Tag Archives: psychology

HOME

How To Cope With Anxiety

Leave a comment

How To Cope With Anxiety

Over the last two years or more, most of us have been living under tremendous psychological pressure. First of all, the threat of the covid epidemic, which was joined this year by the conflict in Ukraine, the threat of food and energy shortages, and high inflation.

It is not surprising that few people remain calm in this situation, although our psychological disposition to lose balance varies.

However, the principles of how to maintain psychological balance remain the same even in this extremely difficult time as in times of relative calm and peace. A generalized expectation of danger occurs during the stressful condition known as anxiety. The anxious person experiences a state of heightened tension.

Many of us ask the following questions: Will inflation break my budget?

Consumer prices rose higher globally in 2021 than at any time since 1982. For those who have fixed incomes or those who are retired, it can mean hard choices like delaying medical care or eating unhealthily.

The global pandemic caused massive disruption in the workplace and across most industries, so it’s not surprising to find that for many people, it is contributing to financial anxiety.

Experts agree that we do have some power to control the things that are making us anxious when it comes to our money, and that usually means finding a way to earn more of it or spend less. 

When a person evaluates the situation as hopeless, he gives up the activity. This is what manipulators use.

Right now, we live in uncertain times. We don’t know what tomorrow shall bring. The experience Covid-19 has brought made our daily routines completely different from what they are usually supposed to be. Many people began to suffer from death anxiety, and now comes to it the anxiety of lack of money because of the energy crisis.

Financial experts say the most important thing is to understand where your money is going. That means making a budget so you can look more carefully at where you could cut back. If your financial anxiety is rising, then getting control over some costs can be a significant factor in paring it back. 

Will I be able to cover my medical expenses?

Especially in the US, as they age, most Americans worry about covering medical expenses. The survey found they’re the number two factor for financial anxiety for Americans 55 and over. COVID-19 also made many people pause decisions about moving into assisted living centers and retirement communities.

Unlike Australia, the U.S. does not have universal healthcare. Private health insurance costs hundreds of dollars a month, and medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the U.S.

Though the situation with health insurance is different in other parts of the world, the financial problems are generally similar everywhere.

Maintain your mental balance

For many people, life involves an element of anxiety. This is perfectly normal, and in some cases, it is also helpful. When we worry over the current circumstances in our life, things such as finances, work, and family, the worry can lead to well-thought-out decisions and carefully made plans.

When worry becomes overwhelming for our psyche and emotions, it can quickly become debilitating and negative. If you have been experiencing worry in an uncontrollable and excessive way for an extended period of time, there is a good chance that the worry has transformed into anxiety. 

Here are some methods which you can use to avoid the anxious mind setting:

#1. Write About It

You can use this method to ease the stress of negative thoughts and feelings when you have something on your mind but aren’t sure how to let it go. It can help to write about the situation or event causing the anxiety to help you process your thoughts and feelings so that you can work through them. From a scientific perspective, writing activates the right side of your brain, which is the side that processes emotions, letting you understand the situation from a new perspective.

#2. Concentrate on Your Breathing

The task is to slow down your heart rate, which is often the physical accompaniment to anxiety. To start out, try breathing in for four beats and out for four beats. Five minutes of this should even out your breathing and calm the heart. 

#3. Question Your Thoughts 

You can easily forget or simply not notice when your thinking has become negative. By watching and questioning your thoughts, you have a chance to reverse a negative train of thought. It is not always easy; some things just seem fundamentally negative. 

#4. Exercise

Physical activity works as both a long and short-term solution to anxiety. Bringing your body’s activities in line with the activity of your mind will help you balance. From there, you can begin calming your body and mind together and enjoy the endorphin rush that exercise brings.

#5. Aromatherapy

Certain aromas have calming and soothing properties, which create a sense of tranquility when they are in the air. There are many new humidifiers and scented candles available to help you set a relaxing and soothing mood within your house, office, or wherever you are staying. Lavender, Chamomile, and Sandalwood are just a few good options.

More possibilities to fight anxiety

We are living through a historically stressful time, with chronic stress from unrelenting issues. Nowadays, it is still more important to focus on taking care of yourself first by eating a balanced diet, spending time outdoors, and talking with others with similar concerns.

