Personal Myths

Have you ever wondered why you act the way you act? Have you ever wondered why you think the way you think? Are your decisions based on past experiences, parental teaching, religious beliefs, or self-generated errors in thinking? Or a combination of some of these? Is your pattern of behavior a thoughtful process or a set of automatic responses?

Psychologists, philosophers, and even some poets (Blake), have viewed human consciousness as a reflection of deeply embedded personal and social beliefs, some productive, some destructive. Behavior patterns and thought processes may be instilled during childhood or may be developed through life experiences. Of course, a great deal of our mental and interpersonal activity depends on mysterious forces, as yet unknown properties of the human brain, of hormones, or of neurotransmitters.

Taking time to examine your own belief systems (your “personal myths”) can be an interesting, beneficial, and life-extending process. This takes the form of self-guided introspection, an activity that can be as healthful as eating correctly or exercising. In fact deconstructing your personal myths—namely, figuring out why you think the way you think and then correcting the errors—can in itself lead to better eating and exercising habits.

Albert Ellis, one of America’s most esteemed psychologists, often discussed “crooked thinking”. Unlike the psychoanalysts of Vienna and their disciples, he taught that personal beliefs and thoughts lead to resultant behaviors and emotions. He recommended that we learn to think in rational, healthy, and goal-enhancing ways. The ego, id, and superego were, to Ellis, nonexistent forces: we are who we are largely through learned behavior (albeit with some influence from our genes) and therefore bad or destructive behavior can be unlearned.

In recent times, Dr. Stanley Krippner has devoted enormous creative energies to helping people discover, rethink, and redefine personal myths. His workshops and writings help teach individuals this process of self-discovery. For him personal myths reflect deep feelings by which people make choices everyday in their acquaintances, jobs, and self-care. Our self-concept is the totality of everything we think about ourselves, and this is certainly dependent on experiences in childhood, our environment, and our most intimate relationships.

Moreover, our image, namely our appearance and behavior, is the projection of our self-concept into the social world. Simply put, this means that what we think about ourselves is viewed by others objectively as our weight, bodily physique, clothing choices, hairstyle, and other components of image. You needn’t be reminded that people suffering from depression, inertia or loneliness have “self-neglect” written all over them. Conversely many individuals with distorted personal myths lead apparently normal lives yet still show signs of carelessness—obesity, unstable medical conditions, unrealistic plans, or limited interpersonal relationships.

Self-actualization and personal improvement must be continuous goals throughout our lives. And examining our own personal myths at any stage of life can be a liberating and thrilling experience as we unburden ourselves of incorrect thinking and destructive habits. The Park Avenue Diet is the first application of this technique to weight loss. Who among us has not thought: "I had a hard day at work, so I deserve to eat and drink whatever I want." For some reclusive individuals, this might be an attempt at rationalizing unhealthy behavior: "No one cares what I look like, so why should I?" Even healthcare professionals are not immune to disordered thinking: "Because I take vitamins I can eat whatever I want to."

All of the above statements are dangerously wrong, although superficially they sound like reasoned thinking. Considering them objectively, however, these personal myths carry with them considerable risks for chronic diseases, shorter lifespan, and unhappiness. Why would anyone want to live that way? Unearthing personal myths, examining them in broad daylight, and realigning priorities can provide benefit on physical, mental, and social levels.

The inner journey to discovering one’s own correct and incorrect belief systems may stimulate spiritual renewal that lasts a lifetime. Simplistic “quick fixes” (such as willpower, a non-existent entity) make weight loss a temporary phenomenon, since irrational and unproductive thought patterns have not been identified and corrected.

Self-understanding must be a constant goal for all individuals, even during times of apparent success. “Know thyself” [γνῶθι σεαυτόν] is received wisdom from the Ancient Greeks, and examination of personal myths is the perfect way to begin this process.