29 Business and Other Workplace Motivational Quotes

29 Business and Other Workplace Motivational Quotes. A motivational quote can provide a quick pick-me-up for employees and even management on some days. They can be a breath of fresh air on a dreary afternoon. These are also a great way to spruce up a newsletter or a memo, or simply to print and pin to a bulletin board. Using quotes like these is an excellent way to foster a positive and productive work environment. As Mr. Rick Pitino puts it, "Motivating people is the only way to get them to enjoy working hard. People today must understand why they work so hard. Every employee in a company is motivated by something different." Rick Pitino's

Motivational Sayings:

1. Mahatma Gandhi: Be the change you want to see in the world.

2. Jim Stovall: You must be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, recognize their accomplishments, and encourage them in their endeavors. Everyone benefits when we all help one another.

3. Robert Frost: The only way out is the only way in.

4. Warren Buffett: As long as you don't do too many things wrong, you only need to do a few things right in your life.

5. Les Brown: You must maintain your focus on your path to greatness.

Theodore Roosevelt, No. 6 The opportunity to work hard at meaningful work is by far the best prize that life has to offer.

7. Charles F. Kettering: There will always be a frontier where there is an open mind.

8. Henry Ford: Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you are correct!

9. Jim Rohn: Either change your dreams or improve your skills.

10. William Hazlitt: He who does not like his business, his business does not like him.

11. Denis Waitley: Winners take their time to enjoy their work, knowing that climbing the mountain is what makes the view at the top so spectacular.

12. Le Iacocca: Leadership is nothing more than motivating others.

Dwight D.: Motivation is the art of persuading people to do what you want them to do simply because they want to do it.

14. Drucker: The most serious errors are not made as a result of incorrect answers. The most dangerous thing is to ask the wrong question.

15. Max Schmelling: What motivated me to win? I didn't want to be defeated!

16. J. Paul Getty: To succeed in business, to reach the top, one must know everything there is to know about that business.

17. Pierre Corneille: To triumph without danger is to triumph without glory.

18. Tony Dorsett: To succeed, you must find something to cling to, something to motivate and inspire you.

19. James Broughton: As always, the only limitations are those of vision.

20. George Kneller: In order to think creatively, we must be able to look at what we normally take for granted with fresh eyes.

21. Peter McWilliams: Our comfort zone has more control over us than we have over ourselves to the extent that we are not living our dreams.

22. Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth: Thinking is simple. It is difficult to act. The most difficult is to act as one believes.

23. Tryon Edwards: The best way to teach is to pique people's interest and pique their enthusiasm.

24. Spanish Proverb: The busiest day of the week is usually tomorrow.

25. Lyndon B. Johnson: The noblest pursuit is the pursuit of excellence.

26. Charles M. Schwab: A man who works solely for the sake of money is unlikely to make much money or have much fun in life.

27. Chinese Proverb: To walk on the earth is a miracle, not to fly in the air or to walk on water.

28. John Naisbitt: The new source of power is information in the hands of many, not money in the hands of a few.

29. Henry Ford: The man who uses his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, rather than how little he can give for a dollar, will be successful.

Many employers will include these quotes in the paycheck envelopes. Sometimes it's a motivational quote, and other times it's a silly antidote. Include employee birthdays or other significant events to make your employees feel like they are a part of the team.

Reasons to Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering is a selfless act that can benefit both you and your community. It can help others, build connections, learn new skills, boost your resume, improve mental health, give back to your community, experience personal growth, and challenge yourself. It can also help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. Volunteering is an important way to give back to your community and make a difference. There are many reasons to volunteer, such as helping others, building connections, learning new skills, and improving mental health.

It is important to find something that aligns with your interests and values, consider the time commitment, and feel valued and supported in return. Volunteering can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience that can benefit both you and your community.

Volunteering your time is a selfless act that can benefit both you and your community. There are many reasons to volunteer, and in this article, we'll explore some of the most compelling ones.

Help Others

One of the most obvious reasons to volunteer is to help others. There are countless organizations and causes that rely on the efforts of volunteers to make a difference. Whether you're volunteering at a soup kitchen, a hospital, or a local animal shelter, you'll be helping to improve the lives of those around you.

Build Connections

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and build connections in your community. You'll have the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life and make meaningful connections with those who share your passion for helping others.

Learn New Skills

Volunteering can also provide you with an opportunity to learn new skills or build upon existing ones. For example, if you're interested in a career in healthcare, volunteering at a hospital can give you valuable experience and insight into the field.

