Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 1:01am
The 'Yurnodda' syndrome
Column: Unclutter Your Life
Patient: "Doc, help me. I'm a teepee! I'm a teepee!"
Doctor: "Relax, you're two tents."
What do you believe about yourself and why?
Many have a block when it comes to success, whether it's the fear of failure or of succeeding. Maybe the basis of success fear is a Yurnodda syndrome symptom. This syndrome begins to live within us during our most formative years when we are told, by one or more persons whom we tend to believe, untruths such as You're not a strong/smart/clever/disciplined (fill in the blank) enough person.
We may even acquire this syndrome by osmosis, meaning that perhaps someone repeatedly criticized a member of the family and then one day said, "You're just like so-and-so," even if it's themselves they compare you to. Any comments we ever heard about so-and-so are firmly in our cellular memory; and, perhaps, even if we don't recall every single comment, we may believe at a deeper level that it or they apply to us. Maybe we repeat how it's always been done.
Whichever of the above is the case (or all of them), we may think, act and make choices based on something that simply isn't true.
We may learn behaviors from those we are surrounded by in our earlier years, but no one is exactly like someone else; and, we can unlearn anything we choose to. We have the ability to make conscious choices for ourselves and our lives. Sometimes we make choices in order to be the complete opposite of the person who had the most impact on us as we grew into young adults. A choice made without your best interest included, and blended with head and heart alignment, may not produce the desired outcome.
Whatever we say a desired outcome is, we really want to feel a certain way about ourselves. If we don't feel the way we'd like to, no one can address this but us.
Let's take an example of confidence. If you've never believed you were confident, it's not going to work to state or affirm the opposite, "I am a confident person," because you haven't believed it for a long time. However, you can say, "I could feel more confident." That's a truth your mind won't reject because you could. "I'm not good with/at ... " can become "I could be good with/at ... " and you could, if you intend it. As you state this and do whatever is needed to be more of what you desire, you'll arrive at the moment where you can honestly say, "I am ... ."
Practice catching when you experience Yurnodda symptoms and call them out for what they are: untruths. You may not be a brain surgeon, but that doesn't mean you don't possess your own genius, creativity and gift to share with the world.
Don't let a case of the Yurnoddas get you stuck in place. Decide what you want to be more of and go for it.
— — —
Joyce Shafer is a life empowerment coach and author of "I Don't Want to be Your Guru, but I Have Something to Say" as well as "How to Have What You Really Want" and contributor of articles to various publications. She has an eclectic background and focuses on learning, growing, and sharing information at every opportunity. She can be emailed at {email jls1422@yahoo.com}jls1422@yahoo.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Joyce Shafer.
Doctor: "Relax, you're two tents."
What do you believe about yourself and why?
Many have a block when it comes to success, whether it's the fear of failure or of succeeding. Maybe the basis of success fear is a Yurnodda syndrome symptom. This syndrome begins to live within us during our most formative years when we are told, by one or more persons whom we tend to believe, untruths such as You're not a strong/smart/clever/disciplined (fill in the blank) enough person.
We may even acquire this syndrome by osmosis, meaning that perhaps someone repeatedly criticized a member of the family and then one day said, "You're just like so-and-so," even if it's themselves they compare you to. Any comments we ever heard about so-and-so are firmly in our cellular memory; and, perhaps, even if we don't recall every single comment, we may believe at a deeper level that it or they apply to us. Maybe we repeat how it's always been done.
Whichever of the above is the case (or all of them), we may think, act and make choices based on something that simply isn't true.
We may learn behaviors from those we are surrounded by in our earlier years, but no one is exactly like someone else; and, we can unlearn anything we choose to. We have the ability to make conscious choices for ourselves and our lives. Sometimes we make choices in order to be the complete opposite of the person who had the most impact on us as we grew into young adults. A choice made without your best interest included, and blended with head and heart alignment, may not produce the desired outcome.
Whatever we say a desired outcome is, we really want to feel a certain way about ourselves. If we don't feel the way we'd like to, no one can address this but us.
Let's take an example of confidence. If you've never believed you were confident, it's not going to work to state or affirm the opposite, "I am a confident person," because you haven't believed it for a long time. However, you can say, "I could feel more confident." That's a truth your mind won't reject because you could. "I'm not good with/at ... " can become "I could be good with/at ... " and you could, if you intend it. As you state this and do whatever is needed to be more of what you desire, you'll arrive at the moment where you can honestly say, "I am ... ."
Practice catching when you experience Yurnodda symptoms and call them out for what they are: untruths. You may not be a brain surgeon, but that doesn't mean you don't possess your own genius, creativity and gift to share with the world.
Don't let a case of the Yurnoddas get you stuck in place. Decide what you want to be more of and go for it.
— — —
Joyce Shafer is a life empowerment coach and author of "I Don't Want to be Your Guru, but I Have Something to Say" as well as "How to Have What You Really Want" and contributor of articles to various publications. She has an eclectic background and focuses on learning, growing, and sharing information at every opportunity. She can be emailed at {email jls1422@yahoo.com}jls1422@yahoo.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Joyce Shafer.