Bit of a gloomy mood today, largely due to another day spent not getting on with things. Sometimes I feel that my capacity is so much less than it used to be, that I am simultaneously struggling to manage everything I am involved in at the moment and that I am not doing nearly as much as I used to. I can fill a day with remarkably little and still be satisfied that I am somehow making progress. I somehow envision each day by the nature of the major entertainment that evening and feel that I have not had too bad a day if the major entertainment goes roughly to plan.
I definitely think I am happier when I'm busier, but somehow I feel reluctant to take the steps which will lead me to being busier in the longer-term. Definitely not good and also self-reinforcing. I don't feel like I have made much progress here, really, since last time I said this, which was also the last time when you gave some very useful, appropriate and relevant comments which I haven't really done much with. It's not been a complete disaster, but definitely I haven't been making the progress I'd like to.
Some of you don't get on with self-improvement, but here are the comments from the test above.
I can significantly improve not only my score, but also my prospects for a long, healthy life by working on the problem areas listed below:
** If your deeply-felt feelings are not expressed and acted upon, it causes emotional reactions which weaken your immune system and make you prone to disease and accidents. You need to learn to recognize and express your feelings more.
** Rational thinking should not override the satisfaction of your own deep emotional needs. Your needs are important! If you don't value them, your health may suffer.
* One of the most important skills for keeping your life on track is the ability to adjust your behaviour to improve unpleasant situations that develop. The experimenter approach to life is a powerful technique which you should learn as soon as possible. After you print this page, you should read our material on The Experimenter Approach and begin practice as soon as possible. It could save your life!.
* Social connections are very important for good health. We are instinctively herd animals and need the support and enjoyable companionship of others. Having a wide variety of types of close social connections (work, family, children, neighbors, church, etc.) where problems and feelings are shared is particularly important.
* Autonomy is the important ability to be free of unhealthy attachments to people or goals that cause you feelings of helplessness or grief. Depending upon and enjoying friends is healthy, but letting people make you miserable is not.
Here is the pamphlet with the quick version of the tips to improve emotional independence and a healthy personality.
Source: Attitude Factor, recommended as a winner of the Health Social Innovations Award for 1998.
In the meantime, I can at least get on with some of the cheerier stuff, because we all like a bit of cheery stuff:
