Friday, December 6, 2013

Rogerian Argument



Carl Rogers

Read the article about Carl Rogers and reflect on what about the theory resonates with you?  With what part of his theory do you disagree? 

44 comments:

  1. It is never good to stereotype groups of people. However, there is at least one thing that seems to hold true for every person. Human beings long for perfection. They accept nothing less than perfection in many cases. They strive to be perfect themselves, and Carl Rogers believes that the one goal every person has is to be the best human they can be.

    Rogers basic concept is flawless. Who does not wish to be a better and more impressive person? Much of his theory stresses the important role that love and self-respect play in a persons life. To become a "perfect" person, one must first self-actualize. Self-actualization occurs when a person views their self in the way they want to be. It requires accepting the good and the bad as part of who they are. It sounds easy, but it is quite the contrary.

    I liked that Rogers believed that love plays a role in molding a person, and unconditional love opens up the road to dreams and possibilities that would not have existed otherwise. I was also interested in his characteristic of existential living. The idea of just accepting things as they are is somehow enlightening. That does not necessarily mean a person should give up when they are trying to do something, but what's passed is past. If something bad happens, there is no need to dwell on it. Learning from hardships is part of making a better future, and a person should never sit back and let life pass them by because they are afraid of what might happen.

    Despite its sturdy base, Rogers' theory teeters like an unsteady Jenga tower. I disagree with his creativity characteristic. I believe creativity is important, but I do not think that means a person has to take risks and "not play safe all the time". Creativity and imagination are wonderful things to let loose, but that needs to occur in moderation and with safety in mind. I also do not believe that "positive regard" is necessary for a person to be kind and caring or happy. Certainly, it is more difficult for a person to develop these attributes if love is not present, but it is not impossible.

    Carl Rogers' theory of self-actualization is not perfect; nothing ever is. But, his theory lists that which can guide one along the path to happiness. It is not a pamphlet or a map that tells a person exactly what to do. It is more vague and trying than that. It simply gives a hint of what is necessary, and you have to do the rest.

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    1. Meaghan, I totally agree with your remark about how every person strives for perfection. Your final paragraph really brought everything together and finished your blog strong. Good job!

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    2. Megs, I always love how you compare things to real life examples. Comparing his theory to an unsteady Jenga tower really made me think about it all over again in a different light. Excellent work!

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    3. Meaghan, I definitely agree that you should not dwell on bad things that happen, but you should always learn from it. Good job!

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  2. Psychology is the science of the mind or of mental states and processes. While I was reading this I was genuinely interested by what Carl Rodgers had to say about it. His theory that says "This means that self-actualization occurs when a person’s “ideal self” (i.e. who they would like to be) is congruent with their actual behavior (self-image). Rogers describes an individual who is actualizing as a fully functioning person." This caught me off guard because then who you desire to be completely determines if you are a fully functioning human. Maybe if we change the image of who we want to be to who we already are, we will be better off. Another idea is to be the person you want to be. There is no point in wishing to be someone you're not, sometimes you have to make it happen. Another thing that really stuck out to me were the couple of times that he said the factor originated within the childhood with the relationship between the parents and child. "Rogers believed feelings of self-worth developed in early childhood and were formed from the interaction of the child with the mother and father." When he said this he was completely correct. I agree that many things such as self-worth start when that person is a baby and grown and forms into a strong opinion. It is very helpful, like Rodgers also said, that the parents give their children "unconditional positive regard". One thing that I did not agree with in Carl Rodgers writing was that you had to have "Existential living" to be able to be a fully functioning person. I think that you definitely have to look to the past to find divide from mistakes, in order to make better decisions in the present and future. Also a person must plan ahead for the future. It is necessary to have a balance of past, present, and future in a fully functioning person's life.

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    1. Erin, you make really good points here. I agree about the way he uses childhood as the basis for self image. Your point about existential living also made me rethink things after I read it. I had not looked at it that way. Good Job!

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    2. Erin, I also noticed the frequent mention of the importance of family. I too agree that family plays a major role in who a person becomes. I disagree with your opinion about existential living. I think that while the past and future are important, you need to live in the moment instead of that which will never occur again or may not even occur in the first place. Great job!

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    3. Erin, I have to completely agree with how you talked about what you didn't like. If we don't learn and reflect on our mistakes, we're more likely to make that exact one again. Good job!

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    4. Erin, I was also caught a bit off guard when I began reading his theory. I loved reading it regardless and I loved reading your thoughts on it. Nice work!

