Pros and Cons of Being a Psychologist

Pros and Cons of Being a Psychologist

Pros and Cons of Being a Psychologist

Do you want to study psychology and help others deal with their emotional struggles? Does the idea of wearing an invisible cape and having the superpowers of helping others deal with their emotional stress fascinate you? Guess what? You’re not the only one dreaming of having those magical healing powers!

According to Psychology Degree 411, psychology is one of the most popular majors chosen by students today. But studying a popular major like psychology isn’t all about understanding others.

In fact, according to the study of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychology is achieving a positive outlook, indicating that around 14% job growth may be seen for psychologists by 2026. Hence, if you’re passionate about having a successful future profession, psychology may just be your dream job!

But wait – would you consider some factual data to be enough for deciding your future profession? We guess not! Therefore, we’re here to help you make the right decision with a few pros and cons of being a psychologist. Let’s start exploring them, shall we?

Pros:

WHAT DO PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY

●      Becoming the Helping Hand:

The most crucial benefit of being a psychologist is the ability to help others. Being a psychologist and focusing on your work with dedication means you’ll make a real difference in the lives of others.

From helping people with traumatic troubles to supporting them during mental illness, your job will give people tremendous support to keep going and do better!

●      Exploring Different People:

Do you love meeting new people often and exploring the thoughts tumbling in human minds?

Well, psychology may be just the ideal profession for you!

Since emotional and mental issues can occur at any age, psychology helps you explore all kinds and ages of people. With this exposure to different ages and groups of people, you will have a broader perspective.

●      Better Career Choices and Salary:

As mentioned earlier, the demand for psychology as a profession is consistently growing.

Do you know what that means? Yes, the higher the demand, the higher the chances of better salaries. But wait! You don’t only benefit from choosing a popular profession in terms of a better salary, but also for the career you love.

With various career choices falling in the field of psychology, you always have multiple options.

●      Consistent Personal Growth:

With the study of psychology teaching you the thoughts and meaning behind people’s actions, you can easily adapt to different circumstances in life.

Hence, you don’t only help others but also improve yourself by developing critical thinking, better communication, etc.

Cons:

Psychodynamic Psychology

●      No Time-Set To wear Your Cape:

Yes, you heard it right! Unfortunately, being a psychologist often means that you can’t take off your superhero cape even with flexible work hours.

You may have to offer your services to patients during off-hours in their critical time. Are you ready to be the 24/7 superhero who needs to keep a check for the cue?

●      Stressful Study:

Did you think that reading people’s minds was as easy as eating pie?

Well, it’s not bad to take things easily, but you also need to be prepared for the rigorous psychology courses you’ll have to study.

From studying to managing people’s problems, your job can be very stressful.

Eventually, you may end up bringing stress home after you relieve others from it!

●      Pouring the Right Amount of Emotions:

Being a professional in psychology means understanding your patients without being attached to their struggles emotionally.

After all, you need to stay sane for future patients and your personal life, right?

Therefore, it can often be tough to pour the right amount of emotions with different patients. If you’re up for magic tricks, learn one that helps you be emotionally available without over-identifying with your patients.

Conclusion:

Psychology is all about growing individually and helping others grow mentally and emotionally.

Similar to other majors, psychology is a detailed profession that requires extreme focus and passion. So are you passionate about being the helpful shield people need in today’s emotionally draining lifestyles?

 

 

 

Preserving Your Inner Child – Yes, I’m Serious!

Preserving Your Inner Child – Yes, I’m Serious!

Preserving Your Inner Child – Yes, I’m Serious!

You know how when you’re a kid everything is an adventure. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a ten year old that wants to be a pirate or a teenager that reads Hemingway for the first time and wants to travel through Africa.

That adventurous spirit, the need to learn, touch, smell, the need to jump that fence or rollerblade in an empty pool – that is what you’ve been missing!

I know, I know, you’re an adult now and you have responsibilities, a job, a couple of hungry mouths. But is that a good enough excuse to stop exploring the world and having fun?