Boost Your Resume

Volunteering can also be a great addition to your resume. It shows potential employers that you're willing to go above and beyond, and that you're committed to making a difference in your community. Volunteering can also provide you with valuable experience that you can use to highlight your skills and abilities.

Improve Your Mental Health

Research has shown that volunteering can have a positive impact on mental health. Volunteering can help reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It can also help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can be particularly beneficial for older adults.

Give Back to Your Community

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community. By volunteering your time and skills, you're helping to make your community a better place for everyone. Whether you're cleaning up a park, mentoring a young person, or providing meals to those in need, your efforts can have a significant impact.

Experience Personal Growth

Finally, volunteering can be a source of personal growth and fulfillment. By helping others, you'll gain a sense of accomplishment and purpose that can help you grow as a person. You'll also have the opportunity to challenge yourself and step outside of your comfort zone, which can help you develop new skills and perspectives.

There are many reasons to volunteer your time. From helping others to building connections, learning new skills, and improving your mental health, volunteering can have a significant impact on your life and the lives of those around you. If you're looking for a way to give back to your community and make a difference, volunteering is a great place to start.

If you're interested in volunteering, there are many ways to get started. You can reach out to local organizations or charities to see if they need volunteers, or you can look online for volunteer opportunities in your area. Many organizations have volunteer programs that offer training and support to help you get started.

When choosing a volunteer opportunity, it's important to find something that aligns with your interests and values. Consider what causes you're passionate about and what skills you have to offer. You may also want to consider the time commitment involved and whether it's something you can realistically commit to.

It's also important to remember that volunteering is a two-way street. While you're giving your time and skills to an organization, you should also feel valued and supported in return. If you're not enjoying your volunteer experience, it's okay to look for something else or to speak up and share your concerns with the organization.

Overall, volunteering can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience that can benefit both you and your community. Whether you're looking to help others, build connections, or learn new skills, there are many reasons to consider volunteering your time. So why not give it a try and see how it can enrich your life?

10 Easy Steps to Self-Motivation and Increased Sales

The most important details in this text are the ten easy steps to self-motivation and increased sales. These steps include having faith in the product, positive self-talk, and having the right attitude. Successful people have a positive and constructive attitude toward themselves and their work, and they are confident in their abilities and believe that everything they do will lead to success. They must pay attention to that small voice inside their head and change their self-talk or change their job. They must also stop criticizing, condemning, and complaining and start spreading some joy.

The way a product is packaged and presented affects the customer's decision to buy. To sell yourself successfully, it is important to be presentable, make use of names, keep an eye on the other person's body language, listen and appear to be listening, smile, show an interest, and strike up a conversation. 

The most important thing is to show that you value the customer and believe they are important and worth listening to, as this will help them have a more positive self-image. Avoid flattering the other person and use positive language to express genuine interest in the customer and their business. Reflect the other person by speaking and acting in a manner similar to them, be pleasant and welcoming, and be as certain as possible that the customer has purchased the product or service.

Nothing happens until you are successful at selling yourself every day of your life.

Whether we like it or not, we're all in the selling business. It makes no difference if you're a lawyer, an accountant, a manager, a politician, an engineer, or a doctor.

We all spend a significant amount of time attempting to persuade others to buy our product or service, accept our proposals, or simply accept what we say.

Before you can improve at persuading or influencing others, you must first improve at self-motivation and selling yourself.

Here are ten easy steps to self-motivation:

#1 - You must have faith in the product.

Selling yourself is similar to selling anything else. First and foremost, you must believe in what you are selling. That means having faith in "you." It's all about positive self-talk and having the right attitude.

Your attitude is the first thing people notice about you. If you're like most people, you'll experience bouts of insecurity from time to time.

It all comes down to how you speak to yourself. The majority of people are more likely to speak negatively to themselves than positively, which is what holds them back in life.

It's not just about having a good attitude; it's about having the right attitude - the quality of your thinking.

Successful people have a positive and constructive attitude toward themselves and their work. They have a calm, confident, and optimistic outlook on life. They are confident in their abilities and believe that everything they do will lead to their unavoidable success.

If you work in sales, own a business, or manage people, you must constantly work on your attitude. You must pay attention to that small voice inside your head. Is it expressing that you're on top, going for it, and confident, or that it's holding you back?

