Hello, question asker.
In response to your question, I have mixed feelings because I have had some similar experiences. I can relate to the pain you describe, and I also felt unsure about who to talk to or who to seek help from. I didn't go for counseling, and I can see why you didn't either. I was embarrassed and afraid of being ridiculed, which I can relate to. I also didn't know about the help of a psychological counselor when I was in school. After I graduated, I didn't have the financial resources to pursue counseling, so I had to rely on myself to find a way out. It was a challenging process, but I gradually came out of it.
However, the process can be challenging, and there may be times when it feels overwhelming and uncertain.
I'm sharing this with you because I've been in a similar situation and I believe it's important to have support. You don't have to tell your family and friends if you don't want to, but if your finances allow, I would recommend seeking the help of a counselor. This can help you avoid many challenges and get you out of it faster.
Additionally, if you are facing financial challenges, you might consider scheduling a consultation every half or once a month. It's important to remember that it's not always easy to bear these challenges alone.
Let's take a closer look at the issue you've raised. I believe the main challenge you're facing may be self-control. It could be related to addictive substances or behaviors you're trying to quit but find difficult to do so, and it's affecting your studies, life, and work. Of course, there may be other reasons, but let me focus on the situation as it is. When you have a question, please feel free to share the specific challenge you're facing so that I can better understand your situation.
In this section, I will share my personal insights on self-control, drawing on my experiences and reflections as someone who has faced similar challenges.
It's fair to say that self-control isn't everyone's cup of tea. I have to admit, I'm not the world's biggest fan.
The concept of self-control has always been advocated and glorified by mainstream culture, which often suggests that a successful or powerful person must be self-controlled and that they will be strict with themselves. Conversely, a person who fails or does poorly is often seen as someone who is unable to control themselves. Is there a problem with this statement?
I respectfully disagree. I do not believe that self-control is inherently a character trait. Moreover, I feel that the current cultural emphasis on self-control as a virtue may inadvertently lead to an unhealthy glorification of suffering.
It's understandable that self-control can sometimes feel challenging. It requires energy, and when we're in a less optimal state, like a bad mood or with a lot of distractions, it can be more difficult to access that energy.
On the other hand, it should be noted that lying down or engaging in simple activities does not require significant energy expenditure. From this perspective, it could be argued that lying down is a more comfortable option.
If you are experiencing difficulties with self-control, it is important to remember that there is no need to be too hard on yourself. The reason you are unable to control yourself is not your problem. Self-control is the result of a combination of various factors, while losing control is more in line with our human nature.
I would like to take a moment to address the topic of desires.
The above has touched on the topic of self-control. It is natural to wonder why some people seem to have more control over their actions than others. It is not uncommon to feel like we are struggling with this ourselves.
And it keeps coming up again and again!
One possible explanation is that the individual in question has a higher-level desire. It's important to note that desire is a neutral word, not one that carries negative connotations.
As previously mentioned, lying down is a desire that is in line with human nature. However, in addition to the desire to lie down, we have many other desires, such as the desire to live and the desire to live better.
If you were to rank your desires in order of priority, it would likely become clear that the latter would be higher than the former. In order to survive and live better, you may find that you can give up some of your current desires and control some of your current behaviors for more advanced desires. Therefore, desires could be said to be the driving force behind our progress. You may find that you control your current behaviors because you want to.
If I might respectfully draw your attention to the potential disadvantages and imperfections.
It is important to recognize that even with 100% effort, some things may not change immediately. This could include personal shortcomings or the pursuit of perfectionism. For instance, even with long-term self-control, there is no guarantee that future challenges will not lead to a loss of control.
It would be beneficial to adopt an accepting approach in this regard. Rather than attempting to change what we cannot, it would be more constructive to accept it and focus on doing the things we can do well. This is similar to losing control after exercising self-control, which can result in repeated challenges. When this occurs, it is important to avoid blaming ourselves or giving up completely. Instead, we should strive to identify ways to prevent the loss in the future and to learn from it.
Regarding hobbies and intimate relationships, it might be helpful to consider the following:
As previously mentioned, self-control is the result of a combination of various factors. It also discusses the relationship between desire and self-control, as well as the importance of accepting one's own shortcomings and imperfections. However, if you wish to control yourself, it is also necessary to consider other aspects of your life, such as hobbies and intimate relationships, in order to achieve a more balanced existence.
It's important to remember that we're all emotional beings, and it's not realistic to expect that we can live only for work and study. We also need to have our own lives. Hobbies and intimate relationships can help to balance our emotions and rationality, and they can replenish our mental energy while we exercise self-control.
It's important to recognize that losing control is not only due to the challenges of self-control, but also the long-term accumulation of loneliness, emptiness, boredom, and a sense of weariness. These feelings are often caused by the monotony of our lives. To address this, it's valuable to consider expanding your interests and outdoor activities, as well as cultivating or finding the intimacy you desire.
For instance, incorporating daily exercise, weekly outdoor activities, engaging in new pursuits, forming romantic relationships, and maintaining regular communication with loved ones are all effective strategies for fostering self-control.
I have always found self-control to be a challenging concept, and I hope that you can dispel and correct your perception of it.
I would like to discuss the mentality of avoiding.
In ancient times, when faced with danger, humans generally had two options: to run away or to fight. For modern people, however, there are actually very few truly dangerous situations. More often than not, there are difficulties, setbacks, and challenges.
In such situations, we have the option to either avoid the issue or confront it directly.