Let’s talk responsibilities

As an adult, It is perfectly normal to leave behind the easy-going life you had. You have a family now and a job that takes up a great deal of your time, not to mention day drinking is out of the question. There is also social pressure from your peers and your parents. You can see the look in their eyes that says “You’re too old for that!”

Sure, but It’s also your responsibility to never stop being curious about life. That means to not stop exploring yourself, as well. It’s a necessity to allow yourself to be adventurous, spontaneous, and sometimes even silly.

Childlike manner

The life of a kid is always fun because every day is a new day, everything is new in general. You have the energy, you have the time, you have no responsibilities and there are companions to do it with. You can jump rope, laugh out loud practically everywhere you go, you can run down a hill and feel like you’re flying.

You can chug down an ice cream cone and have your face looking like Frosty the Snowman without a care in the world.

You haven’t done that in a while, have you?

It’s Time To Start Doing It!

Keeping in touch with your inner child is a must for your personal health and well-being. The stress of everyday life is something we all face and search for ways to take the steam off. Start with simple things. Take a day off just for yourself, maybe don’t get up early in the morning, don’t take off your jammies, eat ice cream for breakfast.

For the more devious people, you can try not doing the things you usually do just for a day – If you smoke, don’t smoke, If you drive, don’t drive. You couldn’t do them back then, try them now.

Try to remember all the silly things you used to do when you were a kid and just do them. Don’t think about what people would think, just have a you-day all day.

What It Can Do For You

The benefits of this experiment are plenty. It will make you feel better in general. It’s like a pause button for your brain to stop pumping out stress-related thoughts. The psychological release you would feel is a must If you don’t feel like you’re living your best life.

It’s quite common to think about all the things in your life that have changed. Taking a childish day could help you appreciate your life, the people in it, and, most of all, yourself. So, don’t think too much about it. The next opportunity you get, just hop on your bike, ride to the creek and get on that tire swing. Sure you can fit in it, don’t worry.

Life shouldn’t be a chore, especially when It’s this short. You deserve to feel like a kid at least once more.

 

 

Metacognition – What Is It exactly?

Metacognition – What Is It exactly?

Metacognition – What Is It exactly?

Understanding The Art Of Knowing That You Know Today, we will talk about the fascinating technique referred to as “metacognition.” The definition of this technique is mainly referred to as the “awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes.” To put it more simply, it’s knowledge about when and how specific strategies can be used to solve problems or to learn.

The term comes from the root word “meta,” which means further or on top of. It is considered an essential part of learning successfully. Besides, metacognition is directly linked to the self-reflection of strengths and weaknesses and the strategies a person devises to achieve a goal. Practically, this is the foundation of culturally intelligent leadership, to underscore how a person thinks about a problem or situation.

History of Metacognition

Metacognition was introduced by John H. Flavell in 1976. He first defined the term as “one’s knowledge concerning one’s own cognitive processes and products or anything related to them.”

But even before Flavell, there have been cases in human history that have embarked on the study of the great importance of monitoring and regulating one’s comprehension process.

Also, Vygotsky (1896 – 1934) and Piaget (1896 – 1980) have both added self-regulation and self-reflection to their cognitive development theory.

How Does It Help Us?

Encouraging metacognition is a relatively straightforward and cheap way to improve learning. The Education Endowment Foundation describes the approaches as having “consistently high levels of impact” while acknowledging that they can also be challenging to implement.

Educational consultants Dr. Robin Fogarty and Brian Pete developed a couple of easy research-based examples of how metacognition can help people in general. Not only that, but it gives teachers and parents insightful tips on teaching kids throughout kindergarten to middle school easier.

Everyday Examples

Alright, well, the thing here is that sometimes, whether we know this term or not, we use metacognition! One great example is to think about the last time you’ve reached the bottom of a page and thought to yourself, “What did I read?”.

