Individual Growth
by Thinking GxAxMxDP
- Know
thyself
(The Oracle at Delphi)
- To
know thyself, compare thyself to others
(Goethe)
- To
know thyself, compare thyself to others via
GxAxMxDP and the GAM/DP examples
(Therivel)
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Many have asked what the GAM/DP Theory offers to the
general reader, and the answer is that the theory can
provide a method, and plenty of back-up information,
to allow people to improve their knowledge of themselves
and of where best to go.
What Goethe said about
self-knowledge via comparisons, is already a first step
beyond the Delphic Know thyself, and yet incomplete
because it does not specify with whom to compare and
how -- the elements of comparison being infinite.
The GAM/DP theory suggests
that people should focus first on the four GAM/DP
factors: G (genetic endowment), A
(assistances), M (misfortunes), DP (division
of power), then on their interaction GxAxMxDP.
Starting with their own life, they can expand the comparison
to their siblings, parents, spouse, and friends. Such
studies will be interesting and fruitful through the
use of the many examples of the four volumes of The
GAM/DP Theory of Personality and Creativity. Already
chapter 2, volume 1, is entitled "Why Mozart and
not Salieri" and for each of the two there is a
comparison of their G, A, M, DP, and interaction.
This first phase of the
study can be called positioning of ourselves
and others; the next two phases are those of planning
for more personal growth, and then acting.
1. Positioning
Everybody should understand him/herself in relation
to parents, siblings, spouse, and children. These are
the persons we know best and with whom we have the most
important transactions. Each had different G, As, Ms,
DP (or UP, unity of power) and a different GxAxMxDP.
Also, we all enter early
adulthood with a load of scripts1
which rule us; and it is very important that we recognize
their working in us and the others. Each of my four
volumes gives the highest importance to the study of
the original scripts, added scripts, and
of the creativogenicity of several wars of the scripts
in our own mind and in that of others.
| 1A
script is a detailed positive taboo, an elaborate
routine or tradition. We are all guided by thousands
of scripts in every field. In a broader context,
scripts are habits, habitual ways of thinking, schemes,
cognitive-structural units, paradigms, traditions. |
One step further, the
readers may recognize, and it will be a pleasant discovery,
whether they are Berlinian foxes or hedgehogs,
and if they belong to one or another GAM personality
family, for instance that of the seekers, or
of the alchemists. Further on, the readers may
recognize their being DP visitors, or UP insulars,
or partial UP ritters.
Equally important will be to determine if the world
in which they grew up, and the one they now live in,
is a DP or UP world, or some intermediate condition.
Paraphrasing Goethe, we can say that To know your
country compare it to others. (again by using the
GAM/DP Theory).
2. Growth
Growth in knowledge, drive, efficiency, and thus in
self-esteem, doing more important things, loving more
and being loved more, can be achieved by working at
each of one's GxAxMxDP factors:
o Even G is under
our control, if we see G as our body; and part of that
control may be a reduction in alcohol intake, weight
loss, more exercise for both body and mind.
o A can be the
principal factor for growth: there are no limits to
the amount of additional assistance we can avail ourselves
of from books, adult courses, volunteer organizations.
o Some constructive M
can be added through self-pruning (e.g. self-discipline
exercises, as discussed in Chapter 3 of my volume 3
"In Praise of Pruning and on the Danger of Success").
o Also DP is very
important, and we can increase it through a stronger
involvement in evaluations, critiques, choices and decisions--obviously
on matters we know and understand.
In all this, the four GAM/DP volumes will help
by providing many examples.
3. What is new?
What is new--in addition to what I said before--is
the way in which the theory can help us exit the labyrinth
of solitude (Octavio Paz), the labyrinth of the professional/industrial/economic
world (Italo Calvino), the labyrinth of bureaucracy
(Franz Kafka); and not only to exit these labyrinths,
but to destroy them (at least for what concerns us)
by uncovering those human elements which have become
corrupted by the effects of "Lord Acton's Law of
Power, and its Four Corollaries" (as discussed
in chapter 28, volume 1).
What is new is a new
and solid theory of personality and creativity which
can be an open sesame for more understanding
of self and others (yes, Truth shall make you free),
for a superior growth.