From an energy consumption perspective, it would be understandable to choose escape as a first option, as it is often perceived as a simpler and less energy-consuming alternative. If the outcome of these two choices is the same, it is possible that many of us would choose to escape, and that facing the issue head-on may feel impossible.
However, it is important to note that while escaping can provide a sense of temporary happiness, it may not address the underlying issue. Conversely, facing the problem can offer a solution more quickly, allowing us to achieve the higher-level desire we mentioned above. Nevertheless, many people may not fully understand this or may have a limited understanding of it, which can lead to a continued inclination towards escape.
This also seems to align with Wang Xing's observation that people may be inclined to avoid engaging in genuine, thoughtful reflection.
It could be said that genuine thinking, that is to say, deep thinking, requires energy and may also cause a certain degree of discomfort.
I would like to discuss endorphins, a sense of achievement, and the brain's reward system.
It is interesting to note that self-control can sometimes cause discomfort, yet many people find it enjoyable. This may be due to the release of endorphins, a sense of achievement, and the brain's reward system.
Endorphins are also known as "painkillers." As the name implies, they can help to relieve the brain's perception of pain. For instance, after engaging in prolonged exercise or a sustained period of activity, the brain releases this substance to reduce discomfort and enable continued effort. This may explain why we can take positive action despite experiencing pain in our brains.
With repeated instances of exercising self-control, one may experience a sense of accomplishment, which can be understood as a manifestation of the need for self-actualization as outlined by Maslow's hierarchy of needs. This can lead to a range of subconscious thoughts and feelings, including a sense of personal achievement, self-reassurance, and a sense of pride. These experiences can be seen as a form of reward, and when fully embraced, they can foster a sense of motivation and drive. However, it's essential to recognize that these feelings and behaviors may bear resemblance to addictions to substances or behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, and sexual addiction. While the underlying mechanisms may differ, the similarities in the way these behaviors are driven by a desire for reward and the resulting consequences are noteworthy.
This is how our brain's reward system is understood to work. It seems that our behavior is driven by the desire for rewards, which could be described as simply desire.
I would like to take a moment to discuss socializing.
Humans are social animals, and social interaction is an essential part of life. Having a certain understanding of social interaction and certain social skills and methods is therefore particularly important.
First and foremost, socializing is about fostering a sense of togetherness, mutual support, and respect. It's about sharing joy, offering comfort, helping each other, and respecting each other's differences. When we understand this, we can better navigate social interactions with understanding and compassion.
The next step is to engage in the actual social interaction. It is important to understand your own thoughts and emotions, as well as those of the other person. After listening to the other person's account, it is then possible to express your thoughts and emotions in order to achieve the goal of social interaction. This is a simplified overview, but it provides a general understanding of the process. For a more detailed account, including guidance on self-reflection and observation, please refer to the resources provided.
How might one express their thoughts and emotions? Is it possible to do so without suppressing or hiding one's emotions?
How well do you think you maintain each other's boundaries?
It is challenging to convey this in a few words, and it requires a combination of emotional awareness, learning, summarizing, and practice in specific social situations. If you're uncertain about the best approach, you can consider aligning with the social principle of "neither servile nor arrogant" and reminding yourself periodically during social interactions.
When we remove the unnecessary elements, we find that everyone has something to offer.
I would like to take a moment to discuss the workplace.
The workplace presents a slightly different set of considerations. Given that the workplace is a collection of interests, it's important to recognize that many of your desires may need to be obtained through work. Resources are often essential to satisfying a person's desires, whether material or spiritual.
However, resources are limited. You have this desire, and so may others. It is understandable that you might wonder why you should be given this resource. The answer lies in the concept of relatively fair competition (of course, cooperation is also necessary, but that will not be discussed here).
Once you understand the logic of competition in the workplace, you may find it helpful to consider which direction you would like to take. The first step could be to think about ways you could improve your core competitiveness in the workplace. This could include work ability, work attitude, and social skills (uncontrollable factors may not be relevant for everyone).
The second step is to consider taking some targeted actions based on these three aspects. The third step is more detailed and requires you to take specific actions in specific situations.
How might one find a way out of this situation?
If I might humbly offer my perspective, I believe the answer to this question is to take action now. It can often be challenging to think clearly about many things, and it is only when you encounter a specific situation that you can analyze it.
For your current situation, it would be beneficial to have some knowledge and ideas. You might as well do it now, do your best, devote all your time and energy, and then analyze specific problems as they arise. Of course, as I said at the beginning, I hope you can find a counselor to help you, which will help you avoid many detours and reduce a lot of pain in the process.
I hope these thoughts and suggestions are helpful to you, even if they don't fully align with your situation. I wish you the strength to persevere, and I hope you find some beauty and warmth in the world. ?
Comments
I'm really sorry you're going through this. It's incredibly brave of you to reach out for help even when it's hard. Maybe starting with a trusted friend or family member could be a gentle step towards getting support.
It sounds like you're carrying a heavy burden, and I admire your courage in acknowledging the need for help. Sometimes just talking about what you're experiencing can make a difference. Have you thought about confiding in someone close to you?
I understand how scary it can be to think about speaking to a professional. But reaching out doesn't mean you have to commit right away. Perhaps gathering information about what therapy entails could ease your fears a little bit.
Your safety and wellbeing are so important. If opening up to a loved one feels too big of a step, there are helplines where you can talk to someone anonymously. They might provide some comfort and guidance on how to proceed.