Your brain just became aware of something you did not know, so instinctively, you might have reread the last sentence and then gone through the whole page again. Or maybe you’ll just rescan some of the paragraphs to fill in the information gaps!

In whatever way you decide to capture the missing information, this momentary awareness of knowing what you know or do not know is called metacognition.

When we notice ourselves having an inner dialogue about our thinking, and it prompts us to evaluate our learning, we are experiencing metacognition at work. This is a perfect way to inspect your thought process and inflict or demand more from your reading and studying habits.

Not to mention that it can be put to use in real life. Many people feel like they lose their train of thought through the day because of various external or internal reasons. Most of the time, we simply have not been trained to be more efficient in paying attention.

Why It’s Worth Exploring

Reflective thinking is at the heart of metacognition. However, in today’s world of constant chatter and technology, reflective thinking can be at odds. Practically, technology can prevent people, mostly young, from seeing what is in front of their eyes.

John Dewey, a renowned scientist and education reformer claimed that experiences alone were not enough. Instead, what is critical is an ability to perceive and then weave meaning from the threads of our experiences. The function of metacognition and self-reflection is to make meaning.

The creation of meaning is at the heart of what it means to be human. This is precisely why metacognition is worth exploring… And applying. Follow up with us in part 2 of this article series, where we explain more about how you can apply metacognition in your life for your best personal development!

 

Mental Traits of Successful People

Mental Traits of Successful People

Mental Traits of Successful People

Coming across a motivational video, quote or just someone doing something, the thought of achieving our goals often strikes our mind. Unfortunately, for many of us, that rush of optimism lasts no longer than a day and is not continually supported by actions towards the goal.

Success is indeed based on motivation and passion, but when you look at people who achieved what most can only imagine, you’ll realize that it is so much more than that. The secret behind their success is namely a specific set of mental traits they follow and stick to until the goal is ultimately achieved.

If you’re passionate enough to stick to your goals, you’ll find these mental traits of successful people very helpful, so let’s have a look!

They Build Their Willpower

The Domino Effect starts with willpower. Successful people understand that achieving their dreams is only possible by working hard on themselves no matter what. Nobody else is going to serve you the plate. You’ll have to do it yourself!

By building courage by facing challenges, they realize that stepping out of their comfort zone is necessary to make room for growth. Fear and challenges are not an issue for successful people, but they use them as a bridge to build their willpower.

They Learn to Take Responsibility

Taking responsibility for their actions is an essential trait of successful people. They own their mistakes and learn from them to encourage healthy productivity. Holding themselves accountable for their actions does not only help them avoid future errors, but it also becomes an inspiring lesson for others to learn from.

They Trust the Process

The process may be long, but the destination will be worth it- and this thought is what keeps us going! Successful people remind themselves that change is not something that happens overnight. It takes time and effort to pave the path to success, and being patient through it is what matters the most.

They Strive to Improve

If you don’t strive to improve yourself from mistakes, how can you move forward in life? We all make mistakes, but boosting themselves with the lessons is what makes successful people different from the rest! It also includes the ability to take constructive criticism and use it to fix any weak points. In other words, it’s important to let your mistakes become a motivating factor if you really want to grow.

Learning and improving from mistakes and criticism is an essential trait you’ll see in every successful person!

They Stay Committed

The intention in itself will never be enough. Successful people accept that advancing through the journey will be difficult and that staying committed to the effort no matter what is absolutely crucial to attaining their dreams. They keep themselves focused and inspired by keeping their dreams at the back of their mind.

There’s no ‘I’ll do this later.’ Do it TODAY, no excuses!

They Learn to Adapt

The key to being successful is to understand you’ll not always be in control of everything. With that mindset, successful people adapt to new situations and use them in their favor to broaden their opportunities. Instead of endlessly complaining, they get the best out of the circumstances to reach their full potential.