There are more methods that are more time demanding – such as meditation which takes time to master, but it can be a helpful tool for managing anxiety.

Root chakra healing – Let go of fear 

 

 

Other relaxation – Let go of fear techniques may be activities such as yoga or tai chi which are also helpful for promoting relaxation and helping reduce anxiety and stress.

Great and uncomplicated help represent some herbs. Here are a few main ones you can use to maintain your mental health.

Indian ginseng induces calm and harmony

Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine.

Ashwagandha, or Indian ginseng, is one of the most popular Ayurvedic herbs. It is used to treat bronchitis and asthma, while it also works reliably for rheumatism, psoriasis, or insomnia. This miracle drug also has sedative properties, so it calms the mind and helps the body to better adapt to stress.

Dandelion   

A drink prepared from dandelion (taraxacum) has a positive effect on mental mood and induces a good mood. At the same time, it normalizes the blood pressure level and detoxifies the organism.

A drink prepared from dandelion has a positive effect on mental mood and induces a good mood. At the same time, it normalizes the blood pressure level and detoxifies the organism.

Passionflower     

Passionflower (passiflora) as a safe bet  (an evergreen climbing plant of warm regions, which bears distinctive flowers with parts that supposedly resemble instruments of the Crucifixion)

A climbing plant from the passion family is an indispensable helper for all forms of mental exhaustion. Experts are so enthusiastic about its capabilities that they even compare it to pharmaceutical anti-anxiety drugs in terms of effectiveness. However, unlike them, this treasure does not have any unwanted side effects or the risk of addiction, which is why they recommend it so warmly.

Be mindful of your media consumption

You may want to avoid or decrease the amount of time you spend on news and social media, particularly before bed, and refine your information sources to outlets that offer straightforward facts.

No matter how relentlessly bleak the headlines may become, the ability to recognize what we can change and what we have to adapt to can help to limit our stress response.

Czech psychiatrist Karel Nešpor – Fight against anxiety with a laugh

In this short video above, a famous Czech doctor shows how to combat unpleasant anxious feelings by inducing laughter. It may seem crazy to you, but check him out. He looks like a little Buddha.

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” 

                                                        – Mark Twain.

 

 

Sources:

 

 

 
 

 

About: Markéta Hálová. (Czech Republic) A crypto enthusiast, keen online marketer and passion for photography. I love interacting with the community of Entrepreneurs at Markethive. I believe in free speech, liberty, sovereignty for all. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Moseley

HOME

The Psychology of Fear

Leave a comment

The Psychology of Fear

In the last two and a half years, perhaps, each of us experienced a surge of fear and did not escape the anxiety of a completely new situation that gripped the whole world. This is quite natural; the events touched the entire civilized world.

However, it is difficult to say what the given level and frequency of experiencing fear, apprehension, and anxiety is. Each will always be a unique cocktail in which they will most likely be mixed early, even prenatal experiences and personal settings, degree of sensitivity, genetic make-up, fulfillment or non-fulfillment of basic emotional needs in childhood, and others.

In addition, during our life, sometimes there comes a period of crises, rebirths, and changes when deep forces forcefully and without question penetrate through the shell of our consciousness. These periods can be accompanied by extreme experiences of fear, anxiety, and even terror.

"There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”

        —  Epictetus

According to one medieval story, a pilgrim was walking along the road to the city and met Death. Recognizing her, he asks: "Where are you going and why?" "I am going to the city to kill a thousand people with the plague." "Well, if you have to, go," the pilgrim replies, slowly heading to the same city. When he arrives at his destination, he finds a dead city, tens of thousands dead, not a single living being anywhere. He goes back the same way and meets Death again. "You lied to me, Death. You killed all the people with the plague." "I didn't lie,” answers the Death “exactly one thousand inhabitants of the city died of the plague. Everyone else was killed by the fear of the plague."

This horrible story illustrates well the destructive nature of fear if we are overwhelmed by it and give up the fight. The instinctive reaction to a threat is not only an attack or escape, but if we evaluate the situation as hopeless, then also paralysis and surrender to a higher power.

