Posted March 9, 2008
THE SEVEN DEADLY DISEASES
(All are attitudes - all are choices)
by
HAL URBAN
1) Self-centeredness:
A "me first" attitude and approach to life. Thinking the world revolves around you. Always having to have your own way. Thinking the world should devote itself to meeting your needs. All the other diseases (attitudes) have this as their root.
2) Boredom:
Being dependent on others for making life interesting. Having "nothing" to do. Boredom comes from the inside, not the outside. Example: "Reading is boring." The boredom is in the person, not the reading material. Only boring people get bored.
3) Self-pity:
Feeling sorry for yourself (much different than genuine sorrow). Moping, complaining, whining, moaning, and groaning about the disappointments of life. Letting it become a cycle of self-defeating thinking and behavior.
4) Destructive thinking:
Choosing negative thoughts and then dwelling on them. Poisoning your own mind - and probably the atmosphere around you. Focusing on what's wrong in the world, in others, and in you. Negative thoughts almost always lead to negative and self-defeating behavior.
5) Dishonesty:
If you're being dishonest, you're not being real. When you're not real, you're not a complete or whole person. Being dishonest retards personal growth and prevents healthy self-esteem. It also ruins relationships and reputations. "When I lose mine honor I lose myself" - Shakespeare.
6) Resentment:
This is anger that's held on to too long. Carrying grudges is unhealthy. Psychologists call it carrying "excess baggage" - extra weight that serves no purpose. Resentment is also self-defeating. It's like choosing to poison yourself. Only the person carrying the grudge gets hurt.
7) Discouragement:
Quitting, and usually giving up, too soon. Literally, it means "lack of courage." Disappointment is normal, but discouragement is letting it get the best of you, letting it defeat you. It prevents you from moving forward.
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CURES FOR THE SEVEN DEADLY DISEASES
(All are attitudes - all are choices)
1) The cure for self-centeredness
Empathy: Being understanding and considerate of the feelings of others - kindness, giving, service, generosity, unselfishness. Winning in life by helping others win.
2) The cure for boredom
O.Y.B.: Getting Off Your Butt. Seeing the possibilities and the opportunities that surround us every day. Do something new, learn something new, create something new, go somewhere new. Help someone. Feed your mind. "You are what you are because of what goes into your mind" - Zig Ziglar.
3) The cure for self-pity
Acceptance: Life is hard and not always fair. Accept the fact that bad things happen to good people and vice-versa. Suffering, pain, and loss are part of life. Deal with it. The world does not adjust to us; we adjust to it. In The Road Less Traveled, F. Scott Peck writes, "Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them?"
4) The cure for destructive thinking
Constructive thinking: Choosing thoughts that build up rather than tear down. Remember that the mind is like a garden - it has to be weeded (pulling out the negative thoughts) and nourished (stimulating growth through positive thoughts). Most of all, it means being thankful for all that you have.
5) The cure for dishonesty
Integrity: Being a complete person. With it comes a sense of fulfillment and inner peace. Honesty also earns the respect and trust of others. There's a direct relationship between the values you live out and the degree of happiness you find in your life.
6) The cure for resentment
Forgiveness: You first have to let go; leave old hurts in the past rather than allowing them to drag you down in the present. Forgiveness is a sign of strength, not one of weakness. "You practice forgiveness for two reasons. One is to let others know that you no longer wish to be in a state of hostility with that person; and two, to free yourself from the self-defeating energy of resentment" - Wayne Dyer.
7) The cure for discouragement
Perseverance: Determination, persistence. Learning from our mistakes; correcting course, moving on with life. "If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye, and say, 'I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me' " - Ann Landers.
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