human rights. Should the state or John’s children do otherwise, one could reasonably argue that the bestial character had controlled the conscience, so too passion. And this would have set a dangerous precedent since the easiness of self-centered life is sometimes valued far more than a hard life full of moral, legal and logical alertness. Most likely, others would follow the morally deficient example set by John’s children or the state; and to what extent their actions could be justified would be very hard to estimate. In this light, it is, indeed, very hard to put forward a straightforward answer in favour or against euthanasia.

If one ponders over the role the helpless patient plays in euthanasia, many questions compete for selection. Is John in the right emotional and mental condition to endorse his “compassionate” killing? Are his close relations in agreement with him that he should “compassionately” die? How can one sufficiently ascertain - bitter as this may seem - that John’s close relations have not conspired to end his life in order to ease their own (individual) disproportionate stresses in looking after him? In short, who should be trusted when the matter at hand refers to ending a person’s life through another agent, whether an expert or a lame person? And even if a medical expert approves, generally, of euthanasia and the specific case of John, how could one determine the motive at stake so as to free euthanasia of any element of suspicion?

It is in confronting such questions that it becomes difficult to justify euthanasia on logical, legal and moral grounds even though some specific instances may be claimed to warrant euthanasia. For assuming the agent himself, say, John, ended his life through his own doing and not through any agent, then one may, fairly quickly, conclude that he did the right thing in order to put excruciating pain to final rest.

Careful thought casts some doubts on the personal action of John. One can, for instance, ask whether John was in the right frame of mind prior to ending his own life or whether he was emotionally stable. And to say that the condition of John is irrelevant to judge the rightness or wrongness of his action may be foolish. It amounts, by a parallel reasoning, to saying that any individual knows best what condition he or she is in and has the sole privilege in correcting that condition, either to enhance life or terminate it. But this contention goes against the fundamentals of reasoning. It is purely a personal contention and does not submit itself to an objective scrutiny in order to free it of crude biases and moral dishonor.

Since one can choose to do to one’s own life what one pleases - because of the subjective character of inward life - one could equally claim that it should not matter what kind of person wants to terminate life: a mad or sane person, a minor or an adult, an idiot or a sage, and so on. From this viewpoint, one can see that the previous contention is baseless. Abnormality of any form should not be sanctioned or unduly promoted. That is why people who lack the standard human disposition are often seen as having trodden the path of gross errors and need to be corrected by appropriate means without fail. Danger awaits the society if abnormal persons or premature persons are granted the personal right - not freedom - to take away their own lives, either by themselves or through the mediation of agents. This brings to the fore the point that the sufferer acted, not according to a clear conscience or a composed will-power, but under some kind of pressure, either by being persuaded to end his/her life or by persuading himself/herself. The sufferer, in other words, did not have all the available options at his/her disposal from which to make the ultimate rational choice about the issue of compassionate death. But suppose all the available options were at the sufferer’s disposal, it still might not be morally proper to end life as an interventionist procedure was induced.

Think about the point that modern society is full of scientific-technogical facilities that have added a lot of sophistication to the movement of life. A person’s life-threatening disease could be artificially controlled or manipulated by using complex machines or genetically engineered medication. Simply applying the sophistication just stated could definitively end a person’s life-threatening disease. The moral dilemma that euthanasia brings about in this sense is largely connected to the question of manipulating a condition that leads to the death of the victim. Why should not death be allowed to occur naturally, thereby concluding that what happened was a noble death, a death in dignity? It seems clear that to tamper with this arguable noble death, by artfully and artificially facilitating it, is not in keeping with the natural play of human decency. It is an endeavour that may hint at the progress and development of science and technology; but if issues about cloning are morally questionable, therefore quite a threat to the harmonization of social life, then euthanasia may be viewed in like manner in spite of the scientific-technological creativities that may be advanced in its favour.

Euthanasia may engender the proliferation of all kinds of experiments about medication and medical equipment intended to justify the most effective means of stirring up mercy killing. Such practices will not serve the general interest of the society, for the issue of fame and profit may outweigh the question of selflessness. For example, the medical expert may not engage in the straightforward job of facilitating meaningful death in accordance with the patient’s wish, by an act of endorsement, directly or indirectly. The said expert may be more interested in the undeclared motive of testing a medical theory or/and the efficacy of a new drug on the victim. Once success in this area is confirmed, he/she may then continue to nourish the ego and the intellect with more experimentation on many other victims.

The question, then, ought to, finally, be confronted: Should moral, logical and legal matters resolve the rightness or wrongness of euthanasia? Or, should medical and scientific-technological issues decide the rightness or wrongness of euthanasia? If we go by the second point, then we can argue persuasively that it has been largely responsible for the evolution of human beings into the present form. And if the question of morality, law and logic were made to decide human evolution, then we, most likely, would not have been able to reach our current station in terms of advancement. But we are dealing with crucial issues about life and death, and the question of whether euthanasia is right or wrong must, for the present, lie unresolved. Perhaps, since there is no clear-cut answer to this question, the question itself need not be topical; nor should it proliferate. Those who want to practise euthanasia may then be censured.