 

This instinctive reaction is exploited by populist leaders – saviors who can frighten a crowd to the point that it gives up its own chances of solving the urgent sense of threat by its own forces and passively places power and salvation in the hands of a manipulative higher power.

Guidelines for Manipulators and Crowd Leaders:

A manipulator will systematically present people with messages, stories, and images that will create and spread a sense of threat, anxiety, and fear in society.

A larger part of society will stop verifying ghostly information, confronting it with a different point of view. They begin to have a great need to clarify and simplify the whole problem. It is enough to help them with the right stickers and directions, which will be simple and logically comprehensible.

Put more pressure on the saw and try to create the feeling that the situation has no solution. After the initial resistance, anxiety, and then resignation to one's own activity will probably come, but there remains hope for salvation from above.

Give them such salvation with a simple instruction – explain to the crowd (yes, at that point, society is mostly behaving like a crowd) that others are incapable, look where they got us, while you are not afraid and have a solution. In doing so, you will only be repeating ideas that you have already pushed on people before. This way, your ideas will seem familiar, logical, and therefore believable to them.

How to deal with the amount of information thrown at a person? 

Restrict message viewing?
Certainly yes, and watch the news only at certain times and only from specific sources.

Adequacy, not absence of concern. Realize that worry and fear are natural emotions that have an essential function. They mobilize us, orient our attention and show what we should change to prevent the possible negative consequences of what threatens us. It's not about not having such emotions at all but *keeping them within limits where they don't harm us*.

Mental hygiene is essential! Introduce (and if you do, intensify) important psycho hygiene exercises – intensive movement, physical exercises, physical relaxation (autogenic training, etc.), yoga, meditation, mindfulness exercises, walks in nature, etc.

You can prepare crisis scenarios –  and then put them away. If you are overly worried about the possible practical consequences of the current situation for your concrete, everyday life (energy crisis, job loss, financial matters, etc.), do not avoid these considerations, but go through them thoroughly once and conclude. 

Specifically: calmly (alone or with another person who is a reasonable advisor) discuss these concerns and devote yourself primarily to planning activities and measures that (then, if they arise) you can take. Think through contingency plans ("what would I do if") and alternatives. 

Do it once, thoroughly, when you are in a stable mood. For example, write down all the points on paper. And then hide it somewhere and close everything, both realistically and symbolically. Don't come back to it. If needed, you have plans made.

Remember – feeling afraid, nervous, and upset is normal in times of uncertainty.

The way people react to the news can be influenced by how it's presented. While you want to stay informed from credible news sources, you might need to set limits on your daily media consumption.

Fears from the point of view of human biology

Fear actually has a central location in our brain. The area is called the amygdala, and it is located deep on the sides of our head in a place called the temporal lobe. It gets its name from being almond-shaped. The amygdala serves us well and helps us to avoid fearful and anxious situations in our past, so we don’t continue to make the same mistakes or subject ourselves to dangerous situations. It keeps us on alert when we must be careful.

Your amygdala fires the stress/anxiety/fear warnings based on how you see the world. It is complicated because our brain is complicated, but imagine your eyes see a threat, and messages go throughout your brain telling you to run, fight, flee, or whatever response you might take. 

Part of the message goes to your amygdala for many reasons, including the emotional component. The more your amygdala is stimulated, the more easily it can get triggered. When a pandemic has a child or adult in fear all day, the amygdala repeatedly uses minimal stimulus to fire. Everything becomes a threat – and fear and anxiety are everywhere.

First things first, do not let any kind of negativity and hopelessness stop you from taking the necessary actions to care for yourself. Mild anxiety can be beneficial to boosting efforts and achieving a favorable outcome. Excessive anxiety can make it difficult to reason and cause extreme stress. It is helpful to understand what kind of behavior and emotions are normal and which should raise a red flag. 

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength.” —  Charles Spurgeon

Sources:

 

 

About: Markéta Halova. (Czech Republic) A crypto enthusiast, keen online marketer and passion for photography. I love interacting with the community of Entrepreneurs at Markethive. I believe in free speech, liberty, sovereignty for all. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Moseley

HOME

The Psychology Of Marketing

Leave a comment

The Psychology Of Marketing

 

Marketing aims to identify and satisfy customer demands by providing products and services. The marketing process includes exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet a target market's needs, whether online or at trade shows and public events. 