If you're telling yourself, "I can't do this or that," or "They won't want to buy right now," or "We're too expensive," you should change your self-talk or change your job.

Start believing in yourself and don't let things out of your control influence your attitude.

Stop criticizing, condemning, and complaining and start spreading some joy.

Remember Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, who said, "If you believe you can do something, or if you believe you can't, you're probably right."

#2 - The packaging must be eye-catching.

The way a product is packaged and presented, like any other product we buy, influences the customer's decision to buy.

Everything about you must be presentable, and you must dress appropriately for the occasion. And don't assume that because your customer dresses casually, they expect you to dress similarly.

The style and color of your clothes, spectacles, shoes, briefcase, watch, and pen all make a statement about you.

#3 - Smile

There's no need to get carried away; all you need is a pleasant open face that doesn't scare people away.

#4 - Make use of names

Use the customer's name as soon as possible, but don't go overboard. Although business is less formal nowadays, avoid using first names at first. Make sure your customer knows and remembers yours. You can use the old "My name is Bond, James Bond" or "My name is James, James Bond" trick.

#5 - Keep an eye on the other person

What does their body language say about them? Are they at ease with you, or are they nervous? Are they paying attention to you, or are their gazes darting around the room? It's pointless to tell them something important about your company if they're not comfortable and aren't listening.

It's far better to strike up a conversation and, more importantly, to get them to talk about themselves.

It's best to assume that in the first few minutes of meeting someone new, they won't pay attention to much of what you say. They're too preoccupied with analyzing all of the visual data they're gathering.

#6 - Listen and appear to be listening.

Many people, especially men, listen but do not demonstrate that they are listening. The other person can only judge you based on what they see, not what is going on inside your head. They'll assume you're "out to lunch" if you have a blank expression.

The trick is to do all of the active listening things like nodding your head, saying "UH-HUH," and asking questions.

#7 - Show an interest.

Be INTERESTED if you want to be INTERESTING. This is the single most important thing you can do to sell yourself successfully.

The vast majority of people are preoccupied with their self-image. If they sense that you value them, that you believe they are important and worth listening to, they will have a more positive self-image. People will love you if you can help them like themselves.

Avoid flattering the other person because most people will see right through you and will not fall for it. Simply expressing genuine interest in the customer and their business will make them much more receptive to what you have to say.

#8 - Use positive language.

Don't say things like, "Isn't it a terrible day?" or "Business is pretty tough right now," or anything else that detracts from the conversation. "I like the design of this office," for example, or "I've heard some good reports about your new product."

#9 - Reflect the other person

This does not imply imitating the other person; rather, it means speaking and acting in a manner similar to the customer.

For example, if your customer speaks slowly or quietly, you should do the same. Remember that people like people who are similar to them.

#10 - Pleasant and welcoming

If you appear or sound stressed or aggressive, don't be surprised if the other person becomes defensive and reluctant to cooperate.

You're more likely to get a positive response if you appear and sound warm and friendly.

This isn't about being overly polite. It's all about a friendly open face or a warm tone on the phone.

Before we begin the process of selling our product, service, or ideas, we must be as certain as possible that the customer has purchased us and that we have their full attention.

7 Methods for Breaking a Habit

A Methods for Breaking a Habit. We all have habits, some of which are beneficial and others which are detrimental. To break a habit, it is important to establish a goal, write down your objective, and choose a replacement behavior. Recognize and understand your triggers, as one habit is linked to another aspect of your daily routine. The most important details are to consider when and why you do the thing you want to stop doing, make notes to yourself, seek assistance and support from others, form a collaboration with someone who has the same goal, make a list of daily affirmations, and reward yourself for progress at regular intervals. These steps can help to integrate your goal into your subconscious and keep you focused and motivated. Of course, following these steps is no guarantee of success, but if you persevere, you will succeed.

We all have habits, some of which are beneficial and others which are detrimental. These are learned behaviors that happen almost automatically. And the majority of us have a habit we'd like to break or develop.

A new behavior takes about four weeks for most people to become routine, or habit. The steps below can help you establish a new behavior pattern.

1. The first step is to establish a goal. You should try to phrase your goal as a positive statement, especially if you are trying to stop or break a habit. For example, instead of saying "I will quit snacking at night", say "I will practice healthy eating habits". You should also write down your objective. Putting it on paper helps you commit. It can also help if you tell someone you trust about your goal.