About The Author

Mr. Stephen Ainsah-Mensah is a Canadian Educator, Race Relations Consultant, Writer, and Community Projects Coordinator. He has worked in various capacities as an instructor at the post-secondary level in Business courses and Life Skills. Currently, he is the principal of Handan-Lilac Education Group in China.

kamch22@yahoo.ca

Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of life. It is a complex disorder with a variety of causes. It is never caused by just one thing. It may be the result of a mix of factors, including genetic, chemical, physical, and sociological. It is also influenced by behavior patterns learned in the family and by cognitive distortions.

Depression affects millions of people in this country. It is always troubling, and for some people it can be disabling. Depression is more than just sadness or “the blues.” It can have an impact on nearly every aspect of a person’s life. People who suffer from depression may experience despair and worthlessness, and this can have an enormous impact on both personal and professional relationships. In this newsletter, I will describe many of the factors that may cause depression, and I will explore strategies for preventing it.

Depression Is Pervasive

When a person suffers from depression, it can affect every part of his or her life, including one’s physical body, one’s behavior, thought processes, mood, ability to relate to others, and general lifestyle.

Symptoms of Depression

People who are diagnosed with clinical depression have a combination of symptoms from the following list:

• Feelings of hopelessness, even when there is reason to be hopeful

• Fatigue or low energy

• Much less interest or pleasure in most regular activities

• Low self-esteem

• Feeling worthless

• Excessive or inappropriate guilt

• Lessened ability to think or concentrate

• Indecisiveness

• Thinking distorted thoughts; having an unrealistic view of life

• Weight loss or gain without dieting

• Change in appetite

• Change in sleeping patterns

• Recurrent thoughts of death

• Suicidal thoughts

• A specific plan for committing suicide

• A suicide attempt

• Feelings of restlessness or being slowed down

When a person is suffering from depression, these symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. This means that the person’s family and social relationships, as well as work life, are impaired.
When a person is suffering from depression, symptoms such as these are not the result of a chronic psychotic disorder, substance abuse, general medical condition, or bereavement.

Grief, Sadness, and Depression

Depression may include feelings of sadness, but it is not the same as sadness. Depression lasts much longer than sadness. While depression involves a loss of self-esteem, grief, disappointment and sadness do not. People who are depressed function less productively. People who are sad or disappointed continue to function.

Depression and Socioeconomic Factors

Depression does not seem to be related to ethnicity, education, income, or marital status. It strikes slightly more women than men. Some researchers believe that depression strikes more often in women who have a history of emotional and sexual abuse, economic deprivation, or are dependent on others. There seems to be a genetic link; depression is more common among parents, children, and siblings of people who are diagnosed with depression. The average age at the onset of a depressive episode is the mid-20s. People born more recently are being diagnosed at a younger age.

Physical Causes

Many physicians believe that depression results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. They often prescribe antidepressant medication, and many people find relief as a result. However, there is no reliable test to identify such a chemical imbalance. It is unknown whether life experiences cause mood changes, which create changes in brain chemistry, or whether it works in reverse.

Depression may be associated with physical events such as other diseases, physical trauma, and hormonal changes. A person who is depressed should always have a physical examination as part of the assessment process to determine the role of physical causes.

Signs That Professional Treatment Is Needed

If you or someone you know is depressed and exhibits any of the following signs, it is extremely important to seek the assistance of a medical or mental health professional.

1. Thinking about death or suicide. This is always dangerous and you should see a professional therapist immediately.

2. When symptoms of depression continue for a long time, you may need professional help. Acute responses to events are normal, but they should not last beyond a reasonable time.

3. Your ability to function is impaired by your depression. Seek help before your life situation deteriorates to a serious level.

4. You have become so isolated that you have no one with whom to check reality. Seek out someone to share your thoughts and feelings with.

5. Depressive symptoms have become severe.

Garrett Coan is a professional therapist,coach and psychotherapist. His two Northern New Jersey office locations are accessible to individuals who reside in Bergen County, Essex County, Passaic County, Rockland County, and Manhattan. He offers online and telephone coaching and counseling services for those who live at a distance. He can be accessed through http://www.creativecounselors.com or 201-303-4303.

It is commonly believed myth that personality testing instruments can measure your personality and predict your future behaviors. The pre-employment testing mechanism has been following this creed without any solid evidence. The testing industry claims all out validity. The educational institutions and employer organizations use them for screening purposes. Their transparency and equity has even convinced the courts of law.

But it is still an unresolved riddle; what do they test?

Do they test personality? What is personality then? What is its nature? How does it come into existence? Is it outcome of evolution? Does matter has capability to generate a personality? Why animals don’t have a personality? Does it remain the same during whole of your life? And many more questions.