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  3. In the world that we live in today, it is hard to believe that self image and a person's ideal self match up in many people. Our society portrays the perfect woman as a tall, unnaturally skinny person with airbrushed cheekbones and enhanced features. Men struggle to live up to the muscular, tall, and handsome ideal that is pushed on them. This is society's idea of perfection. Because of this, too many people strive to be something they cannot be without genetic alteration. Their "ideal self" is affected by society's standards, while their "self-image" is destroyed because they think that healthy bodies, that do not have extremely low BMIs, are actually considered fat. So if a person can overcome these things, they are well on their way to achieving Carl Rogers' idea of self-actualization.

    To achieve self-actualization, a person must have congruency between their self-image and their ideal self. The basis for this congruency starts during childhood. Rogers mentions unconditional and conditional positive regard. The words "positive regard" really struck me to demonstrate love. He notes that children whose parents show them unconditional love tend to accept them for who they are despite mistakes, and even allow them to attempt things without interfering despite the foreseeable outcome. Children who experience conditional love are always striving for perfection and acceptance. They are always aiming to please their parent's high and sometimes impossible standards. These children are more likely to have a bad self-image, and an unachievable or unrealistic ideal self. They will have a harder time achieving self-actualization.

    Once self-actualization is achieved, the person is classified as a fully functioning individual. These people have creativity, follow their emotions, are open to new experiences, allow new situations to occur without prejudging them, and are, in essence, completely happy and satisfied with their life. They are forever changing, as their ideal self and self-image are also. Once they achieve that ideal self, they continue to set higher and higher standards, never settling for what they have achieved. They continue to strive perfection.

    I really like Rogers' ideas, as they are fairly simplistic and reasonable. If a child is observed throughout their lifetime, I believe many of the things Rogers mentions will fall true, with some variation because of human nature and individuality. There will always be people who do not quite follow the rules that Rogers has laid out for his theory, but once again, it's human nature to go against the odds. The way people view themselves has always played a big role in confidence and the ability to strive for better things while not being content with mediocrity.

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    1. Hannah, I really liked what you said about humans constantly setting new goals and continually striving for perfection. Your last paragraph was really good; especially the part about it being in human nature to go against the odds. Fantastic work!

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    2. Hannah, your second paragraph really hit me. It made me realize how great of an impact parents really have on their children growing up. It's kind of scary to think that those people who compete at everything to try and be first or get positive attention didn't have to be like that. Great work!

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    3. Hannah, I really liked reading your thoughts on. I agree that parents have a huge impact on children. I really liked the end how you said that it is human nature to go against the odds! Great job!

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  4. Being a teenager in the twenty first century is not an easy task by any means. Society tells us that we need to have name brand clothes, be the captain if the football team, or fit into a size 1 dress. If someone isn't the captain or doesn't have the best clothes or body, the media makes them think that they're not good enough. Myself, along with Carl Rogers happens to think that what you have or society says you should have or do, doesn't define who you are because only you can do that.

    I found Rogers ideas on the negativity in life very interesting because he doesn't try and hide the fact that not every ones life is good all the time. He talks about how it is okay to have bad things in your life because they can be worked out. Rogers talked about how someone's childhood shapes them into the person they become for the rest of their life. This is completely correct. Adolescents have been known to imitate the people they look up to; their family.

    The one thing I didn't really agree with was when he talked about existential living. I think in order to prevent making mistakes you made in the past you have to look back and reflect on them but not to the point where the mistakes become depressing. Living in the present is a good thing, but I believe that it is equally important to look back into the last and also think about what your actions will do to the future.

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    1. I really liked your second paragraph. I loved how he said that everyone has their insecurities and he didn't make one person out to be better than another. Good job, Jessica.

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    2. Jess I really enjoyed your article. Your introduction was great. Society is becoming so cruel. I agree with Felicia on your second paragraph too. Good job!

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    3. Overall I absolutely loved your blog! The examples you gave and the points you make are great and really show your stance on the topic. Great job, J!

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    4. Jessica, I really enjoyed your first paragraph. It was a great attention getter, and it was all true! Wonderful job!

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  5. Humans are capable of doing such great things. Do you dream of traveling the world? You can. Are you hoping to get better grades? You can. Do you wish to become a fashion designer... Or a pro football player... Or an astronaut? You can. The real question is, do you think you can, do you believe in yourself? Carl Rogers does. Rogers says that anyone can do anything that they really want to do. The only thing that holds you back is yourself.

