Perceiving Myself

Oh boy! I am now to look back on my past, evaluate my present, and predict my future based on the work I've put in it. I am now to end my psychology course and we are required to present a project about how we perceived each others life transition. I really find it very interesting. And psychology is my favorite among all the courses I took. I was even thinking after I finish my bachelor's degree of nursing, that I would work on being a doctor of psychology. I like to discover things that I mostly enjoy in life and enhance it. Anyway, below is what I have come up for myself.

Perceiving Myself

I perceived my past thru a poem. It was written when I was 19 years old. When I wrote this, I was kind of depressed and trying to be positive and determined to make life better at that point of time.

MY LIFE

I can live through the trials that life may throw my way,

I always stay thankful, day after day.

But sometimes I just want to lie down and die,

for hours and hours I sit there and cry.

Loves and losses, both come and go,

I learned from both, and it helps me grow.

My life isn't as bad as I make it to be,

but sometimes that's hard to see.

I have happy moments along with the sad,

not to mention the frustrating and bad.

But my life is on the right track,

its more or less white rather than black.

I can deal with what life throws my way,

no matter what I feel or say.

I thank God for blessing me,

because when things get bad, I always find a way.

Thanks to everyone who helped me along the way,

my future is brighter, sunnier than gray.

I'm looking forward past the pain,

My future is busy, I have so much to obtain!

Perceiving my present:

I compared my life now into 2 things:

• an umbrella (the softer side of me)

• a wasp (the tough side of me)

I would say that my life is like an umbrella because I've always been the shelter of people in times of need, most especially my family. I am like the roof over their heads so they don't get rained on. A provider, a leader, and a do-it-all type of person. Basically, I take care of everybody. That is the type of role that I have always run into ever since I became a young adult, and even now. I don't know why- I am thinking that it might really be my purpose in life. It is really hard to do all these things at one time, such as providing for others while you are pursuing your own dreams. But I know in the end, I will be blessed.

I've always been a people person. And in choosing my career, I even prefer something that deals with helping and taking care of others because it's what I am good at. That's why I am on the nursing field. It just felt like this is something that will make me happy and it's something I will do well, while at the same time providing purpose in my life. My present job deals with people that have special needs and I really enjoy it. And I have now made up my mind that this is what I want to do - not only because of the money thing; but it's where my passion and heart is.

And on the other aspect of my life regarding with my personal qualities, I compare myself to a wasp because I can be mean. I can be the sweetest person you will ever know but there is a part of me that you don't want to mess with. In pursuing my goals, I am always determined and will put all my energy into it until I get exactly the result that I wanted, by any means... ( despite all odds!). And if someone will try to pull me down, that person should beware because he is going to get his ass stung.

Perceiving my future:

I look at myself being a nurse and making a difference in other peoples lives. I see myself successful in all the things I am trying to do, such as having a good relationship with family and friends, and last but not the least, being physically & mentally fit. So hopefully, it's a future where I can look back and say I have done all the best out of life and I can label myself being happy and successfully aging.

Conclusion:

I believe that life is like a blank slate that is waiting for you to write something new upon . We are here to provide meaning in our own lives through the choices we make. Life is sometimes a hard road to travel in which we find ourselves in the constant changing, shifting, unfolding, unpredictable, and vibrant journey. Being oneself, takes a lot of courage but in return you will learn to exhibit qualities of fluidity, flexibility, adaptability, spontaneity, and inductive thinking that will get you through whatever hurdles that life may bring. I am very blessed and equipped with beauty, brain, talent, and endurance. I have a high self-esteem and I take pride in everything I do. However, I tried to use my gifts in a simple and humble way. After all, we are here to provide meaning in our own life as well as provide meaning for others. It's what I think life is all about.

Types of Memory

Here are examples of the type of memory, I’ve learned on my psychology. I’ve made samples based on my life’s experiences with my explanation as well, so you will be able to differentiate between them easy.

Semantic Memory- consists of your general knowledge about the world.
Example:
I know what a Rat Terrier is. It’s a type of dog, poodles and beagles are other kinds of dogs. And I know that they can be trained, but nevertheless no matter how cute they are, they tend to poop in inconvenient places and shed hairs all over places.

This knowledge that I have illustrates an example of a semantic memory because I don’t remember where I learned that, but I know it anyway. According to Endel Tulving, who first came up with the distinction, that defining a feature of semantic memory- is something you know, even though you can’t remember where or when you learned it.

Episodic Memory- refers to a memory of specific episodes in one’s life and is what most people think of as memory. This type of memory are connected with a specific time and place.
Example:
I remember that it was my 23rd birthday in the year 2003 when I first got my driver’s license.

