Part 1 - The Big Picture

It Often Takes Self-Sacrifice to Bring Joy Into Sad Lives

Introduction to Character: Categories & Factors

Download - Categories & Factors List - 306KB

A HUGE WEB OF INFLUENCE AND EFFECT
Within the study of human existence, there exists an enormous network connecting things that send change, and others that receive. There is a continual interaction of elements, not only in the physical realm but the emotional, psychological and social as well. But this is more complicated when one realises that the senders are themselves being counter influenced. Everything is in a state of flux, the animate kingdom as well as the inanimate. In this article series, we will peep into a small part of this web, particularly that tiny part that is pertinent to human health and wellbeing.

Fully describing this complicated network is an impossibility, but in this series, we will very much simplify a tiny part to try and make sense of what we can reasonably do to make this world a better place. It has to do with what people are willing to do to bring about improvements. Success for each of us boils down to choices, choosing how we think, and choosing not to let others do our thinking for us, by the way they talk and the way they behave. Critical to bringing about change, personally and socially, are self-denial, self-sacrifice and energy.

THE CENTERPIECE OF THE SITE
Nearly all the concepts and principles contained in this site have their focus in this article series. From published books and articles I have gathered an extensive list of 'causes' that can have beneficial or detrimental effects on the following:

Character development
Behaviour
Physical health
Emotional intelligence (EQ)
Social health
Mental health

Many and varied are the degrees to which the 'causes', I will call them 'factors', impact our wellbeing. Our very security and happiness will depend on how seriously we work through them. If we avoid eating one type of vegetable, we can still get by because we can find other food that contains nutrients that supplement the loss. But what happens if we don't have one particular vitamin, like vitamin C? It is the same with 'factors'.

Many factors impact mental health, physical health, behaviour and character. I have attempted to organise them into categories, but the factors don't fit neatly into arbitrary classes. Arranging factors this way makes them easier to discuss and to remember. Some factors logically fit into more than one category, so I have included them in all appropriate categories. The lists are not necessarily exhaustive, but the number of factors listed will demonstrate the necessity of conscious effort to counter the many negative influences that mar our health, behaviour and character.

BENEFICIAL RESOURCES
Dr Neil Nedley is one of the world's leading authorities on depression, anxiety and emotional intelligence. He has had impressive success in helping people recover from chronic depression. Many countries host his community programs. He has been in practice as a physical medicine physician for over twenty years. His books, Proof Positive and Depression the Way Out are highly acclaimed. In Depression the Way Out, Dr Nedley has organised the factors that contribute to depression into categories and 'hits.' I have included many of his 'hits' in my lists of factors below.