    People usually have two images of theirselves. The way they imagine themselves to be, and they way they wish they could be. Most people have a very different vision of their self-image and ideal-self. A lot of people don't have a very good self-image, or low self esteem. One might not realize this, but it can really hold you back. Rogers says that once your self-image and ideal-self become closer,you will have a greater sense of self worth. You will be more confident in yourself and therefor you will attempt, and succeed, in things.

    I loved reading what Rogers had to say about how the attention kids get from their parents are raised is really what affects them later in life, and I really agree with it. The younger years are fragile and a kid can literally be scarred for life in the young ages. However I think Rogers May have been too general with things. I think that a person can snap at any moment. Now, I fully agree that a child's past has a huge impact on them that will most likely stay with them forever, but I also think that anything, good or bad, can happen and will happen regardless of what has already happened.

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    1. Felicia, your introduction was excellent! Your whole article was very true also. Also, I agree with to e kids learn from their parents and our childhood is very important. Great work!

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    2. Felicia, likewise I also loved your blog, especially the introduction. Like you I also did not like how Carl Rogers over generalized the love children receive from their parents. I do not believe in everything he said about the topic.

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    3. Felicia, I really enjoyed reading your opening paragraph, it was very positive, motivational, and inspiring! Great Job!

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    4. Felicia I really liked your introduction and your explanation of the whole theory. Great work!

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    5. Felicia, this was a great summary of Rogers' theories. I especially liked your first paragraph! It was like a motivational speech! I was also glad that you mentioned the attention children get from their parents in the third paragraph. Our childhood has a huge effect on who we become in the future. You did a wonderful job, as always.

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  6. While reading this article by Carl Rogers I began to really think about our current society and all human who are struggling with something. Right from the beginning I loved how Rogers said "relationships and healthy personalities will not develop as they should, much like a tree will not grow without sunlight and water." I thought to myself, this is so true. Recently, Jennifer Lawrence (actress of the Hunger games) has been given much credibility for believing in herself. In Hollywood she is considered overweight, but really she is just beautiful. I admire her because she isn't trying to be absolutely perfect; she loves her self and her self image.

    He goes onto say that humans will not grow unless they have genuineness, acceptance, and empathy. Society nowadays is pressuring perfection. As Christians we know that no human is perfect. No human is alike. Just like snowflakes, each one is different. It's important to have goals and wishes. It is also critically that we strive to reach these dreams because Rogers feels it is very possible. The next quote I love from Rogers is "Like a flower that will grow to its full potential if the conditions are right, but which is constrained by its environment, so people will flourish and reach their potential if their environment is good enough." Rogers says that in order to turn out like a good person, we need to be raised right. Fortunately for me, my family is wonderful trustworthy, and respectable. I believe childhood is a major impact on the rest of your life and it up should be done well.

    Carl Rogers then talks about self-image and ideal-self and the comparison between the two. Looking at many people, we should realize that people's self-image or self-esteem has gone down the drains. No one is confident in themselves anymore. We all have an ideal- self of trying to be absolutely perfect, but it just is unrealistic. We weren't meant to perfect, so why try. People's self esteems should be rising not falling. Again I'll quote Rodgers, "we want to feel, experience and behave in ways which are consistent with our self-image and which reflect what we would like to be like, our ideal-self." We are trying so hard to be someone else that we loose ourself in the process. Rogers point on this is spot on.

    I do not think there is much I disagree with Carl Rogers on. He covers a lot of excellent topics. I do think that is important to live in the moment , but at the same time you should use experience from your past and plan for the future. That would help people make wiser decisions. Also, it is hard to be a completely functional person. We all make mistakes and go through struggles at times, but it is important to snap out of it and return to a happy satisfying life. In all, Carl Rogers article was very inspiring and down to earth. He knows how harmful society is becoming and someone should stop it. Self-image and ideal- self were important words that I think will stick with me for a while now.

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    1. Jolene, I too did not disagree with any of what Carl Rogers presented in his article. I like how you said that the article was inspiring and down to earth, I agree as well! He just really simplifies and states everything you need to become the person you want to be and how to have a great life. Great Job!

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    2. Jolene, I agree with your thought that right away you began to contemplate about the society. I enjoy how you stated that it is important to live the moment in life. Carl Rogers explained that we should not go back to the past or move ahead to the future. Great job!

