Psychology with a Sparkle

Dr. Denise O’Dwyer

Description

Psychology with a Sparkle offers a contemporary summary of thoughts, ideas, research, reflections, and suggestions, to equip and empower people in the areas we most often stumble and find difficult.
In her light-hearted, accessible style, Dr. Denise O’Dwyer, Chartered Principal Psychologist from Ireland, offers a contemporary summary of thoughts, ideas, insights, research and reflections - many of which regularly present for people, both in and outside of formal therapy.
Psychology with a Sparkle is a journey of professional insights, personal stories, scientific research, and tips and strategies for dealing with the seemingly fixed and immovable, to sparkling fluidity. The author explains how people can successfully overcome maladaptive thinking and behavior patterns, silence their inner critic, improve relationships, overcome imposter syndrome, and strive toward becoming their personal best – physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and sartorially.
Learn How To:
• overcome fears and self-limiting beliefs
• take an honest appraisal of strengths and areas for development
• establish personal values, goals, standards and daily non-negotiables
• improve relationships and sexual intimacy
• explore adult attachment styles
• lead from the heart as well as the intellect
• dress to express
• celebrate and share unique gifts and talents
The author highlights how each individual’s definition of success is different, and how it is up to each person to define and establish what success means, in shaping their lives and lifestyles.
“Someone who is healthy has a million dreams. Someone who is not, has one.”

Sujets

• Relationships
• Sparkle
• Psychologist
• Quality of life
• Thought
• Spirituality
• Scientific method
• Relationship
• Psychology
• Fashion
• Anxiety
• Health
• Confidence
• Sex
• Fitness
• Mode (habillement)

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 17 octobre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781665731591
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

PSYCHOLOGY WITH A SPARKLE
DR. DENISE O’DWYER


Copyright © 2022 Dr. Denise O’Dwyer, D. Psych. C. Psychol. Ps.S.I.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Hugh Sweeney, Filmmaker, Photographer & Videographer
 
Any scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3152-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3151-5 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3159-1 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022914494
 
 
 
Archway Publishing rev. date: 10/14/2022
CHAPTER OUTLINE
1 Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
2 The Secret to Success is found in the Daily Round
3 Exercise, Body Image and Life Trajectories
4 The Psychology, Physiology and Impact of Thought
5 Friendships and Relationships
6 Let’s talk about Sex
7 Attachment Styles in Adult Relationships
8 The Psychology of Fashion
9 Spirituality, Life, Loss and Purpose
References and Bibliography
Appendices
DEDICATION
To my amazing and resilient Mum, who inspires me every day to live life with our greatest effort, and with kindness and grace; and to my fire-cracker Dad, who has colourfully inspired this journey in spirit with me, each step of the way. xx D.

“She was unstoppable, not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.”
- unknown


