"Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got." Janis Joplin // One form of compromise is learned helplessness - an emotional and behavioral response in which a human being (or other animal) has learned to "give up" or act as if they are helpless, and loses motivation to act in their own best interest in a situation, even when they may really have the power to change that circumstance - or at least their reactions to it.

It is your natural state to be calm, cool and collected. This may sound hard to believe, particularly if you face high-pressure situations (being questioned by your boss, backed into a corner by your mother-in-law, or sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on your way home from work) on a regular basis. Still, you are meant to be in control, smooth and, dare we say it – serene.

In this post I want to examine one nuance of this yearning for a better quality of life, something that has fascinated me for a number of years. You could call this, “Why the Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Poorer,” or “Learned Helplessness.” Let me explain what I mean.

By Stanley Popovich -- Challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make you feel fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense.

By showing that people who carry a common variation of a gene that regulates the neurotransmitter dopamine have an exaggerated "startle" reflex when viewing unpleasant pictures, researchers offer a biochemical explanation for why some people find it harder to regulate emotional arousal. Their sensitivity may, in combination with other hereditary and environmental factors, make them more prone to anxiety disorders.

Heart palpitations, shaking, sweating, difficulty swallowing, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and trembling are considered normal responses if facing a life-threatening situation or catastrophe… Sometimes these symptoms happen in situations where there is no real danger – only a temporary feeling of insecurity or nervousness about leaving your ‘comfort zone’, usually home.

One of the topics we explore in The Sedona Method Audio Course is that anything that we are afraid of happening, we actually have a subconscious desire for or expectation of happening.

A study led by researchers at The Miriam Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University suggests that teens are harming themselves at rates higher than previously suspected.

By BBC News: It has been estimated that 10% of young people in Britain have self-harmed. There are no official figures, but hospital records show that nearly 500 adolescents a week are treated for deliberately injuring themselves.

You're tired of being negative. You're ready to change. You need a plan. Read on, my friend, for this is the process of releasing negativity and restoring your spirit. Change is good.