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  7. Carl Rogers was a psychologist in the middle 1900s who had a very interesting view on human beings and ultimately the way they live. People who strive to be the best that they can or aim to achieve their goals can become self-actualized. People who are this are able to see the world in actuality and not in their own distorted way.

    I find this to be brutally true, no matter who you are. Too many people see themselves as a high-and-mighty character in the scheme of life and their view is very lopsided to reality. Only people who accept themself for who they are, imperfections and all, are able to see the world clearly. I support this theory of Carl Rogers not only because it sounds true but because I know it is through experience.

    One point that I did not agree with was the point he made concerning unconditional positive regard and on dictionary positive regard. Many people constantly seek advice, guidance, and approval from people but that does not mean that their parents pushed them to be someone they are not. Some are hard wired to need approval even if they were loved unconditionally while growing up. This topic I do not agree with completely even though I do see some of the truth Carl is trying to express for he was an intelligent man.

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    1. Erin, I really liked how you said the "perfect person is the imperfect person." I think the person who can stand up and say, "I have done some stupid things in life, and I have not made all the right decisions, but I am happy with who I am" is the only perfect person. They see themselves who they really are, not someone who they want to be.

      Nice job Erin!

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  8. Carl Rogers was a very successful psychologist who developed his own theories and ideas. All of his ideas seemed to make sense, but the one that stood out the most for me was Self-Worth and Positive Regard.

    Carl Rogers said that children, (but I think all people) crave or have two basic needs and these are self-worth and positive regard from peers. I think this is so true. I can relate it to myself because my confidence is really determined on what my peers think about me. For instance, It doesn't sit well with me if I know someone is upset with me, it does not make me feel good inside. I am always looking to please people and make everyone happy.

    He also stated that your ideal self, the person who we would like to become, is always changing. I when I was a child, I wanted to be a professional dancer. However, that is not what I see as my ideal self now. Currently, I want to become a CRNP and live in a safe and happy suburb about 40 mins outside of a city, and have a nice family. Carl Rogers said it is okay for your ideal self image to change multiple times as your life. Your ideal self is going to constantly change because our goals and desires in life are always changing.

    Finally, I do not think I can say I disagree with any of what Carl Rogers had to say. I think it was all very true, and we can all relate it to our own lives.

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    1. Tori, I like the way to put emphasis on confidence and the value that it contains. When a person is confident they feel as thought they could be successful at basically everything. I also agree with how you ended your blog. There is not much to disagree with because it can all be related to our lives today. Good work!

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  9. As I began to read Carl Rogers, I instantly enjoyed his perspective on the whole situation. Carl Rogers explained his theories very simply. There was nothing that needed to be explained much because he demonstrated his ideas about the best that a person can. I have to say that I agree with basically everything that his talked about.

    He started out with self actualization. I enjoyed how Carl Rogers used the example that unlike a flower, humans all develop differently. All humans set goals, but each person has diverse goals, and each person reaches their own goals in their own unique way. The topic of self actualization actually made me contemplate about society today. Each person is attempting to reach the highest level of “human beingness”.

    Carl Rogers went on to explain the fully functioning person. A person must accept both positive and negative feelings to be successful. It is not necessarily a bad thing to have negative feelings sometimes. It is essential for a person to trust their feelings. A person must believe that they can make good decisions throughout their life. Finally, a person needs to be happy with their life. It is vital to look for challenges and experiences each and every day in life.

    Carl Rogers covered the area of self-worth. He believes that self-worth comes at a young age. A child spends a lot of time with their mother and father when they are young. A person that I strive to live my life like is Jim Valvano. He was a great coach and mentor who died of cancer in 1993. I like his quote that relates to this topic. “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” It is crucial that the parents of a child build up the self-worth of their child right from the start. If a person does not get off to a good start with self-worth, it is rather challenging to fight back. A person must establish when they are still a kid that they believe in themselves, and that they can do anything with confidence.

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    2. Drew, I really liked idea about how it is vital to look for challenges. I think everyday you have to be a better person than you started out as. It is something everyone should strive for, and I think accepting challenges everyday only makes you stronger in the end.

      I loved how you talked about Jim Valvano. I think he was one of the most inspiring people ever. I especially like your quote from him. I think everyone is grateful for their parents.

      Nice job Drew!

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    3. Drew I like how you talked about Jimmy V and how you talked about self worth. Great Job.

