True Self-help Without a Guru
Self-Help is the newest and fastest growing religion in this nation, resurrected from the church's doctrine regarding the sinfulness of man, complete with its own variety of priests and priestesses, and maintained by the American populace's willingness to accept coercion. Self-Help exists in a paradigm implying that the broken individual can fix his or herself, but this fixing can only come from following the structure of a Self-Help guru. I make no claims to be a guru and not much is being sold in this article, perhaps just the necessary bit of self-aggrandizement that is present in all writing.
I think that to truly help ourselves a couple of points need to be cleared up. Firstly, we are not that bad. We are not diseased. We are HUMAN. Striving between opposite desires and toward a moral imperative considerate of our relations with other people is our condition. If anything, we are confused. We're like little children that worship our parents but don't know how to please them. We want to do the right things but aren't sure exactly what the right things are. I think we ought to start giving ourselves points for trying. Trying is a worthy endeavor and ultimate success is an illusion. Do you remember getting stars in elementary school when you gave good effort on an activity? Give yourself a star. Give yourself ten stars. Maybe we don't need fixing, maybe somebody told us we were broken but they were mistaken, maybe we're perfect as we are, and maybe we already are a star just for trying.
Secondly, if anybody has to do some fixing it's us. Medication can't fix us. Psychiatrists can't fix us. Counselors can't fix us. Self-Help gurus can't fix us. Self-aggrandizing writers like me can't fix us. The only one that can fix us is us. Responsibility is a powerful tool. By accepting responsibility we can make changes in our actions, and actions direct our moral compass. To dance, we shake our asses and the rest of our bodies follow. To achieve a content life, we must act right and our minds will follow.
Thirdly, let's start enjoying our condition. If we're blessed to live and have our mental faculties, life is more of a long distance marathon than a sprint. Our condition lends us to feel as though we are always in the middle between two opposing desires: sex/relationships, money/meaning, freedom/responsibilities. Though this is certainly the situation we find ourselves in, there is a tremendous difference between feeling trapped between opposing desires and taking an inquisitive, scientific posture that leads to enjoying the discovery of the best decision in a given circumstance. A correct mindset is a terrible thing for us to waste.
If we want to change the world we don't need to change ourselves, we must be content and in that contentedness make right decisions that will benefit not only ourselves but all of us. Nothing bad can come from actions that are good. If we are following our bliss, then we are doing what's right and no one can be hurt by our actions. There is no prescription or diagnosis for bliss, there is only the journey. This journey is not solitary because everyone is walking it all the time, whether they are conscious of it or not. Let's take comfort in that we're not walking alone and let's try to enjoy the journey.
Related Tags: help, care, content, personal, life, spirituality, spiritual, happiness, religion, better, self-help, self, counseling, actions, psychology, bliss, right, pschotherapy, betterment, living action, correct
Kevin Del Principe is a playwright, poet, and teacher. His writings challenge unjust cultures, and suggest the creation of reciprocal relationships in their place.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- The Resurgence of Fred Perry Clothing
Summer might long be over and Wimbledon may be a distant memory, however the fashion is a year round - Uncovering Men's Tank Tops
I don't know a thing about you, but I'll bet that you have worn a tank top. Tank tops have also been - Make Use of Silk Scarves to Take Good Care of Your Skin
In the event you are new about silk scarves, you could never read about this particular feature of s - Just For Men Scarves - the Preference For Guys in the Vogue Domain
If you are not certain what style of present you could provide for men, maybe you can consider men s - Think Black Friday Shopping is Beyond Your Budget?
Moms who are juggling the bills and still trying to provide the perfect holiday gift to loved ones a - How to Make Conscious Shopping Choices
Many people have heard the phrase "voting with your dollars" and they understand that it means your - Silk Scarves - Unique Present Approach in Xmas Seasons
The most prevalent silk add-on is scarves, and many focus is presented on inspired designing on thes - Benefits of an Aloe Vera Shampoo
A lot of people are not aware of the specific benefits that using an aloe vera shampoo can do to the - How Effective is the Power of Your Subconscious Mind?
Most people are bombarded with this thought whenever they feel weak and wish to affect certain chang - Silk Scarf - the Record For Human Being in the Style History
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries the worldwide recognition of silk scarves developed dramatica
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Surf and Turf: the Race Track
Surf and Turf: The Race TrackOne of the favorite places for The G to hang out at, especially in Summ - Are You Looking For Cholesterol Drugs Without Side Effect?
High cholesterol level is probably one of the widely spread complication among Americans. Almost for - Friday the 13th could be a lucky day?
Friday the 13th sounds unlucky ? Traditional superstition ? And a lot of people dislike it and beli - Don't Judge A Man
Our world is full of bad tongues, fault-finders, gossipers, mockers, and insulters but do these grou - When Personalized Gifts Make a Difference
Finding the right gifts for a particular occasion is always a challenging task. Sometimes it is nic - Managing My Resistance: Learning To Flow With What Life Offers
One of the things that interests me most about conflict is the tendency to resist it and the ways in - What Are Horoscopes Based On?
If you do not know much about astrology, you may wonder what are horoscopes based on and how astrolo - 7 Dumbest Relationship Mistakes Smart People Make
We often find ourselves amid the wreckage of a love gone wrong, wringing our hands and asking, "Why - Motivation as the heart of self improvement
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Motivation in the following paragraphs - Is Complete Abstinence from Use of Paychoactive Substances Necessary for Recovery?
Can a sober alcoholic in recovery who has no history of abuse of marijuana, use marijuana without