2. Choose a replacement behavior. (If your goal is to form a new habit, your replacement behavior will be the goal in and of itself.) When attempting to break a habit, this step is critical. If you want to stop a behavior, you must replace it with a superior behavior. If you don't, the old pattern of behavior will return.

3. Recognize and understand your triggers. Behavior patterns do not exist in isolation. Often, one habit is linked to another aspect of your daily routine. In the snacking example, the trigger could be late-night television or reading. While you're watching, you reach for a bag of chips. Many smokers automatically light up after eating. Consider when and why you do the thing you want to stop doing.

4. Make notes to yourself. You can accomplish this by leaving yourself notes in the locations where the behavior typically occurs. You can also leave a message for yourself on the mirror, refrigerator, computer monitor, or any other place where you will see it frequently. You can also have a family member or coworker repeat a specific phrase to you to remind you of your goal.

5. Seek assistance and support from others. This is self-evident. With assistance, any task becomes easier. It works even better if you can form a collaboration with someone who has the same goal as you.

6. Make a list of daily affirmations. Write your phrase or sentence ten times a day for twenty-one days in the present tense (as if it were already happening). This process helps to integrate your goal into your subconscious, which not only reminds you to practice the new behavior, but also keeps you focused and motivated.

7. Reward yourself for progress at regular intervals. Concentrate on your goal one day at a time, but reward yourself with a small treat after one, three, and six months. The rewards don't have to be big or expensive, and you should try to make them related to the goal in some way. This provides you with both an incentive and additional motivation.

Of course, following these steps is no guarantee of success. Depending on the habit, it may take several attempts to finally change it. But if you persevere, you will succeed. Best wishes.

Fantastic Success Strategies: A Comprehensive Guide to Achieving Your Goals

Achieving success is a lifelong pursuit that requires focus, determination, and a well-defined strategy. It's not just about working hard or being talented, but also about having the right mindset, a positive attitude, and the ability to overcome challenges. Whether you're looking to achieve personal or professional success, there are certain strategies that you can follow to help you reach your goals. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore some of the most effective success strategies that can help you achieve your dreams and live the life you want.

Develop a Growth Mindset

One of the most important success strategies is to develop a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that you can learn, grow, and improve through hard work and dedication. It's the opposite of a fixed mindset, which is the belief that your abilities and intelligence are fixed and cannot be changed. A growth mindset is crucial for success because it helps you overcome challenges, persevere in the face of setbacks, and continue to learn and grow throughout your life.

To develop a growth mindset, focus on learning and self-improvement, embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and cultivate a positive attitude towards failure. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who believe in you and your abilities, and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may be.

Set SMART Goals

Another key success strategy is to set SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting SMART goals, you can clarify your priorities, focus your efforts, and track your progress towards your desired outcomes.

When setting goals, it's important to be specific about what you want to achieve. This will help you to focus your efforts and stay motivated. Your goals should also be measurable, so that you can track your progress and see how far you've come. Make sure your goals are achievable, taking into account your current skills, resources, and limitations. Your goals should also be relevant to your life and aligned with your values and long-term vision. Finally, set a deadline for each goal to ensure that you stay focused and motivated.

Embrace a Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude is another critical success strategy. A positive attitude helps you to stay motivated, overcome challenges, and see opportunities where others see obstacles. It's also essential for building relationships and networking with others, which can be critical for achieving success in your personal and professional life.

To cultivate a positive attitude, focus on the things you're grateful for, surround yourself with positive people, and practice mindfulness and self-care. Avoid negative self-talk, and try to see the good in every situation, even when things don't go as planned. Remember that success is not just about achieving your goals, but also about enjoying the journey and finding fulfillment and happiness along the way.

Network and Build Relationships

Networking and building relationships are essential for success, both in your personal and professional life. Whether you're looking to advance your career, find new opportunities, or build meaningful connections with others, having a strong network can make all the difference.

To build your network, focus on creating genuine, meaningful connections with others. Attend networking events, join professional organizations, and connect with others in your industry or community. When networking, be authentic, be yourself, and always be willing to help others. The relationships you build with others will be essential for achieving your goals and finding success in all areas of your life.

Continuously Learn and Grow

Finally, continuous learning and growth is an important success strategy that can help you stay ahead of the curve and reach your full potential. Whether it's through formal education, attending conferences, or simply reading books and articles, investing in your own development is essential for staying relevant, building your skills, and achieving success.