This illustrates as an episodic memory because I could not forget when I got my driver’s license for the first time because it was my birthday. Growing up from other country, everything was new to me. When I got here in United States I’m pretty much learning the new way of life and that includes driving. Boy, I was so happy to get a license to regain my freedom. Back home, we don’t have to drive to get places I wanna go. But when I got here, there is no way I will reach to my destination in a day if I will just walk.

Procedural Memory- refers to the skills that human possess. Is often contrasted with episodic and semantic memory.
Example:
I remember when I bought a CD for workouts and just by reading the instruction written on the manual. I could almost picture it on my mind what are the steps to do because I’ve tried different types of workout before and I definitely know the basics without watching any video.

This illustrates as a procedural memory because I have linked my memory to some of the things that can be considered as episodic. In a way, that I’ve been through some workouts before and already know the basic steps. And semantic in a way that it was stored in my long term memory as general. I mean exercising have almost similar action depends on what type of workout you are doing that suits you well. So, oftentimes when I feel lazy and don’t wanna follow the video. I can just execute the actions myself and do my own thing knowing that I am doing the right thing because I pretty have much everything laid out on my mind.

Flashbulb Memories- are remarkably vivid and seemingly permanent memories. These memories are typically of highly emotional and personal event’s in one’s life.
Example:
I remember that day when I just came home from school. I was at our office and about to do some paperworks when I received a text from my family in the Philippines that my dad has been murdered.
I was shock and could not believe at first. I was crying horribly the moment I received the bad news. I never was able to do the paperworks I intend to do for that day and I was so glad that I did not receive that text while I’m at school or else I don’t know if I will be able to drive myself back.

This illustrates as a flashbulb memory because I never did forget that event because it has such an emotional impact on me and I’m pretty sure that it was stored in my long-term memory because until now I can still recall how I feel that day and where exactly I am and what I am doing. It was that intense feeling that I experienced at that moment that makes this memory be stored in a long-term process. I’ve learned too that most of the things that are stored in the long-term memory are the ones that are linked with emotions. It’s so true.

(originally written: May 24th, 2009)

Understanding Psychology

My professor in psychology had given us an assignment. He wanted us to write a paragraph on what we have learned about this course. While making it today, I was thinking of pasting it to my journal here since I’ve neglected this site already. It’s been a while since, I’ve posted anything here. I just got so busy in life lately that I don’t have time to update my online stuff often.

Anyway, straight to the point. Here’s what I have to say. I find psychology very interesting. It’s amazing how an individual can alter your state of mind and behavior by following the scientific study. Psychologists do it by observing and recording how people and other animals relate to one another and to the environment. They look for patterns that help them understand and predict behavior, and they use scientific method to test their ideas. Through many studies, psychologist have learned much that can help people fulfill their potential as human beings and increase understanding between individuals, groups, nations and cultures.

It is a broad field that explores varieties of questions about thoughts, feelings, and actions. Psychologist ask such questions as: “How do we see, hear, smell, taste and feel? What enables us to learn, think and remember , and why do we forget? What abilities are we born with, and which must we learn? How much does the mind affect the body and , how does the body affect the mind? For example: What can our dreams tells us about our needs, wishes and desires? Why do we like the people we like? Why are some people so negative when it comes to their thinking and others are positive no matter what situation they are in? Why other people easily get angered? What causes violence? What is mental illness and how it can be cured? “ I mean there are lots of why’s and how’s that we wanna know. Psychologists knows what factors contributes the effects of such things through research findings. Psychologists have greatly increased our understanding of why people behave as they do. Psychology is closely related to the natural science of biology. Like many biologist, psychologist study the abilities, needs and activities of human beings and other animals. But psychologist focus on the workings of the nervous system, especially the brain.

Now, pretty interesting to have some knowledge on this field. It makes me wanna be a psychologists too. I’ve never been good in reading other people but I am a little bit good in altering my own thoughts and emotions. And it does work. I always believe in the power of positive thinking. For example: If I am depressed, I’ll think and do things that inspires me to alter my emotions. Do you think that psychology is just for students, academics and therapists? Then, think again. Because psychology can be utilized in a number of ways. The results of these experiments and studies can have a good impact in the applications of your daily life. Examples of uses for psychology in your daily life are: get motivated, improve your leadership skills, become a better communicator, learn to better understand others, make more accurate decisions, improve your memory, make wiser final decisions, get better grades, become more productive, and be healthier. Psychology provides a framework for understanding human behavior, thoughts and development. By having, a broad base of understanding about the how’s and why’s of human behavior, we can better understand ourselves and others. And it makes life so much easier. By the way, I don’t agree everything that psychology has to say, depends on certain things. Nevertheless, it’s good because it gives us a complete different idea of the things we think we know best.

(originally written: February 5th, 2009)