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  10. Rogers’ ideas about self actualization are very interesting. I especially liked his idea about how self-worth is established throughout childhood. I would like the think that the things I grew up with, the environment around me, shaped me to be who I am today. I think all the cartoons that I watched from “Rugrats” to “Courage the Cowardly Dog”, and all the video games I played like “Spyro” and “The Legend of Zelda” had a firm effect on me today. I think those shows and games subtly established life lessons in my heads. I do believe however that the people of your life as a child had the greatest impact. The way your parents raised you and the first friends you made set you up for your destined path in life.

    Rogers thought the people we look up to and the people we perceive as role models affect who we are in the future. I think as a child the people you look up have a real influence on your life, while as a teenager or an adult you realize the only person you should want to be is yourself. I think as a teenager it is important to realize that some kids may be looking up at you. Some little kid may say, “Wow I want to be like him someday!” It is an incredible thing to think. Every year I have played basketball I have gotten the poem titled “Little Eyes Upon You”. It tells about how some kid may be looking to you as a role model, and if you make bad decisions the little kid will as well. I always looked up at old basketball players and now it is my turn to return the favor.

    I somewhat disagree with one of Rogers’ ideas. He says that “It is believed that humans have one basic motive, that is the tendency to self-actualize - i.e. to fulfill one's potential and achieve the highest level of 'human-beingness' we can.” While I do believe that humans always had the tendency to become the best they can I be; I think that sometimes things get in the way of this motive. For instance, I believe that someone who is lazy does not try to “self-actualize”. A lazy person has no care to strive to be the best he can be, thus I believe he is not self-actualizing, but rather self-absorbing. Deep down he may have the motive to be the best he can be, but for moment he is caught up in his own laziness.

    Carl Rogers had a very interesting view on life. I do not think it was optimistic or pessimistic. I think everything he said was just the truth. People can be whoever they want to be, but different things throughout our lives influence who are. I also like how Rogers stressed self acceptance. At the end of the day you have to be able to look in the mirror and say you are happy with your life; no one else can do that.

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    1. Ian, fantastic job! I, too, agree that my childhood developed my personalities. My environment and family helped shape my "ideal-self." It was interesting that you included cartoons and video games. I never considered how much these things directly impacted our personalities and desires.

      It is extremely interesting that you mentioned role models. As a child, I looked up to many people. I agree that they influenced me to become the person I am today. Kids will definitely be looking up to you in basketball. Good luck with your season!

      You did a wonderful job of pointing out the fact that not everyone wants to reach their fullest potential. They often face obstacles, like laziness, that steer them off their path to success. Maybe they were raised that way. These individuals could have grown up in environments filled with negative emotions and laziness.

      I love your concluding sentence! It summarized everything Carl Rogers believed in. Good work!

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  11. Carl Rogers is a well known psychologist who had theories about human behavior. After initially reading his theory I found it somewhat difficult to understand. After further reading I began to understand that Rogers was a believer in people could become anything they want to. Rogers thought that if people put their minds to what they want to do they could do anything.

    I believe that Rogers theory about people needing positive regard from their peers is very true. The reason that people usually do things is so people like them and so they gain respect or attention from their peers. Without positive attention from another person nothing in this world would ever get done. People would not have enough self motivation to really get a job done well or get a job done with past what they need to be. This is very insightful by Carl Rogers.

    Carl Rogers said that self worth is an important part of everyday life. Self worth is how people get a good feeling about themselves or get positive about themselves. Carl Rogers was surely a genius when he talked about all these different important aspects of human life. Carl Rogers is a important part of why the world functions the way it does today.

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  12. Before we started talking about the Rogerian Argument, I had no idea who Carl Rogers was. I thought it was very interesting to read about this psychologist's ideas. I agree with many of his views; however, I also disagree with a few.

    First of all, I, too, believe that every person has certain goals and achievements that they wish to accomplish. In order to obtain these desires, "self actualization" needs to occur. Carl Rogers believes that no one else knows someone as well as you know yourself. He states, "We are the best experts on ourselves." As humans, we try to reach our fullest potential. We reach greatest when our environments allow us to do so. In order to do their best, people "need an environment that provides them with genuineness (openness and self-disclosure), acceptance (being seen with unconditional positive regard), and empathy (being listened to and understood)." With these things, people can have healthy relationships and well-developed personalities.

    These personalities are unique in every person. People grow to their fullest when their actual self is "congruent with their ideal self." Nearly everyone on this planet sets high standards and expectations for themselves; it is human nature. Carl Rogers explains how it begins in childhood.

