Help yourself to be yourself

By the end of this article, I hope to persuade you that the individual’s personal development is best served outside the confines of any organisation to which they may belong.





We're informed that no two snowflakes are the same. When I tried to prove otherwise, the light fluffy snow melted in my hand before I could examine the details. Maybe you'll have to have an open mind or accepted it as true. Is it something you can prove? To remove a snowflake from Everest and compare it with the snow on the French Alps seems so impossible.

We are told that no two human beings are the same. There are body and stunt doubles who are similar in appearance but what about other qualities? We are called individuals because that's what we are. If you took identical twins and locked them in a room together their individuality will be evident in their different opinions, even though they've shared so many common experiences from birth.

We know that no two footballers are the same. Footballers with exceptional individual talent sometimes feel they are restricted by their club's rules. Wealthy soccer stars believe that their money lifts them above the club and they strive to be completely individual, both on and off the pitch. Club managers argue that no one player is above the club, so there is conflict.

We know that no two published books are identical. From all books that are published, you will not find two identical books by two different authors. It is impossible for two writers to write the same text word for word or full stop for full stop. Even non-fiction books written on the same subject by more than one author, express a different point of view. Recognised facts are challenged because everyone is entitled to an opinion. Some people still accept that the earth is flat.

We believe that no two self help organisational groups are the same. Some argue that organisations suppress the individual's quest for individuality within the group. The group imposes a set of rules to facilitate a common experience for all members. I have heard it said that an organisation is just the first step up on the stairway to knowing yourself.

The more you understand about yourself, the more relaxed you become. You may have found an organisation that helps you, but one set of rules that fits all may inhibit your own development. The best advice is to join an organisation where your own individual opinions are accepted and do not attach yourself to a group where you have to change your own thinking to that of the established organisation.

Does this prove my case? In a Sunday paper (March 2006), there was a report of a Benedictine monk who jumped from a second floor balcony to his death. He had devoted his whole life to the Church but after reading a book, it highlighted the uncertainties about his faith. He was tormented.


When individual’s personal development grows outside the organisation’s box, it’s time to move on. The monk had obviously been pulled back inside so often by external pressures that he had reached a place of extreme turmoil. His individual thinking failed to allow him to reach out towards the next step in his development.

The crystal globe of truth rested on the town’s walls for all to see. One day during a gale, it crashed to the ground. The townsfolk stampeded to spot. Several individuals picked up fragments, holding them up to reflect the light.
Each claimed that they had the truth. Maybe there a little bit of the truth scattered in all organisations and in all personal development information. Perhaps no one is the guardian of the whole truth.

So your search may be never ending. Exercise your freedom of choice to permit your own individuality to be recognised within a group and where you may be your own brilliant self. To supplement this quest, self-help information may build into an extensive personal library. I know mine has.

In summary, the organisation to which you belong must be compatible to your own individual opinions. You should find the truth no matter who holds it, but you have to be an individual to enjoy this freedom of thinking.

The Power Of Affirmations

Affirmations are spoken statements that can be of a positive or negative nature. In the popular sense of the term they are spoken commands made purposefully in order to change some aspect of our life. In order to fully understand how affirmations work and the science behind their use we must first look at the way our minds work!



When we are born our brains are like empty computers waiting to be fed information. As we grow our peers act as our programmers, they supply us with the knowledge which we channel through the conscious mind into the subconscious (our hard drive). The subconscious mind is the biggest hard drive ever developed - it stores everything we come in contact with and by no means is all of this information of a positive nature.

All that we have heard, touched, smelt, tasted and seen are stored in the recesses of our minds. The subconscious mind holds on to this information until we need to recall it. For example when you were young your curiosity lead you to investigate your surroundings. When you approached a substance that was dangerous, such as fire, your parents or guardians would most likely have rebuked or scolded you if you ventured too near the flame. Perhaps you may even recall an incident when you were physically burned. Your subconscious mind then began to relate scolding (or pain) with the intense heat of the fire and would therefore feed the feelings of the scolding incident back to you whenever you got too close to fire again, thus acting as an early warning system.

This is the mechanism used by our brains to learn. It is also the same method employed by the mind in every situation. The subconscious mind has a tendency to emulate what it sees - it tends to replicate its environment. This is why so many people find themselves in similar relationships and situations that they saw their parents in while they were growing up. Most people also hold very strongly or similar views of their parents.

Think of a time when you gave yourself praise. What words did you use? Do you use the same words that your parents or peers used when they were praising you? The same is applicable when you scold yourself.