The decision to launch a marketing campaign is reasonable based on several factors, such as the availability of products, the need to correct erroneous information, or a desire to drive traffic to a particular website. 

You can implement a marketing campaign to emphasize specific themes or attributes and select a target audience. These themes or features may inform customers about the value of that particular product or service or inspire them to purchase it. It is essential to know your target demographic, as it allows you to tailor your ads to meet their needs and desires.

Marketing arose as a result of the rapid development of civilization. As long as there was an excess of demand over supply, manufacturing companies could concentrate on production only. However, with the rapid growth of technology, the production process accelerated, and gradually the market began to satiate until supply began to exceed demand. At that moment, solving how and what to produce was already necessary. 

With the modernization and simplification of production, the number of companies on the market also grew, and consumers got more choices. With increasing competition, companies began to address the question of what steps to take to make consumers choose their products. And hence there was space for the emergence of marketing.

 

Thus, marketing creates links between the market and businesses. It is based on human needs and desires. The human factor is applied and manifested both on the demand and supply sides. It is evident that psychology will also play a role in marketing.

Five Basic Psychological "Tricks."

1. Reciprocity (commitment)

    – give a little something for free, and then it'll come back to you

      as no one wants to be in debt 

2. Liquidation Offer and Consistency

    – we don't all like to make decisions 

    – we are afraid of the new and the unknown

    – we'd better shop at a friend's

3. Price Anchor and Contrast

     – When something's on sale, we go and shop

4. Paralysis of Decision-making

    – make it easier for people to make a choice and make an offer that, at a glance, 

      is the best possible solution you can buy

5. Social Proof

    – a lot of people have already bought it.

More About These Five Points:

What is the principle of reciprocity?

One person gives another a "gift," and the donee feels obligated. Thus, they feel a natural obligation to return the gift (to meet the following requirements of the donor).

What is a liquidation offer?

It is an offer so convenient and cheap that we do not have to think about buying for a long time. The price tag of such a liquidation offer is often meager, so we just do not have to consider for a long time whether it will pay off for us or not.

How does the principle of consistency work?

The principle "advises" us not to take risks and do what we already know and have tried. It protects us from the fear of the unknown. It is the principle people follow when they shop in the same supermarket for years, even if a few meters away is a new modern supermarket, which is cheaper and has a broader range.

What is a price anchor?

Discounts in marketing can work precisely because of the price anchor. It is the price tag or value of the goods. For example, when a product costs 100 USD, the price anchor equals 100 USD. When the goods suddenly have an "action" price of 69 USD, it seems advantageous to us thanks to the price anchor.

What is the paralysis of decision-making?

It is caused by more similar offers where the customer hesitates on what to choose.

Eliminate selection where possible or pre-select the most crucial option – the most effective solution to decision paralysis.

How does contrast work in marketing?

It is similar to a price anchor. In short, we compare two variants (more expensive / cheaper). And naturally, we choose the more profitable one. 

If it is not evident at first glance which offers are better, then follows a decision paralysis. In this case, customers often choose neither because they are looking for the best possible solution (convenience, savings, etc.) and cannot make a choice.

What is social proof?

It's confirmation from other people that our decision is the right one. These are references, sales figures, but also, for example, restaurants full of people.

 

 

Half of all our activities are based on habit. 

In marketing, on the contrary, we need to break the potential customer out of his habit. But psychologists have observed that we are most accessible when we have a life change – we are moving, we have a baby, we are approaching 20., 30., 40., 50…. birthday. 

Finally, Something About Colours

Colour psychology is the study of hues as a determinant of human behaviour.

Carl Jung was one of the pioneers of the interpretation of colours and their significance for the human psyche.

Jung said,"colours are the mother tongue of the subconscious." Colour influences perceptions that are not obvious, such as the taste of food. Colours have qualities that can cause certain emotions in people. They can carry a specific meaning.

        

 

What Is New In The Last Years

Biochemical marketing, as the new type of marketing is called, can increase efficiency by up to half and reduce costs by 70-80% in the format of low-cost multi-layered marketing. And in doing so, it is enough to know and use the biochemistry of four substances generated in a healthy human body: serotonin, dopamine, endorphin, and oxytocin.