    My childhood created who I am today. My parents surrounded me with unconditional love. When I messed up, they forgave me. I learned from my mistakes and moved on. I grew up in a great community with a lot of caring neighbors. Overall, I was surrounded by a positive atmosphere. Feelings like these developed my personality. They also helped me to set goals and create an "ideal self." Obviously, these desires change as we age; I do not plan on becoming an astronaut or a president anymore.

    Carl Rogers continues by stating, "The closer our self-image and ideal-self are to each other, the more consistent or congruent we are and the higher our sense of self-worth." People can have high self-esteems when they think highly of themselves due to early childhood interactions, see themselves as important and beautiful creations, and set high, but obtainable, goals and ambitions. A person of high self-worth is confident and positive. This individual "faces challenges in life" and, at times, accepts failures. In childhood, people need to feel "valued and respected" through "unconditional positive regard" in order to become a fully functioning person.

    I disagree with Carl Rogers on one specific point. He wants people "to live in the moment" and "appreciate the present." However, at times, I find it crucial to look back in the past. It helps us to stop making the same mistakes over and over again. Also, at the same time, it is important not to dwell on our errors; we have to move on. We should also look ahead into the future. Where do we want to see ourselves in five years? This will help us to set realistic goals for ourselves, resulting in the congruence between our actual-self and our ideal-self.

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    1. Sam, I like how you included a little bit about yourself in the blog. I completely agree with your final paragraph. Great job!

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  13. Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, some of which may be thought of as 'life ruining'. But in all actuality, these little bumps help shape us into better people. A lot of people belief that when something goes awry, their life is over for the time being or that things will never get back to the way they were before. Many people live life with this belief running through their heads, but really, your life is only ruined if that is what you truly think and proceed to act. Your future can only be ruined by one person, and that is yourself.

    Carl Rogers believed that a person's self-worth is very important to him or her succeeding in their life goals or wishes. I completely agree with this point. If a person thinks poorly of herself, she is bound to fail at her goals and desires, whereas if a person is positive about his life, he will most likely achieve his goals and wants.

    Rogers also mentioned existential living, which is, simply, living in the moment. I disagree with this point. I believe that in order to succeed in life, a person needs to be able to look back on their past mistakes so to not repeat them. A person should not live in the past and constantly remember little details that went wrong, but they should be able to take a peek to be reminded of something they should not do. Also, I think that a person should look forward to the future in order to be who they want to be. If they are going through a rocky patch, they can dream about how much better their lives will be once they get to clearer grass. Anyways, who you want to be will almost always be in the future, as your expectations grow each and every day.

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    1. Natalie, your first paragraph was amazing! I always tell myself that I am my own worst enemy. I also liked how you used "awry" in one sentence; it was actually in my vocabulary notebook a few weeks ago.

      I, too, agree that everyone must think highly of themselves in order to reach their full potential. How are we supposed to obtain goals if we are filled with negativity?

      Our views about living in the moment are very similar. We need to enjoy the present while preparing for the future and learning from the past. Your paragraph really sums this up. Great job!

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    2. Natalie, I had the exact same views on living in the moment. I'm one of those people who always tries to look ahead and use my last experiences to my advantage. Who would we be without our pasts? I also LOVE your first paragraph! People overreact about change, but it's a good thing. You did a fantastic job here and had a lot of good thoughts!

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  14. From the moment we are born, our life is shaped by our experiences. We are changed by how people see us, how we see ourselves, and how we see people. We strive to become the ideal versions of ourselves. Carl Rogers developed a theory about the "ideal person", someone who is exactly who they want to be, and how they can achieve this state of living.

    What I really liked about Carl Rogers' ideas was that we are impacted by everything around us. The people that we make and the experiences that we have are a huge part of how we become. And the ideal person channels their experiences, using them to positively affect who they are. Life is about constantly changing and adapting to what is going on around you; it's about being flexible. Also, in order to be truly happy, we must except ever aspect of ourselves.

    One part of Rogers' theory that I did not agree with, however, was that we should not look back on the past or forward to the future. It is good to live in the moment, to enjoy every second we are given, but Rogers himself saId that we are influenced by our past. Without our past, we would not be the same person that we have become. Also, if we don't look towards the future, how can we prepare for what is to come and strive towards our goals.

    Rogers definitely has the right idea about life. We must learn to accept ourselves and become the people we want to be. It is important, however, to reflect on our past experiences and look forward to the future. We can only become the best version of ourselves when we have becomes flexible and content with life.

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