Well-Being Dictionary
Micheline St-Jacques
Not yet published in English
This book is a volume of reference for all those who are interested in personal growth and it answers innumerable questions that more and more of people are asking themselves.
It is also a priceless tool for all those who are counselors of some kind.
The following outlines the main factors necessary for all those striving to improve their quality of life and create more harmony in their environment.
-Why do those in relationships experience so many problems? The lack of deep communication is one of the reasons. Formal education does not teach us how to express ourselves clearly, and this directly affects our family life and social relationships. Genuine listening is an art unknown to us as is an ability to express our requests clearly and precisely. We are afraid we will be rejected or displease others if we ask for what we want or need. In fact, the fear of not being loved controls us. We will also explore the importance of sexuality to communication and the creation of harmony and happiness in our lives.
-How do we find the perfect job and find fulfillment in our profession? Realize that work is often the most important activity of our day. It can be a great source of balance and true happiness, as it enables us to make use of our creativity and talents, develop friendships, self-confidence, and trust in others. To help you discover your true profession, ask yourself: "If money was of no importance, what kind of work would make me want to leap out of bed every morning?"
-Where does guilt come from? Why do we feel guilty and is it possible to rid ourselves of those feelings? The feeling of guilt comes from the influence of the education we received. For example, we learned that we must first please others or be considered selfish. Therefore, we have accepted the belief that we are responsible for the happiness of others and meeting their expectations. We also learned that others were responsible for our happiness. Consequently, each time we want to please ourselves, a little voice in our head tells us that it is not correct, that we will not be loved. This belief remains rooted in our memory despite the fact that it is no longer relevant. Meanwhile, we ignore our real needs and refrain from being ourselves and experiencing a very nice life. We feel trapped. By learning how to identify the belief systems and fears responsible for our feelings of guilt, we will free ourselves from them.
-How can we realize our desires? First, we must identify the desires which correspond to the real needs of our Being and what is behind unrealized desires. For example, we want a relationship, but in spite of our strong desire we find ourselves alone. With the help of the decoding method, we will become aware of several beliefs or fears hidden behind our desire--such as the fear of having our personal space invaded (we are used to living alone and doing what we want), or the belief that a relationship can't last, etc. Slowly but surely we can learn to transform these beliefs which control our lives.
-We will discover why we are attracted to certain people and not to others. We learn why some people bother us and what they can teach us through what they mirror back to us.
Why do we experience emotions? What is their real purpose and how may we express them responsibly so we can master them and accept ourselves and others?
