How to tame your weaker self! From worst enemy to best friend

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How to tame your weaker self! From the worst enemy to the best friend is a non-fiction book in the everyday guide category by the German lawyer and non-fiction author Marco von Münchhausen . The book was published by Campus-Verlag in 2002 and is considered the author's best-known work, which was followed in 2007 in collaboration with Hartmut Scherer, following a similar pattern of selling with a weaker self .

content

The book turns against the "shiftitis" or also procrastination , which is usually subject to the " inner weaker self ". This postpones all tasks and projects until their fulfillment becomes impossible or they have taken care of themselves, out of comfort and latent fears, true to the (un) motto “What you can do today, postpone it to tomorrow”. Using everyday problems (exam preparation) and well-known examples ( tax return , career planning , renovation, athletic fitness), von Münchhausen presents the basic behavioral patterns and possible diversification strategies of our subconscious in a generally understandable way or otherwise previously also generally written material or as part of philosophical wisdom were detained.

So mostly the mountains (of the tasks) protect the belief in the impossibility of the project from being relocated. Some intentions go for a swim when the supposed duty calls, whereby the individuals are always very inventive in inventing additional duties. This could even include everyday and by no means pleasant housework such as mowing the lawn when it comes to postponing unloved activities such as tax returns .

The other simple mnemonics can be named as follows:

“For reasons of consideration, there is no need to assume personal responsibility.” By showing consideration for third parties, such as the alleged goals of the family or colleagues, one denies one's own responsibility. "Resolutions formulated in the subjunctive are seldom realized." Resolutions in the style of "I could ..." always remain in the subjunctive.

"The long bench is the bastards' favorite tool bank." "Appeasement is a narcotic with the most debilitating side effects." "If you are not responsible, you do not need to act." "Please do not change anything! It could be different ... "" If you don't risk anything - don't embarrass yourself! "

"If you want to be lazy tomorrow, practice comfort today." "" Wanting to try "costs nothing - and it doesn't work." "Commands in the comparative cannot be carried out." "No appointment - no action." "Whoever takes over , doesn't do much. ”“ The distraction is the first step on the way to missing the target. ”“ Anyone who says "I want" instead of "I have to" transforms the inner pressure into an inner urge to do something. "

Overall, von Münchhausen demands binding, measured or realistic goals from readers who want to be receptive to this advice, which they approach with active will and do not give up at the first disappointment. It is not important to defeat the "inner weaker self" always and everywhere. This can hardly be guaranteed, since the subconscious always generates it for necessary time-outs. Instead, he should be accepted as a necessary ally. By internalizing its mechanisms, it could be better dealt with without letting the counter pressure become too great. Despite the seriousness of the essence, the author processes the subject in a humorous way, which is also supported by the various, partly colored illustrations.

reception

The work was recommended not only by various leaders of management seminars as accompanying reading, but also mentioned as possible literature in child and adolescent psychotherapy by university teachers as part of a seminar on the subject of “Work disorders, performance disorders, test anxiety”. Even self-help groups such as AAS (Workaholics Anonymous) carry the book in their catalog. It is also used in study seminars to familiarize students with self and time management, for example at the University of Ulm . The volume was followed in 2007 in collaboration with Hartmut Scherer, a work based on a similar pattern, Selling with the Inner Weak.

expenditure

  • Marco von Münchhausen: How to tame your weaker self! From worst enemy to best friend. Campus, Frankfurt / New York 2002, (2nd edition 2007) ISBN 978-3-593-38307-1 .

Adaptations

Audio book
  • How to tame your weaker self! From worst enemy to best friend. Campus 2005, 148 minutes, ISBN 3-593-37830-2 .

Reviews

  • “Because, as always with advice books of this kind, repetition is everything. In principle, the message could also be placed on a DIN A4 page. But 230 book pages sell better. And don't forget after reading: clean up the cellar tomorrow. Because I don't have to. I want."
  • "In lively, light language, Marco von Münchhausen gives protection against the insidious animal."
  • “The new thing about his book is the alignment. He does not write about self-management in general, but about the specific topic of overcoming internal resistance when implementing new projects. With this topic he addresses an infinitely large target group. (...) What I also liked is that von Münchhausen portrays the bastard overall as an independent, quite personable personality and spins funny stories about himself. (...) The writing style is very clear and humorous. The structure is understandable and many graphics and illustrations break up the text. Only the very frequent use of exclamation marks bothered me a bit. "
  • "Initially, the reviewer had to think of the" inner team "at Schulz von Thun and wondered whether seriously helpful psychological and communicative methods should not be pulled through the cocoa here. After all, naming inner psychic forces with the name "bastard" and thus parodying them can also block access to these forces. (...) Indications such as "The best way to overcome your fear is to do what you are afraid of", however, draw on knowledge of behavioral therapy and the dialogue with your weaker self is reminiscent of the paradoxical intention or commitment of humor as recommended by logotherapy for dealing with oneself. So it shows that the author is very keen to give really well-founded assistance here to deal better with resistance within himself. You read a funny packaging and get served seriously helpful content. "

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Marco von Münchhausen: How to tame your weaker self! From worst enemy to best friend. Campus, Frankfurt / New York 2007, ISBN 978-3-593-38307-1 , p. 38. In the following cited as How to tame your weaker self! 2007.
  2. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 43.
  3. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 44.
  4. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 48.
  5. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 50.
  6. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 52.
  7. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 53.
  8. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 55.
  9. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 56.
  10. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 58.
  11. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 60.
  12. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 62.
  13. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 63.
  14. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 64.
  15. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 71.
  16. ↑ How to tame your weaker self! 2007, p. 122.
  17. ^ Regina Konrad: Depressive crises in children and adolescents.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Humboldt University of Berlin . Philosophical Faculty IV. Institute for Rehabilitation Sciences. Extra-occupational supplementary studies in Berlin. Summer semester 2012. Accessed September 21, 2012.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / reginakonrad.de  
  18. ↑ berufssucht.de ( Memento of the original from June 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.arbeitssucht.de
  19. ↑ Self and time management for students  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Ulm University . Summer semester 2009. Accessed September 21, 2012.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / center.uni-ulm.de  
  20. ↑ Gudrun Henne: Discussion of selling with the weaker self. On: mwonline.de. Accessed September 21, 2012.
  21. ↑ Review: non-fiction book pig dog, intern . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . March 3, 2002. p. 38. Accessed September 21, 2012.
  22. ↑ Süddeutsche Zeitung , March 30, 2002. Quoted from studium.campus.de .
  23. ↑ LeadershipJournal.de: Review of How to tame your weaker self by Marco von Münchhausen . On: http://www.leadershipjournal.de/ . 2017. Accessed November 21, 2017.
  24. ↑ Markus Classen: Review of M. von Münchhausen: How to tame your weaker self! - From worst enemy to best friend ( Memento from June 23, 2007 in the Internet Archive ). On: www.sinn-meets-management.de; accessed on May 19, 2019; (originally www.mwonline.de/db/home/)