It is like peeling off an onion. Every strip leads to many more. Finally you get a heap of onion strips. Where is the onion?

But personality is not an onion…

Allport has recorded hundreds of different definitions. Most of the psychologists equate it to your style, behaviors and reactions. They have devised instruments to measure these main areas. The collected data about your behaviors and temperaments help them to decide your career. You may organize your behaviors in future but you may never be able to go for a career of your passion.

Why?

Experts like to predict. They predict weather. They predict political situations. They predict economic conditions. They predict your future with signs, numbers, cards or palms. And they predict your future performance with the help of personality testing instruments.

What’s Your Personality?
———————–

It is well recognized fact that every human being has a personality. It is not merely your physical body. It is not merely your consciousness. It is not merely your ego. It is not merely your behaviors. It is not merely your physical expression. It is not merely your style. It is not merely your temperament.

But they all and many other characteristics are expressions of your personality.

I don’t find it wise to define personality. Admittedly it is an abstract reality. You get it with your birth. You can either develop it or disintegrate. Your style, behaviors and reactions are expressions of your developed, undeveloped or under-developed personality.

How do you look? How do you react? How do you talk? How do you live? How do you think? They all are expressions of your personality. The psychometrics measures these expressions and not your personality.

The abstract nature of personality can neither be measured nor be analyzed with any scientific or non-scientific tool. It can only be visualized. It can be developed. It can be disintegrated. Your thinking and doing makes all out the difference. A developed personality gives better style, behaviors and reactions than an undeveloped one.

Why Psychometrics are Getting Popular?
—————————————

The very first reason is that every one wants to know who he is.

But bigger reason of their massive use is just a desire of the employers to avoid bad-hire. They get hundreds of applications for a single situation. They are the only available tools to avoid idiosyncrasies.

They don’t have alternatives for psychometrics.

Tests are going to stay. Whether you are trying to be admitted for a specific discipline or looking for your dream job, you are going to encounter psychometrics at one stage or the others. You need to prepare before encountering them.

How to Prepare for Personality Testing Sessions?
———————————————–

Keep in mind…

Personality is an amazing entity. You can think. You can visualize. You can discover. You can express. You can plan. You can create. You have unlimited hidden potentials. But your selected options on paper are going to decide your future.

You should practice offline and online personality tests before encountering a real session. Your practice shall not only make them familiar to you but also generate a list of your strengths and weaknesses. You can improve them with your conscious effort.

However, it is much more important to learn how different personality and aptitude tests measure expressions of your personality. What theories are working behind them? How do they relate different jobs with different types? This knowledge shall make it a lot easier to encounter psychometrics.

Psychometrics? Some believe in them and others reject them altogether. However, reality lies in between. Saqib Ali Ateel unlocks secrets of personality, intelligence, aptitude and testing at www.personality-and-aptitude-career-tests.com/art

You feel drained when you are around them, they seem to suck the life energy right out of you. They may be friends , coworkers or even family members. The person standing next to you in the grocery line today may be a psychic vampire feeding from the energy of your life force. Learn how to protect yourself from these energy stealing menaces.

Like the vampires of legend, spiritual or psychic vampires can take many forms. The often appear in your life during times of crisis or vulnerability. They take advantage of your weaknesses and prey upon your trusting nature. Psychic vampires feed off of the energy of your aura.

All of us have bad days. We all have times in our lives when we feel melancholy or down. For the most part these are temporary occurrences and we get on with our lives. It sometimes happens that during these “down” periods we may inadvertently drain some life energy from those around us. This does not mean that we are all life energy vampires.

Psychic vampirism should not to be confused with melancholy or depression. A psychic vampire is someone who knowingly taps into the life and thought energy of others for their own gain.

How do you spot a psychic vampire? Unlike the Dracula movies that most of us are familiar with. Psychic vampires can’t be spotted by not casting a reflection in a mirror. And they usually don’t run around in scary capes, turn into bats and fly off to a haunted castle somewhere in Tanslyvannia.

Energy vampires look just like everybody else. They are our neighbors, coworkers, friends, classmates. So how do we determine if someone in our lives may be soaking up our spiritual energy?

Here are a few things to watch out for:

Assistance from an acquaintance which seems to good to be true should be met with some healthy skepticism. Trust your instincts about people.

If you feel mentally or psychically tired or drained in the presence of a specific person, be cautious in your dealings with that person. They may indeed be leeching your life energy. Make a note of your energy levels when that person isn’t around. Be conscious of your state of mind when they are present and when they are absent. Use your own judgment about whether that person is draining your life energy.

The psychic vampires will resort to all manner of deceits and manipulations in order to gain a foothold into your life. It is ironic that in the legends of these monsters there is the notion that a vampire can only enter a home if invited.

Indeed, in many cases we invite these soul stealers into our lives ourselves. Be careful of who you invite into your life, trust your own judgement when determining whether or not a new aquaintance may sho signs of being a psychic vampire.