To continuously learn and grow, set aside time each week for self-development, and choose activities that align with your interests and goals. Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and support, and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Remember that learning and growth are lifelong pursuits, and the more you invest in yourself, the more successful you will be in all areas of your life.

In conclusion, achieving success is a journey that requires focus, determination, and a well-defined strategy. By following these success strategies, you can develop a growth mindset, set SMART goals, embrace a positive attitude, build meaningful relationships, and continuously learn and grow. Remember, success is not just about achieving your goals, but also about enjoying the journey and finding fulfillment and happiness along the way.

Allow history's greatest minds to assist you in achieving true success and happiness today.

Socrates and Plato. Aristotle and Confucius were both philosophers. Aquinas, Thomas. The names of the great philosophers have become legendary hundreds, if not thousands, of years later, their ideas continuing to captivate minds, stimulate thought, and shape the course of human history.

But what are these concepts? Why are they still having an impact on how people think, understand, and act? Most importantly, how can they assist YOU in living a happier, better, and more fulfilling life right now?

Tom Morris, public philosopher, author, and renowned business consultant, reveals what the greatest philosophers in human history have to say about what it takes to achieve true success in the twenty-first century in The Seven Greatest Success Ideas: 'A-HAs' That Are Guaranteed to Take Your Life to the Next Level.

Tom roars through the wisdom of the ages with the wit, charisma, and straightforward style that made him one of the most popular professors at the University of Notre Dame and a corporate speaker in high demand. He introduces you to the most profound insights ever articulated by the human mind and connects those insights to your personal, day-to-day experiences in an incredibly clear, powerful, and illuminating way that will forever change your perspective.

Along the way, you'll discover that you, too, are a philosopher, with the innate ability to think deeply and effectively about the issues that matter most to you. With the great philosophers as your guides, you'll learn how to stop chasing the wrong things and start asking the right questions — the ones that will lead you straight to the answers you seek, as well as the success and happiness that we all seek. The Seven Greatest Success Ideas will provide you with an immeasurable deeper, richer, and clearer understanding of the world we live in, your place and purpose in it, and the opportunities for true success that are all around you.

Personality Disorders Diagnosis

Personality Disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by persistent and enduring patterns of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that deviate significantly from cultural and social norms and cause significant distress or impairment in functioning. They are usually diagnosed by mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists or psychologists, based on clinical interviews and standardized assessments. The American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) provides criteria for diagnosing various personality disorders, including Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, among others. It's important to note that a personality disorder diagnosis should only be made by a qualified mental health professional after a comprehensive evaluation.

The diagnosis process for Personality Disorders typically involves a comprehensive evaluation, including a thorough review of symptoms, personal and family history, and a mental health assessment. Mental health professionals may use structured interviews and standardized questionnaires, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory or the Personality Assessment Inventory, to gather information and make a diagnosis. It is important to note that making a definitive diagnosis of a personality disorder may require multiple evaluations over a period of time, as some symptoms may be similar to other mental health conditions.

Treatment for Personality Disorders may include a combination of talk therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. The most common form of talk therapy for Personality Disorders is psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). The goals of treatment are to help individuals manage symptoms, improve interpersonal relationships, and enhance overall functioning.

It's important to remember that Personality Disorders are treatable, and individuals with these conditions can lead fulfilling and productive lives with the help of appropriate treatment.

It's important to seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with symptoms of a Personality Disorder. Early intervention and treatment can improve outcomes and help individuals lead a more fulfilling life.

It's also important to remember that recovery from a Personality Disorder is a process that takes time and effort, and may involve setbacks along the way. The support of friends, family, and mental health professionals can be crucial in helping individuals navigate this journey.

Additionally, it is common for individuals with Personality Disorders to also experience other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. It is important for mental health professionals to consider and address these co-occurring conditions as part of the overall treatment plan.

In conclusion, Personality Disorders are a group of mental health conditions that are diagnosed by mental health professionals based on a comprehensive evaluation. Treatment may include talk therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes, and early intervention and support can lead to better outcomes.

It's important to note that everyone is unique and experiences symptoms differently. Some individuals may have mild symptoms and are able to manage them with minimal treatment, while others may have more severe symptoms that significantly impact their daily lives and require more intensive treatment.

It is also important to address any stigma or misconceptions associated with Personality Disorders. People with these conditions are often subjected to negative attitudes and stereotypes, which can further worsen their symptoms and impair their ability to access the support and treatment they need.

