Анна Шиман
Draft translation. This text was translated automatically and has not been proofread yet — if something reads oddly, it does.
What is psychology for?
- Why does a person need knowledge of what cannot be seen and of what is so hard to understand? Here I suggest two important directions:
- Why do people go to study psychology?
- What do people study psychology for?
The essence is one, yet how different the meanings and the colouring!
- Why do we usually turn to psychology?
Because the old ways no longer work and we want answers. Because our relationships no longer satisfy us. Because the suffering is off the scale. Because we want someone to take away the “bad” so that only the “good” is left. Because we want advice on “how to do it right”. Because it is fashionable, and “everyone is into psychology already, and you still aren’t”. Because we notice events repeating in cycles and want to change that. Because we want “to talk cleverly with people too”.
In any case, there is some outside factor here that prompts a person to come to a psychologist. Or at least to start reading books in search of new strategies, to broaden and change their worldview.
- What do we turn to psychology for?
To satisfy our thirst for knowledge, our interest in what is hidden and unknown! To see, study and understand what it is inside me that drives me to exactly these reactions, these relationships, this behaviour. To gain tools for managing our mood, states, behaviour and self-esteem. To improve our communication skills. To learn to be truly effective in reaching our goals. Rather than trying to jump to the Moon out of blind worship of generally accepted patterns and stereotypes.
Here, as you can see, there is some inner factor of motivation, of purpose. It can be called interest. Interest overcomes the fear of the unknown that we may meet in the inner world.
You will agree that lively interest is far more welcome than suffering and insurmountable circumstances. The kind that force you to develop rapidly and very effectively — but only through fear and bitter despair. In our society the second option still prevails. Many of us were taught and pushed to develop precisely through negative reinforcement, criticism, negative judgements and fears.
Yet today we meet more and more people who have a considerable interest in psychology but do not know where to start. Getting an academic education takes a long time, and not everyone needs it anyway.
To satisfy this interest of yours, we have created our foundation course “Practical Psychology”, where you will:
- learn the basic principles of psychology
- study the fundamentals of psychology
- form a clear picture for yourself of what psychology actually is and what it studies
- find out what the psyche is and how a person’s inner world is arranged
- get a wealth of practical exercises and methods for working with your inner world
- learn to apply psychology in practice
The influence of inner processes on outer choices, on ways of behaving, on ways of reacting, on attracting particular kinds of people and partners is beyond dispute!
Outer reality is only a reflection of what exists in the inner world!
Are you still interested in getting to know psychology?
Then read on about the most important “what for”, the one that is often forgotten. People often turn to psychology in order to help those around them cope with their problems. This is where the greatest danger lies for those who want to help. And it is about how the people around us, sometimes the closest ones, do not react very positively to our interest in studying psychology and to our attempts to rescue or enlighten them.
And here is why.
A person comes to psychology in order to change their own life, their ideas about it, the way they show themselves. To grow up psychologically, to understand and to learn to be accepting. First to learn to accept themselves, and then the world around them in all its diversity.
This is the essence of growth and development.
It happens that newcomers to psychology, not yet used to it, get so fired up and so proud of their access to new knowledge that they rush to make everyone around them happy with it.
As a rule, the “people around” do not much like it. Mostly it is more no than yes. They rebel and take offence, they get indignant and reject it. They show distrust and even fear!
They reject what is still “foreign”, still “not yours”. What still lies packed up inside. What you have not yet made “your own” by passing it through awareness, through action, through choosing a different behaviour or reaction.
On the foundation psychology course you gain many practical methods with which it is quite possible to change your thinking, your behaviour and, as a result, the quality of your relationships with the people around you.
To this end, in our sessions we give a lot of time to taking the information you receive along the long road — from theory to a clear response inside you. To an understanding of what it means for you in particular.
An individual approach matters because each person takes in information differently.
One of our main aims is to create a positive atmosphere, a comfortable setting and a supportive environment in our sessions. Such a setting encourages self-disclosure, bringing to the surface what creates inner tension — and attending our sessions helps you cope with it.
Try to answer the following questions for yourself:
- What do you need psychology for?
- What will it give you if the people around you agree with you?
- For what purpose do you share the information you have received with the people around you?
- Do you take offence when your advice meets no support or agreement?
Mostly the aim is quite clear. You want things to be “for the best”. People are made in such a way that they always strive to do things “for the best”. But if someone takes on the important mission of knowing what will be best for those around them, they are taking a great risk at that very moment! They risk getting drawn into a conflict, or being rejected and unappreciated for their very best intentions!
To everyone who is interested in psychology and wants to gain power over themselves and the ability to manage, I have one wish:
Please do not lecture your loved ones (or those further away)! Especially after reading books or taking your first steps in psychology.
They will most likely not like it, and it will make them very indignant. Do not presume to know for others what they like and what they need. And, of course, do not give advice nobody asked you for!
Teach yourself! This is the only path that leads to relationships that will be comfortable for everyone!
And if not for everyone, then at least for you.
Perhaps it is not very easy, but it is a new challenge that leads to growth, and a very interesting adventure!
The best investment is an investment in yourself!
We invite you to dive into the fascinating world of psychology together with real professionals!
See you on the foundation course “Practical Psychology”!
The course is led by Anna Oleksandrivna Shyman.