Each of these substances has its own features and functions. Still, they are all responsible for positive changes in the human body, increasing the level of trust between people, reducing stress and anxiety, and creating a sense of well-being. And thanks to this, low-cost marketing can be done through public relations, social media, events, etc., with the help of biochemistry.

 

In no case should we forget, whatever methods we use, that our goal is a satisfied customer who returns. The applied psychology of the marketing world helps to find the necessary keys to understanding how the human mind works and is the basic knowledge of getting potential customers to buy your products eventually.

 

Although, at first glance, marketing may seem like a simple matter, if you delve into the issue more, you may start to feel a little lost. Markethive will provide you with comprehensive marketing tools. It is a platform for entrepreneurs with many innovative features. You will find all the tools for your business under one roof and have the opportunity to contribute to the spirit of friendly cooperation.

"Marketing is a war of perceptions.“         Ivo  Toman

 

Sources:

https://www.marketingovenoviny.cz

https://foxentry.com

https://www.dusansoucek.cz

 

 

 

Tim Moseley

HOME

Opportunity in darkness

Leave a comment

Opportunity in the darkness

When it is at its worst, everything can suddenly get better

Many of us are today facing dark period of life and experiencing what it's like to be at rock bottom. And we have to consider how we can emerge victorious from this pain. Even when it is sometimes cloudy, dark and the sun is not shining, it gives us a lot of opportunities.

Famous writer J. K. Rowling says: "the bottom became for me a solid foundation on which I built my whole further life.“

In the dark, the light can shine most strongly. Darkness, fatigue and suffering are disguised opportunities.

People who are going through something psychologically very painful often describe a similar principle: that the pain (darkness) allows them to go into greater depth. A Czech psychologist Dušan Kadlec writes in his book From the bottom to the stars, "obstacles are put in people's way to make them extraordinary people.“ 

If you are really very tired, but you are still able to at least walk and move gently, it is highly recommended, for example, go to practice yoga. It is my repeatedly experienced experience: when we are most tired or most stressed that any relaxation has the strongest effect for us. You don't even think about it, and everything can be different. You can feel the most tired in the world, and after sixty or ninety minutes of exercise, you feel, on the contrary, like the most refreshed people. In general, it is also true: when we go through great suffering and great darkness, we are much more grateful for any small light.

Pain can be the biggest teacher
Pain reminds us that somewhere there is a mistake. That we forgot something. Not that we are bad, but that the pain is meant to remind us of something.

Finally here some breathing exercise: The royal way to cleanse the nervous system is slow breathing

Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Slow breathing should be pleasant  for you, without any pressure.
Controlled breathing (in yoga "pranayama") occupies a privileged place among ancient medical practices. Modern research has shown that the advantages of controlled breathing are quite real.

Controlled breathing relieves symptoms:
• insomnia
• anxiety
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• depression

You can start with relatively quick breathing – count to 4 inhaling and then again to 4 exhaling. Slowly you can change it to 4 = inhaling, 2 = stopping, 8 = exhaling. Repeat this procedure for at least several minutes. Later when you are already trained you can prolong the intervals . There should be no overstrain of the will.  People with high blood pressure and pregnant women should keep their own pace and, above all, avoid pressure when holding their breath.

Thanks to practice, this whole process will become very simple and pleasant. It is thanks to the peace and tranquility that come with the unfolding of the breath, when the mind and body open up and receive the healing light. This breath cleanses the lungs and other organs. It brings more oxygen to the brain, leads to greater calmness and clarity of thinking. It is the breath that allows us to maintain a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic system.

The Persian poet Saadi Shirazi (1210-1291) says:

"Deep in the sea lie hidden treasures of immeasurable value. You'll find safety on the shore.“

Our world, from the laws of physics to social relations, is based on polarity. Life develops in a world of opposites between two poles. Each system and organism strives to achieve completeness and unity, which means the unification of polarity. Knowledge of good and evil. Who wants to remove only one pole from the world, unconsciously strengthens it. 

 

           Hope is never lost, thanks for reading

                                                                    Margaret
 

Tim Moseley