Valery Bryusov wrote in a critical article “On Art”: “Two laws are clearly manifested in human life: the striving for improvement and the thirst for communication” (Moscow: partnership of the printing house of A. I. Mamontov, 1899, p. 32).
This phrase has not lost its relevance today. Many of us, at a certain stage in our lives, strive to enter the road of self-development. However, not everyone knows what dangers await him on this long path.
The “robbers” who bring fear and horror to travelers have long been known to psychologists, their actions have been well studied.
Who are they waiting for, what means of intimidation do they have in their arsenal, and are there ways to cope with them in order to calmly continue their journey?
“Robber” No. 1. Fear of the future and change
Some people are so attached to the past that they feel comfortable and comfortable being in a state of static. And the path of self-development requires constant transformation, changing beliefs, adjusting ideas about the picture of the world, changing the lifestyle. They are frightened by the changes that occur in their worldview, they do not know what to do with it, how to fit into the new reality. Driven by fear of the future and change, they turn off the road, barely passing the initial part of the path.
How to be? Arm yourself with willpower, move in small steps, preferably in the company of familiar people. Pause periodically to catch your breath and get used to the changing landscape on both sides of the road.
“Rogue” No. 2. Fear of depth and inability to reach the finish line
Self-development allows you to know yourself and the nature of the world around you
at different levels: not only linearly, but also in volume. And that depth, that volume of the inner and outer world, which open up in the process of the journey, frightens some to eerie. They prefer to hold on to the lifeline of old beliefs, getting off with a change in some qualities. They trample on a depth of knowledge safe for themselves, fearing to plunge into them with their heads. In addition, as soon as they understand that the road of self-development is endless, they may lose their passion for achieving victory.
How to be? Take your most precious thing with you: self-discipline and use it as a deep trigger, without fear that someone faster will outrun the dive. Learn to see individual stages of the path and strive to go through them before the rest.
“Robber” No. 3. Fear of height and integrity
In the process of self-development, a systemic view, the so-called “eagle’s view,” is formed on objects and phenomena of the surrounding world. It allows you to perceive a holistic picture of complex cause-and-effect relationships that underlie the functioning of all things. This picture turns out to be so large-scale, so shocking in its perspective that some individuals are frightened of their ability to “put the puzzles” of the world around them into a single whole. The revealed meanings of what is happening most often mercilessly tear their picture of the world to shreds. And although they have every chance of getting to the finish line, most often they reach a certain section of the road, and then, with raised hands, surrender to the mercy of the fear-winner.
How to be? Gather and lead a small squad of enthusiasts. Move forward with an example of the courage to take a fresh look at the foundations of the universe and to be aware of our responsibility for the safe advancement of the entire group.
“Robber” No. 4. Fear of destruction of foundations and loss of soil underfoot
The process of self-development often leads to breaking stereotypes that have developed over the years under the influence of other people’s beliefs, sometimes not entirely natural, suggested by parents, teachers, the media, etc. When a person begins to feel that the old standards are not working, and the barely emerging sprouts of fresh convictions have not yet acquired the appropriate strength, he is frightened and retreats to old positions where they feel more secure. “One step forward, five steps back” is the motto of these personality types. In most cases, they turn off the high road of self-development into a narrow, comfortable track of everyday knowledge.
How to be? In no case should you go alone. If you really want to, you can join and become “your own” in any company moving in the same direction.
“Robber” No. 5. Fear of rejection and loneliness
When chaos occurs in closed systems, which include a family, a team, etc., the balance is disturbed. As soon as an individual member wants to embark on the distant wanderings of self-knowledge, excitement immediately arises in his usual habitat. That is, a person, ascending the steps of awareness, begins to emit energy waves of a higher frequency. People around you immediately feel it, they experience discomfort. They have two methods of influencing the daredevil who encroached on their peace: either to force the “violator” of harmony to return to their previous positions, or to go further with him. Most often, the environment resorts to the first method and the person, fearing to be left alone on the high road and getting lost, cannot endure the condemnation of others. He waves a white handkerchief before their eyes,
How to be? To activate the desire to become “different from others”, to try on the image of a “guiding star”, the bright light of which will attract and inspire other travelers. Feel the need for these people. Thus, it will be possible to forget about the fear of loneliness and rejection, and new relationships will not be slow to start.
“Robber” number 6. Fear of being misunderstood by others and losing his mind
He threatens those who are cut off from real life and are in constant contemplation of lofty matters. As the path progresses, thoughts become more and more, they circle in the mind and strive to confuse the owner. If some personality types, succumbing to the tricks of this “robber”, do not find an outlet for their thoughts in the form of some idea and do not open the meaning of their progress along the road of self-development, there is a danger of slipping into a ditch of depression and getting bogged down there for a long time.
How to be? Try to “give birth” to at least some idea and then a hike along the high road of self-development will make sense. The chances of overtaking those who breathe in the back and getting significantly closer to the finish line will increase significantly.
“Robber” No. 7. Fear of falling out of the center of attention of others and losing their interest in themselves
It is terrible for those who are used to attracting attention to themselves in simple ways, for example, telling jokes and funny stories from the lives of friends. As they try to move in small steps along the road of self-development, they want to share something more important, to increase the degree of their significance. And the environment is not at all interested, they switch their attention to simpler and more understandable things. Sloths by nature have no choice but to regain their former central position in proven ways. They get stuck for a long time at the very beginning of the path or completely refuse to move on.
How to be? To become a unifying beginning for those who are on the way with him, to develop oratorical skills in order to voice the idea of the “thinkers”: why and why should they all strive to the finish as a single team.
“Robber” No. 8. Fear of losing power and control
He scares those who love to impose their will on others. Self-development erases into dust the belief that it is possible to control the processes in the physical world and this strains some personality types, deprives them of a sense of security. The store of intuition that Nature has endowed them with replaces the need for development. While no one sees, they make small dashes in camouflage suits and try to find out what is the point of moving along this path. They feel that there is something more ahead than power and wealth, but they are not given to understand that this is.
How to be? Scrape along the “bottom” and find in yourself the properties of other personality types (willpower, discipline, the ability to empathize, etc.) that will help you not lose orientation in the space of self-development, imbued with the idea of the need for growth and confidently move forward, occasionally pampering yourself games over the feelings of those who are near.
“Robber” No. 9. Fear of yourself
He has the most terrible weapon. It frightens even those who have advanced far along the path of perfection with the sudden opening of the abyss of the inner world, in which there are countless riches of abilities and opportunities. People who discover the fact of possessing such treasures understand that something needs to be done with them, that they should be used in accordance with their natural design, and that they learn about life in all its diversity of forms. But not everyone is morally ready for this, or they have no idea how to use all this wealth. It’s easier for them to hide in the shell of their old way of life and pretend that nothing like this has ever happened to them.
How to be? Face your fear, make sure it isn’t so formidable. To see the opportunity to take the treasures of your inner world in small handfuls in order to decorate your reality with them in accordance with the laws of harmony, using the principle “less is more” /
These are just some of the dangers that await travelers on the high road of self-development. But if you have already felt the taste of endless discoveries of yourself and the world around you, if you have come to the conclusion that there is no turning back, then the desire to develop will help you defeat any “robbers”, no matter how fears they frighten you.
And the method of overcoming fears has long been known to Indian sages and it still works: the road will be mastered by the one walking ..
