Chances to Change a Life - Essay Example

Throughout this book, the author emphasized knowledge of the rules, knowledge of what makes people tick, knowledge of the true you as key factors in the establishment of a sound strategy.The most common pattern that interferes with our chances to change our life is ‘denial’ (15). The failure to acknowledge that a problem actually exists may result in catastrophic outcomes in our lives. Denial can take the form of failing to see what is happening or seeing it and refusing to accept it because you do not like it.

This book has brought to mind a number of different situation in which the author of this paper has denied the existence of a problem. In retrospect, denial has led to either a worsening of the immediate problem or a culmination of unresolved little problems which ballooned into a massive disaster. Thus, denial has not been a friend but a foe.Going through a problem with a "stiff upper lip" is a demonstration of ‘deceptive masking’ (17). Many people wear a mask to hide their true feelings and needs.

They believe that admitting to a need is a sign of weakness. However, pretending to be strong when one is overwhelmed with needs negates any opportunity for us to obtain the valuable assistance we need to survive.Everyone wears a mask at some point in their life but ‘masking’ is most dangerous when one is unable to differentiate between the real you and the mask that is displayed to the world. The author of this paper believes that masking may be effective in certain circumstances but it is detrimental to the understanding of yourself by others who would like to know the real you with your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

My most pressing fear or concern related to achieving this degree is the fear of having to stop before I get to the finish, that is, the obtaining of the degree. I get nightmares about everyone else graduating whilst I have to wait for a year or two before I complete the degree.