Moreover, treatment for Personality Disorders is most effective when it is tailored to the individual's specific needs and circumstances. A comprehensive and personalized treatment plan can help individuals with Personality Disorders learn to manage their symptoms, improve their relationships, and lead a more fulfilling life.

In summary, Personality Disorders are treatable mental health conditions that require a comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment approach. It is important to seek help and support, and to challenge any stigma associated with these conditions. With the right treatment and support, individuals with Personality Disorders can lead fulfilling and productive lives.

It's also important to mention that treatment for Personality Disorders can be challenging and may take a long time to show improvement. However, it's important to stay persistent and not lose hope, as recovery is possible. It's also important to remember that everyone's journey is unique and the pace of recovery will vary from person to person.

It's also crucial for individuals with Personality Disorders to have a strong support system, which can include friends, family, and mental health professionals. Support from loved ones can provide encouragement and motivation, while working with a mental health professional can help individuals develop coping skills and strategies to manage their symptoms.

Furthermore, it's important for individuals with Personality Disorders to engage in self-care and adopt healthy habits, such as regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep. These healthy habits can help improve overall physical and mental well-being and enhance the effectiveness of treatment.

In conclusion, Personality Disorders are a group of mental health conditions that require a comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment approach. It is important to seek help, have a strong support system, engage in self-care, and persist in treatment despite challenges, as recovery is possible. With the right treatment and support, individuals with Personality Disorders can lead fulfilling and productive lives.

Personality traits are enduring, usually rigid patterns of behavior, thinking (cognition), and emoting that are expressed in a variety of situations and circumstances and throughout one's life (typically from early adolescence onward). Some personality traits are harmful to both the individual and others. These are the dysfunctional characteristics. They frequently cause discomfort, and the person who possesses these characteristics is unhappy and self-critical. This is known as ego-dystony. At times, even the most harmful personality traits are enthusiastically endorsed and even flaunted by the patient. This is known as ego-syntony.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) describes 12 ideal "prototypes" of personality disorders. Each disorder is given a list of seven to nine personality traits. These are known as diagnostic criteria. A qualified mental health diagnostician can safely diagnose the presence of a personality disorder when five of these criteria are met.

However, there are some important caveats.

No two people are the same. Even subjects with the same personality disorder can have vastly different backgrounds, actual behavior, inner world, character, social interactions, and temperament.

Applying diagnostic criteria to determine the existence of a personality trait is an art, not a science. Evaluating someone's behavior, assessing the patient's cognitive and emotional landscape, and attributing motivation to him or her are all subjective decisions. There is no scientific instrument that can provide an objective reading of whether someone lacks empathy, is unscrupulous, sexualizes situations and people, or is clingy and needy.

Regrettably, the process is also tainted by value judgments. Mental health professionals are only human (well, some are...:o)). They come from a variety of social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. They try their hardest to overcome their personal biases and prejudices, but their efforts frequently fail. Many critics charge that certain personality disorders are "culture-bound". Rather than being fixed psychological entities and constructs, they reflect our current sensibilities and values.

As a result, someone suffering from Antisocial Personality Disorder is expected to disregard social rules and regard himself as a free agent. He has no conscience and is frequently a criminal. This means that non-conformists, dissenters, and dissidents can be pathologized and labeled "antisocial". Indeed, authoritarian regimes often incarcerate their opponents in mental asylums based on such dubious "diagnoses". Furthermore, crime is a viable career option. To be sure, it is a harmful and unpleasant one. But when did one's choice of profession become a mental health issue?

You may have Schizotypal Personality Disorder if you believe in telepathy and UFOs and have strange rituals, mannerisms, and speech patterns. If you avoid people and prefer to be alone, you may be a Schizoid. The list goes on and on.

To avoid these pitfalls, the DSM developed a multi-axial model of personality assessment.

Psychoanalysis Defended and Critiqued

Sigmund Freud was dubbed "the central imagination of our age" by Harold Bloom, but his critics focus on his scientific pretensions. It is widely accepted that psychoanalysis is a system of ideas, even though some of its tenets are testable and have been experimentally tested and invariably found to be false or uncorroborated. Freud is also accused of generalizing his own perversions and reinterpreting his patients' memories to fit his preconceived notions of the unconscious. 