They Control Their Emotions

Mastering self-control can come in handy in most situations. That is why successful people don’t let their emotions get in the way of their dreams. Apart from controlling their emotions, successful people have excellent communication skills. They dispose of conflicts calmly and healthily express distress or anger. After all, patience is the key to success!

Final Words

People who seem ‘’god-gifted’’ with their success stories aren’t always the way we see them. The truth is, every successful person has worked on themselves to develop the traits necessary to attain their goals. We all might have a different picture painted in our minds when we think of success, but the mental route to get there is pretty much the same.

What are you waiting for? Now that you know the mental traits of successful people, you can get yourself out of a slump! If, of course, you manage to apply them… The earlier you control your thoughts, the more successful you become!

 

 

Logic Puzzles And Why You Should Have One

Logic Puzzles And Why You Should Have One

Logic Puzzles And Why You Should Have One

A Pastime That Is Beneficial As Well As Incredibly Fun We all enjoy a challenge from time to time. Now, if it takes the form of a beautiful wooden sculpture, you have to disassemble and put back together, or a complex jigsaw with your favorite work of art as the picture, logic puzzles seem to be even more alluring.

Regardless of your choice of the item itself, we can all agree that logic puzzles are a great pastime and one that has been around for centuries. Here we talk a bit more about them and why we think every house should have one.

What Is A Logic Puzzle?

Now, let’s first explain what a logic puzzle is, exactly. Logic puzzles come in all shapes and sizes and can be found anywhere from the pages of the local newspaper to the sleeves of a fancy bookstore.

Crosswords, sudokus, jigsaw puzzles, wooden or metal constructions, and even written instructions with a question at the end – all of these can be characterized as logic puzzles because they all pose a question that has an objective answer. This is the basic premise, and it’s a  pretty simple one.

So, Why Do We Enjoy Them?

For starters, they are a great brain exercise. Because they involve both logic and creativity, solving one is satisfying on many levels. Regardless of which type of thinker you are – by trying your best at these practical riddles, you are practicing both of these skills. Something which doesn’t often happen simultaneously in other, more common situations.

Apart from being useful both for logical and creative thinking, logic puzzles also improve short-term memory. Why? Well because a part of it is to remember, for example, what worked or when you made a mistake. This is how you think of a new decision that trains how well you remember things.

Visual-spatial reasoning is another skill that is developed through 3D puzzles. This is useful for different, viable motor functions (like driving a car) as well as a way to better your imagination and orientation in a non-visible environment or regarding nonexistent objects. However, what all logic puzzles are best known for and the reason they are so attractive is the “Eureka” moment.

Well, we’ve all had a moment in which we went “A-ha,” and the problem we’ve been trying to figure out suddenly had a solution. The “Eureka” moment involves the reward system of the brain, a section that is responsible for the pleasurable feelings we get in different situations. This is why we feel such an incentive to resolve the arbitrary questions logic puzzles pose.

The same way that food or music makes our brains release certain chemicals, like dopamine, solving a riddle has the same effect on our emotions.

The Origin Of Logic Puzzles

Okay, now that we have that down, how did this trend start? Problem-solving actually goes back to the stone age – just think about the creation of the wheel. This, when we first started making our own tools or learned how to use fire, can all be seen as different logical puzzles we found the solutions to.

Pretty cool, when you think about it, huh? As for when it happens in individual development, the answer may surprise you. Some researchers say that solving puzzles is intuitive. And the more you think about it, the more you can see it in everyday life.

Kids, for instance, have the innate response to answer questions. If you ask them pretty much anything, they will try to figure it out, regardless of whether it’s something they will use or not. So from this perspective, we instinctively like logic puzzles from the moment we can understand some basic rules about the world.

This is because everything that opposes common sense sparks our curiosity. And well, that can happen from a very early age. As we grow older, however, things start to be a bit more different and even better. One of the benefits that come with logic puzzles is that they are both social and a great opportunity for some alone time.

