Monday, May 31, 2010

Just as I am

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change" - Carl Rogers

"Unconditional positive regard, a term coined by the humanist Carl Rogers, is blanket acceptance and support of a person regardless of what the person says or does. Rogers believes that unconditional positive regard is essential to healthy development. People who have not experienced it may come to see themselves in the negative ways that others have made them feel. By providing unconditional positive regard, humanist therapists seek to help their clients accept and take responsibility for themselves. Humanist psychologists believe that by showing the client unconditional positive regard and acceptance, the therapist is providing the best possible conditions for personal growth to the client.

David G. Myers says the following in his Psychology: Eight Edition in Modules:
"People also nurture our growth by being accepting—by offering us what Rogers called unconditional positive regard. This is an attitude of grace, an attitude that values us even knowing our failings. It is a profound relief to drop our pretenses, confess our worst feelings, and discover that we are still accepted. In a good marriage, a close family, or an intimate friendship, we are free to be spontaneous without fearing the loss of others' esteem."

Unconditional positive regard can be facilitated by keeping in mind Carl Rogers’ belief that all people have the internal resources required for personal growth. Rogers' theory encouraged other psychiatrists to suspend judgment, and to listen to a person with an attitude that the client has within himself the ability to change, without actually changing who he is."

source: Unconditional Positive Regard

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Friday, May 28, 2010

Every Minute

After being in ICU last month for a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a stroke and a recently diagnosed heart condition that will require surgery, rocker Bret Michaels made a surprise appearance on this past Wednesday's American Idol Finale. After the show, he was asked by a reporter about his outlook on life.

How has his outlook on life changed since his health problems? A great reminder:

"The outlook on life... I always thought I enjoyed every day, but now I KNOW I enjoy every day. Every minute here is awesome."

Psychologists attribute his bounce-back to psychological hardiness a predisposition that allows an individual to accept the challenges and changes in life with good humor and resilience, which in turn influences behavior that prevents illness. Psychologists Salvatore Maddi and Suzanne Kobasa identified three dimensions that tend to promote this sense of hardiness and in turn physical wellness: Commitment, Control and Challenge. You can read more about psychological hardiness HERE.

To read the article: Bret Michaels, Hardy by Nature - Rockers' Speedy Recovery a Sign of his Psychological Resilience click HERE.


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Just when...

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."
~ Proverb


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