Feminists accuse Freud of casting women as "defective" (naturally castrated and inferior) men, and culture scholars mock and condemn his suffocating authoritarianism and frequent and convenient conceptual reversals. Psychologists are mocked for their profession's lack of rigor, its literary and artistic qualities, the lack of empirical support for its assertions and foundations, the ambiguity of its terminology and ontology, and the scorn of "proper" scientists in the field.

Psychological "theories" do not account for the world, and are more concerned with "healing" than with predictive feats. Therapies are concerned with function, order, form, and ritual, and the interaction between the patient and the therapist is a microcosm of society. Both psychological and scientific theories are products of their times, and are influenced by contemporary values, mores, events, and interpellations. 

Psychoanalysis was a Kuhnian paradigm shift when it was elaborated, and its failure to generate a wealth of testable hypotheses and account for neurology discoveries does not diminish its significance. In terms of their subject matter, physics, both relativity theories and string theories were and still are in the same position.

Karl Jaspers distinguished between the scientific activities of Erklaren and Verstehen in 1963. Psychoanalysis is a branch of psychology, not a theory, and is ambiguous and self-contained. It is based on circumstantial evidence and is supported by epistemic accounts, beginning with the master himself. The ambiguity of psychoanalysis is another barrier to establishing its scientific value, as it is unclear what constitutes a cause and what constitutes an effect. Juan Rivera is correct that Freud's claims about infantile life cannot be proven, and Grunbaum repeatedly asserts that the theory's etiological claims are epidemiologically untestable.

However, this misses the point and goal of psychoanalysis: to provide an organizing and comprehensive narrative of human psychological development that is non-tendentious and persuasive. It depends on whether we want to treat it as science or as an art form.

"In fact, I am not a scientist at all... By temperament, I am nothing more than a conquistador, an adventurer."

(Sigmund Freud, letter to Friedrich Fleiss, 1900)

"If you bring forth that which is in you, that which you bring forth will be your salvation".

(From St. Thomas' Gospel)

"No, our science is not a mirage. But it would be an illusion to believe that what science cannot provide us with cannot be obtained elsewhere."

"The Future of an Illusion" by Sigmund Freud

Freud was dubbed "the central imagination of our age" by Harold Bloom. It has long been established that psychoanalysis is not a scientific theory in the strictest, most rigorous sense of the term. However, the majority of Freud's critics (including Karl Popper, Adolf Grunbaum, Havelock Ellis, Malcolm Macmillan, and Frederick Crews) focus on his - long-debunked - scientific pretensions.

Today, it is widely accepted that psychoanalysis is a system of ideas, even though some of its tenets are testable and have been experimentally tested and invariably found to be false or uncorroborated. It is a cultural construct as well as a (possible) deconstruction of the human mind. Despite its aspirations, psychoanalysis is not and has never been a value-neutral physics or dynamics of the psyche.

Freud is also accused of generalizing his own perversions and reinterpreting his patients' memories to fit his preconceived notions of the unconscious. Psychoanalysis as a form of therapy has been chastised as a crude form of brainwashing in cult-like settings.

Feminists accuse Freud of casting women as "defective" (naturally castrated and inferior) men. Culture scholars reveal the Victorian and middle-class origins of his theories about suppressed sexuality. Historians mock and condemn his suffocating authoritarianism and frequent and convenient conceptual reversals.

Many of these diatribes would have been attributed by Freud to his critics' defense mechanisms. Projection, resistance, and displacement all appear to be important. Psychologists are mocked for their profession's lack of rigor, its literary and artistic qualities, the lack of empirical support for its assertions and foundations, the ambiguity of its terminology and ontology, the scorn of "proper" scientists in the "hard" disciplines, and the constraints imposed by their experimental subjects (humans). These are the very flaws that they attribute to psychoanalysis.

Indeed, psychological narratives, particularly psychoanalysis, are not "scientific theories" by any stretch of the imagination. They are also unlikely to become ones in the future. Instead, they are organizing principles, similar to myths, religions, and ideologies.

Psychological "theories" do not account for the world. They describe reality and give it "true", emotionally-resonant, heuristic, and hermeneutic meaning at best. They are more concerned with "healing" - the restoration of harmony among people and within them - than with predictive feats.

Therapies are more concerned with function, order, form, and ritual than with essence and replicable performance. The interaction between the patient and the therapist is a microcosm of society, encapsulating and reifying all other forms of social interaction. It is more structured, to be sure, and it is based on a body of knowledge gleaned from millions of similar encounters. Nonetheless, the therapeutic process is nothing more than a well-attested insightful and informed dialogue.

