Here are some questions to ask yourself, and use to conduct what can be a penetrating self-analysis:
- What am I avoiding? [Sam avoids commitment because he fears rejection.]
- What is real in my life? [Tammy has low self-esteem, persistent feelings of worthlessness, and believes others think she’s a loser.]
- What is imaginary in my life? [Ralph blames his problems on his parents.]
- Do I fear knowledge? [Ginger believes in banning certain books in the schools and the public library.]
- Do I reject opinions that differ from mine? [Alex was raised to distrust others.]
- What are my values? [Louise believes she is entitled to have what she wants.]
- Are my actions consistent with my values? [Louise uses others for personal gain. She has no close friends.]
- Am I accountable for what’s bothering me? [Ben lives by rationalization and defensiveness.]
- Do I fear loneliness? [Alex has intense abandonment anxiety, yet #5 sabotages his life.]
- Do I talk mostly about me? [Everyone mentioned in brackets does, but they do so defensively, never humbly. What does that tell you?]
- Do I serve others? [No one mentioned in brackets does. What does that tell you?]
Psychology and Stress 