Watch your internal dialogue. Look at it closely. It takes diligence to change the way you think. When you notice yourself thinking a negative chose to think the opposite. This way you neutralise the negative thought. Now the think the positive thought again! You have just reversed the negative thinking in that moment and remember you only have this moment. No other time exists! You are in the NOW.

The whole point of affirmations is to convince the mind that what you are repeating is the truth. As you verbalize your desire you will find negative emotions and contrary statements entering your conscious awareness. You must deal with these negative thoughts as they arise in order for your affirmations to work! Many people use affirmations with EFT or the Sedona Method in order to eliminate the negativity that comes up as a result of affirming something that feels untrue.

During your normal day daydream about what might be. Imagine things the way you wish them to be. If you catch yourself thinking "this is just a daydream - a fantasy" then stop! Think the opposite. It is not a daydream it is your reality. Now think it again. Release the resistance as it arises in whatever ay you can.

If you just repeat affirmations with no feeling, or worse, feeling that it isn't true, then you are actually affirming the opposite in your own mind! This is why some people find their situations actually getting worse when they work with affirmations. You must release the resistance by creating the feeling that the affirmation is true.

Bob Doyle goes into this approach indepth in his wealth beyond reason audio & video courses. I have found that affirmations will only work for me if I use EFT or the sedona method.

By creating the feeling of 'having it now' while repeating your affirmation you will begin to retrain your subconscious mind to think positively and you will ultimately begin to consciously create a life that dreams are made of!

Read the review of affirmware - the company behind a powerful affirmation software tool that can really boost the effectiveness of your affirmations!

Help yourself to be yourself

By the end of this article, I hope to persuade you that the individual’s personal development is best served outside the confines of any organisation to which they may belong.





We're informed that no two snowflakes are the same. When I tried to prove otherwise, the light fluffy snow melted in my hand before I could examine the details. Maybe you'll have to have an open mind or accepted it as true. Is it something you can prove? To remove a snowflake from Everest and compare it with the snow on the French Alps seems so impossible.

We are told that no two human beings are the same. There are body and stunt doubles who are similar in appearance but what about other qualities? We are called individuals because that's what we are. If you took identical twins and locked them in a room together their individuality will be evident in their different opinions, even though they've shared so many common experiences from birth.

We know that no two footballers are the same. Footballers with exceptional individual talent sometimes feel they are restricted by their club's rules. Wealthy soccer stars believe that their money lifts them above the club and they strive to be completely individual, both on and off the pitch. Club managers argue that no one player is above the club, so there is conflict.

We know that no two published books are identical. From all books that are published, you will not find two identical books by two different authors. It is impossible for two writers to write the same text word for word or full stop for full stop. Even non-fiction books written on the same subject by more than one author, express a different point of view. Recognised facts are challenged because everyone is entitled to an opinion. Some people still accept that the earth is flat.

We believe that no two self help organisational groups are the same. Some argue that organisations suppress the individual's quest for individuality within the group. The group imposes a set of rules to facilitate a common experience for all members. I have heard it said that an organisation is just the first step up on the stairway to knowing yourself.

The more you understand about yourself, the more relaxed you become. You may have found an organisation that helps you, but one set of rules that fits all may inhibit your own development. The best advice is to join an organisation where your own individual opinions are accepted and do not attach yourself to a group where you have to change your own thinking to that of the established organisation.

Does this prove my case? In a Sunday paper (March 2006), there was a report of a Benedictine monk who jumped from a second floor balcony to his death. He had devoted his whole life to the Church but after reading a book, it highlighted the uncertainties about his faith. He was tormented.


When individual’s personal development grows outside the organisation’s box, it’s time to move on. The monk had obviously been pulled back inside so often by external pressures that he had reached a place of extreme turmoil. His individual thinking failed to allow him to reach out towards the next step in his development.

The crystal globe of truth rested on the town’s walls for all to see. One day during a gale, it crashed to the ground. The townsfolk stampeded to spot. Several individuals picked up fragments, holding them up to reflect the light.
Each claimed that they had the truth. Maybe there a little bit of the truth scattered in all organisations and in all personal development information. Perhaps no one is the guardian of the whole truth.

So your search may be never ending. Exercise your freedom of choice to permit your own individuality to be recognised within a group and where you may be your own brilliant self. To supplement this quest, self-help information may build into an extensive personal library. I know mine has.

In summary, the organisation to which you belong must be compatible to your own individual opinions. You should find the truth no matter who holds it, but you have to be an individual to enjoy this freedom of thinking.