Both psychological and scientific theories are products of their times, offspring of the civilizations and societies from which they arose, context-dependent and culture-bound. As a result, their credibility and longevity are always in doubt. Contemporary values, mores, events, and interpellations influence both hard-edged scientists and thinkers in the "softer" disciplines.

The distinction between "proper" dynamics theories and psychodynamic theories is that the former asymptotically aspire to an objective "truth" "out there," whereas the latter emerge and emanate from an inner, introspective truth that is immediately familiar and serves as the bedrock of their speculations. Scientific theories, unlike psychological "theories," must be tested, falsified, and modified because their truth is not self-contained.

Nonetheless, psychoanalysis was a Kuhnian paradigm shift when it was elaborated. It completely and dramatically broke with the past. It created an abnormally large number of new, unsolved problems. It proposed new methodological procedures for accumulating empirical evidence (research strategies). It was established through observations (however scant and biased). In other words, it was experimental rather than theoretical. It served as a frame of reference, a conceptual sphere within which new ideas could emerge.

Its failure to generate a wealth of testable hypotheses and account for neurology discoveries does not diminish its significance. In terms of their subject matter, physics, both relativity theories and string theories were and still are in the same position.

Karl Jaspers distinguished between the scientific activities of Erklaren and Verstehen in 1963. Erklaren is about matching up causes and effects. Verstehen is the ability to grasp connections between events intuitively and non-causally. Psychoanalysis is about understanding, not explaining. It is a hypothetico-deductive method for gathering information about events in a person's life and generating insights about their relevance to his current state of mind and functioning.

So, is psychoanalysis a science, a pseudo-science, or something else entirely?

Psychoanalysis is a branch of psychology, not a theory. It's full of neologisms and formalism, but it, like Quantum Mechanics, has many incompatible interpretations. As a result, it is ambiguous and self-contained (recursive). Psychoanalysis determines which hypotheses can be tested and what constitutes its own falsification. In other words, it is a meta-theory in psychology: a theory about generating theories.

Furthermore, psychoanalysis theory is frequently confused with psychoanalysis therapy. Conclusively demonstrating that the therapy works does not establish the veridicality, historicity, or even usefulness of the theory's conceptual edifice. Furthermore, therapeutic techniques evolve much faster and more significantly than the theories that ostensibly yield them. They are "moving targets" that self-modify, rather than rigid and replicable procedures and rituals.

The ambiguity of psychoanalysis is another barrier to establishing its scientific value. It is unclear, for example, what constitutes a cause in psychoanalysis - and what constitutes an effect.

Consider the unconscious critical construct. Is it responsible for our behavior, conscious thoughts, and emotions? Is there a "ratio" (explanation) provided? Or are they simply manifestations of inexorable underlying processes? Even these fundamental questions are not addressed in classic (Freudian) psychoanalytic theory. So much for claiming to be a scientific endeavor.

Psychoanalysis is based on circumstantial evidence and is supported by epistemic accounts, beginning with the master himself. It relies on common sense and prior experience. It makes statements like, "given X, Y, and Z reported by the patient, doesn't it stand to (everyday) reason that A caused X?" or "We already know that B causes M, that M is similar to X, and that B is similar to A. Isn't it reasonable to believe that A is the cause of X? ".

Later in therapy, the patient confirms these insights by feeling "right" and "correct," that they are epiphanous and revelatory, that they have retrodictive and predictive powers, and by reporting his reactions to the therapist-interpreter. This acclaim confirms the narrative's probative value as a basic (if not primitive) form of explanation that provides a time frame, a coincidental pattern, and sets of teleological aims, ideas, and values.

Juan Rivera is correct that Freud's claims about infantile life cannot be proven, even with a Gedankenexperimental film camera, as suggested by Robert Vaelder. It is also true, as Grunbaum repeatedly asserts, that the theory's etiological claims are epidemiologically untestable. However, these failures miss the point and goal of psychoanalysis: to provide an organizing and comprehensive narrative of human psychological development that is non-tendentious and persuasive.

Should such a story be testable and falsifiable, or should it be rejected (as the Logical Positivists insist)?

It depends on whether we want to treat it as science or as an art form. This is the circularity of the anti-psychoanalysis arguments. If Freud's work is regarded as the modern equivalent of myth, religion, or literature, it does not need to be tested to be considered "true" in the most profound sense. After all, how much of nineteenth-century science has survived to this day?