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Post by I AM the Way on Mar 1, 2011 15:06:10 GMT -6
There's something in Anthony Robbins' book, Awakening the Giant Within, called the Ten Day Mental Challenge. Now, Robbins modified this slightly from something called The Seven-Day Mental Diet by Emmet Fox.
Here's a quote from page 325 of Awakening the Giant Within...
"For the next ten days, beginning immediately, commit to taking full control of all your mental and emotional faculties by deciding right now that you will not indulge in or dwell on any unresourceful thoughts or emotions for ten consecutive days."
According to Robbins (as well as myself) unresourceful means negative.
Now this is extremely difficult, even for someone adept in The Work. So let me modify Robbins' modification. Instead of the next seven or ten days, how about resolving ourselves to three instances a day. That means three times a day, every day, we stop ourselves from being negative. We break our pattern or usual way of being.
Catch yourself in the act of expressing a thought or feeling rooted in hate, anger, fear, insecurity, jealousy, or spite. That's the easiest way of creating positive change in your life - observe yourself being unresourceful as soon as possible, then interrupt that pattern. And what is a pattern? A sequence of responses triggered by our personality filter.
Personality is the false, plastic shield which protects essence. Unfortunately, essence can't grow when our personality grows too large and thick... which they always does. Personality is like the defense mechanism of our broken machine. Allow personality to weaken so that essence can flourish.
Take the 3 times a day challenge. Post your questions, comments, suggestions, and most important of all... results!
By His loathsome tentacles,
Venger As'Nas Satanis Ipsissimus Cult of Cthulhu
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Post by diamondeye on Mar 1, 2011 19:04:58 GMT -6
I think I'm going to get this book. I'll post here if I have any success with the challenge.
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Post by symbolicone on Mar 1, 2011 22:13:56 GMT -6
Shouldn't we always be trying to be positive and productive?
I don't think I'd get negative 3 times in one day most of the time. I am very relaxed and I have been able to see the ultimate benefit in every action around me, as well as my own. I rarely feel negative emotions, and rarer still, acting upon them.
I think I'll try the 10 day challenge though, as that would be a lot harder. I feel I'd gain more just from attempting it, let alone getting good results!
I am also very interested in what others make of this...
Awake!
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Post by hartnell on Mar 1, 2011 22:18:28 GMT -6
What's the criteria for 'unresourceful' thoughts and emotions? The reason I'm asking is because it's kind of vague. How does one know the difference between one type of thought and another? Once identified, how does someone 'not dwell' on it?
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Post by I AM the Way on Mar 2, 2011 15:24:44 GMT -6
What's the criteria for 'unresourceful' thoughts and emotions? The reason I'm asking is because it's kind of vague. How does one know the difference between one type of thought and another? Once identified, how does someone 'not dwell' on it? Thanks for bringing that up, Hartnell. How about some examples? Also, please post an actual example from your own life in reply. That may help free yourself of some pent-up negativity. I mean everyone reading this post.
A widespread bit of unresourcefulness is worrying about a potential future misfortune. Use your own judgement.
Obviously, when the thought crosses your mind "Hey, if I leave my car parked in front of this fire hydrant, then I may get a ticket." Is warranted worrying. Whereas, fretting over the possibility that your boss may dislike your mustache to the point where you get into a hypothetical argument resulting in a theoretical brawl and firing... reducing you to living on the streets where your flesh is gnawed away by 666 rats... is counterproductive, to say the least.
This illustrates another worthwhile distinction... unresourceful thoughts and feelings have a tendency to run away with us. They escalate to the point where we have no control. Control is everything in The Work. Don't be owned by your intellectual and emotional centers, own them!
More questions? I'm sure there are; let's hear 'em!
Don't worry. Be happy. Make efforts.
Venger As'Nas Satanis Ipsissimus Cult of Cthulhu
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Post by boksmutant on Mar 2, 2011 23:40:16 GMT -6
This is gonna be a pain in the ass that's for sure. I must say I don't welcome the challenge, I got a lot of negative shit I'd rather think about during my day that will help me feel like I'm at least living as subjugated as the rest of humanity. To imaging that their pain is my pain & that we'll all go down with out a fight, that at least will make me feel like I'm a little better than they. Ha Ha HA
So true Master satanis. I will try this exercise with zeal. Thank you for the challenge.
Awake!
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Post by Cain Da'arnesh on Mar 3, 2011 21:49:13 GMT -6
Noted and logged! Or as my buddy in the army might put it, locked, cocked, and ready to rock! I'll surely have to be diligent about identifying negative thoughts and what not, but that's just part of the fun yes? Bring it on!
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Post by boksmutant on Mar 3, 2011 22:25:11 GMT -6
There were a couple times to day when I was negative but then caught myself. I found it easier to just say "fuck it" & ignore the negativity. But I don't think this is the proper way to deal with neg, though it might be the easiest.
Awake!
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Post by Kyuubi on Mar 3, 2011 22:50:53 GMT -6
I tried this challenge today. I really need to use this more often. By getting rid of my self doubt I gained something more than just confidence it is true knowledge and insight into myself.
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ThvrzOna8
Novitiate
Esoteric Wizard Ov Terrible Darkness!
Posts: 16
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Post by ThvrzOna8 on Mar 3, 2011 22:51:52 GMT -6
Indeed Wonderfully True! We Are What We Perceive, We Commit Ourselves To The Very Existence Ov Our Being, By Labeling & Determining Those Objects That Are Without, We Doth Not Truly Exist Until One Truly Sees The Object Stare BACK & Posses Our Personality & Likeness Therefor One Can State That, There Is No Such Thing As The "Outside" Material Word Independent Ov The Internally Observed! We Are All, All Is Us & Nothing! Being Cannot Exists Without Something To Measure, Observe & Label What "Is"; Once One Does So Subject Themselves To This They Do So At The Interpretation Ov How They Interdependently View The Object! Indeed Very Easy To Understand! Yet A Complete Mind-Phuck At The Same Time! Without This Paradox! Nothing Would Be Able To Sustain Itself And There Would Be No Infinite As It Would Be Irrelevant! There Is NO ABSOLUTE Answer Dependent Ov Your Own! You Control Your Own Life & Emotions As Well! Be Happy & Confident In Whom Your Are & What You Do! Just My Interpretation, Therefor Only My Reality! Haha! Pretty Easy To Comprehend Yet Impossible To Grip, Because It Lacks Solitude Ov The Physical!
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Post by I AM the Way on Mar 12, 2011 17:40:34 GMT -6
Since the challenge began, try to think back to all those moments where you failed. If you concentrate for a period of time, you'll probably come up with a few instances. Unresourceful thoughts, feelings, and actions keep us from breaking plateaus. At least recognizing them is a step in the right direction.
For those who succeeded throughout the week, post about how your life has improved!
Don't worry. Be happy. Make efforts.
Venger As'Nas Satanis Ipsissimus Cult of Cthulhu
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Post by boksmutant on Mar 12, 2011 20:48:43 GMT -6
Well I must say the week actually went fast for me, I was focused most of the time, while also I recall identifying with things as well a lot too. Actually the times I was identifying seemed more like a dream than anything, which sounds appropriate.
Honestly I held up the first half of the week, & then drifted in & out of reality the rest & forgot. The experiment was enlightening due to my recollection of just how & when I was taking action & when I was a puppet. The lesser Gods do do a good job of locking it down when it comes to stagnating consciousness.
I will try this again this week as well. I encourage what ever cultist can take the time this week to PM me & check up on me & let me know that their doing the same. Might as well take advantage while I can. I say this because I'm not interested in doing things half ass, no what I mean.
Awake!
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