If you’re stuck on a puzzle you can always ask for help, and most people would try to solve it with you. The way logic puzzles present questions is so captivating it’s often difficult to get away, which is why most of your friends will be just as curious about the item you’re holding as you are.

Conversely, if you want a solo break, trying to solve a logic puzzle is a great pastime. This is mainly because logic puzzles are a great and wholesome escape from reality. By presenting a question with a tangible answer, we tend to focus on it and forget about our daily troubles. This, in turn, is a great stress relief strategy and one which we can practice all on our own.

So you see, solving puzzles is great for all sorts of situations and people of all ages. Puzzles seem to be great for many things. They release tension and make your brain work faster and in a more complex way when you are solving them. They are captivating, beautiful, and work for adults as well as for kids. With all of this being said, we really don’t know why you wouldn’t have one too! Ready to solve a mystery?

 Limiting Beliefs | Pt. 2 – Shatter Your Barriers

 Limiting Beliefs | Pt. 2 – Shatter Your Barriers

 Limiting Beliefs | Pt. 2 – Shatter Your Barriers

In part one of this article series, we learned that limiting beliefs are thoughts and opinions which we believe in, which is the main reason why they keep us away from achieving more. Those limiting beliefs are mainly developed through our earlier years, where our brains absorb information like a sponge, in order to create a logical mental model of the world.

Now, though limiting beliefs are functional to a certain extent, they are not the best bet in the context of becoming the best version of yourself. In this second part of the article series, we’ll give you actionable tips and tricks which you can apply on a day to day basis, to shatter your limiting beliefs and progress further.

How To Shatter Limiting Beliefs

If you catch yourself unable to take action on certain ideas, thoughts and visions, it is more than likely a matter of mindset. And though limiting beliefs may persist throughout your experience, they are not necessarily something permanent, as long as you have the desire to work on them.

The mindset is flexible and it can take on a multitude of belief system configurations so needless to say, your experience is nothing but the end product of the story you keep telling yourself and believing in. Here are our best tips to shatter limiting beliefs

#1 Embrace Challenge & Change

The fixed/limited mindset will always look for shortcuts and won’t recognize the value of real effort and challenge. Another common trait of the limited mindset is the desire to always be in a flow of sensual pleasure, thereby making effort & work look even less attractive.

However, if you accept that effort isn’t fruitless and that you can change for the better, you will instantly become more prone to taking on more challenging tasks. Without a doubt, as you persist more and more through challenges, you will see them for what they really are and the idea of fruitless effort will pass.

Effort is the path to personal development.

#2 Toughen Up

In general, people who are binded to their limited beliefs, give up pretty easily for the most part. Again, this is a product of the perception of effort, which, in a fixed mind, seems like something fruitless. Well, the truth is that for the most part, giving up is automatic, because you’re following the same old behavior pattern.

In the face of setbacks however, you can CHOOSE to persist, instead of giving up. This will be something unknown for your brain if you’ve been limited up until that point, meaning that there may be a certain level of resistance.

Nevertheless, if you choose to persist, you will train your brain and create new, more productive behavior patterns.

#3 Observe Yourself

When you acknowledge that most of your emotions and behaviors are automatic, you will come to find that you don’t really make conscious choices whatsoever. Your brain knows what it’s going to do and has taken the decision way before the thought of doing it surfaces in your conscious mind. When you observe your emotions, feelings and behaviors, you have the opportunity to actually make a conscious decision, against that which your brain has taken.

Whether we’re talking about relationship behavior, social behavior or just the way you treat yourself, observing all of that and taking different choices at the time of occurrence is the best way to rewire your brain

And Remember…

You will never be perfectly unlimited, simply because we humans always go through more and different experiences, as long as we are alive. Those different experiences awaken and trigger a multitude of emotions and behaviors, some of which have been buried inside of your brain for decades.

Shattering limiting beliefs is about recognizing the thoughts, opinions and behaviors that keep you away from your best self. Stay self-aware, make different choices, keep your head up in the face of setbacks and remember that personal development is a life-long quest!