PREFACE
It is said that change happens when the fear of remaining tight in a bud is more painful than the risk it takes to blossom. This book has taken physical form based on years of studying, researching, practicing, listening, observing, reading, reflecting, evaluating and re-evaluating all things Psychology, Human Consciousness, and Personal Development related. The content has been variously influenced by a smorgasbord of insightful people who have captured my imagination over the years, including psychologists, writers, artists, activists, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, poets, physicians, healers, leaders, psychics, mystics, spiritual warriors, athletes, architects, musicians, actors, presenters, comedians, colleagues, friends, family, followers, and not least of all my wonderful clients. My hope in writing this book, is to inspire and assist the everyday person with everyday life, fostering hope and encouragement to break free from fears and limited belief systems which unduly harass, slow, and halt human development.
INTENTION
I believe our ability to assist and connect with people from all walks of life in an informed, meaningful way, is only as good as our willingness to acknowledge our shared humanity, struggles, and ongoing areas of personal development. Our ability to communicate this in a relatable, non-elitist manner more readily captures the imagination of a diverse population, and to this end, I have incorporated key examples from my personal and professional life, to highlight particular areas and life lessons from which I have struggled, overcome, and continue to grow each day. This is to illustrate that although professionally trained in the scientific study of human behaviour …..this does not preclude Psychologists or indeed any other, from being faced with the inevitable peaks, struggles, flatlines and triumphs of everyday life.
INTRODUCTION
Recent years have observed a definite paradigm shift in global consciousness, with corresponding changes in the evolving human landscape. People are reflecting more, questioning more, evaluating more, expressing more, and opening their hearts and minds to a broader kind of holistic intelligence. Antiquated thought and belief systems which focus singularly on pharmacological solutions are being stress tested for proof of functional validity and reliability, as people look beyond the lens of limitation and disease, and the hierarchical power structures which have supported this paradigm. A new age of transparency, authenticity, co-authorship, co-production, compassion, renewal and regeneration is emerging, and I’m excited to contribute to this luminary new wave!
Our individual and collective psychology impacts everything – from how we respond to the subjectively sublime, to the perceived shameful. How we think, how we feel, how we behave, and ultimately how we respond to life, have roots in how we experienced the world as children - our early environment, our trauma related histories, and our then available support systems. Together, these have an impressive bearing on how we show up in the world as adults, and by examining our adopted maladaptive thinking and behaviour patterns, taking the appropriate responsibility rather than blame-shifting, we better equip and empower ourselves to change and become as we would wish.
P sychology with a Sparkle is a contemporary summary of thoughts, ideas, insights, research and reflections - many of which regularly present for people, both in and outside of formal therapy. It offers a light-hearted journey of professional insights, personal stories, scientific research, and tips and strategies for dealing with the seemingly fixed and immovable, to sparkling fluidity. An informal style makes this pocket book accessible to everyone, and although the chapters may better flow when approached in sequence, read in the manner you feel most inspired…
Welcome to Psychology with a Sparkle!
1
FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY
I n writing this book, I’ve had several million moments of wanting it to be finished, yet resisting the actual discipline of sitting down and committing words to a page. It wasn’t until March 2020, when I, like everyone else was forced into lockdown due to Covid-19, that I truly found my writer’s rhythm. I work as a Principal Psychologist for a large organisation in Ireland - who like many others, tailored their services to accommodate and support people remotely throughout the pandemic. At a time when there was little happening by way of social events - no hanging out with friends, no gigs, traveling, holidays; no attending parties, matches, restaurants, bars, gyms, leisure centres…but we could go for a run within five kilometres of our homes! – I figured it was now or never!
Book Inception
Writing a book has always been on my bucket list. I had captioned the title, dreamed the content, visualised the cover, written the chapter outlines - yet still hadn’t fully committed words to a page. I came up with the usual excuses – “It’s not the right time” or “I don’t have enough time” - yet ironically, still found the time to scroll Instagram and read countless books and content written by others! This is a classic example of wanting the end result, yet sabotaging the all-important climb to the summit.
As humans, we’re often expert in this field - keen on the fantasy or manifestation of the goal or dream, though less committed to the actual action steps involved in getting there. We delude ourselves that by simply consuming others’ content - by watching a motivational YouTube video, listening to trending podcasts and reading countless books, we’ll become magically imbued with similar qualities. Whilst reading, listening and observing others’ content is certainly useful from the perspective of deepening our insight, awareness, knowledge and understanding, it remains a largely time-wasting activity if the information ingested fails to inspire any meaningful action.
In my case, it took quite a journey before I stopped looking outside of myself and began to trust my own wisdom and inner guidance system. I had somehow convinced myself that what others had to say was probably of more value or interest, and this faulty thinking kept me locked in a state of fear and immobilisation for much too long. I watched and admired as those in similar or related fields, made their mark - seemingly with ease and confidence, and although I had glimpses of personal potential: external moments of encouragement and validation, followed by quiet moments of reflection, I struggled to raise my head fully above the parapet.
I completed my Doctoral research in 2016 in the area of wellbeing and mental health, and this was received with an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm on the pre-COVID international conference front. I had thus completed the research, studied the academic papers, read the books, listened to the podcasts, watched the Ted Talks and immersed myself in the all-important journaling, therapeutic and self-development work - activities which I continue to this day. Yet I still didn’t quite trust myself to say what I wanted to say in the right way – whatever that is!
Blind Courage
Osho proposed that courage is a love affair with the unknown, which has pretty much been my writing experience throughout. Some days were filled with passion and promise whilst others left me drowning in a sea of bewilderment and self-doubt. Despite encouragement from others, fear make