Re: Re: ACT and other philosophies

[Guest guest]

I know what you mean it does feel strange my original problems stemmed from believing what my mind said without question.

What other people said might be wrong especially if it clashed with what my mind said but that hint of sarcasm is part of allowing

for your mind to be up to no good. My mind caused me to reject encouragement and praise, my mind, I have found, is not trustworthy.

Being able to stand apart and say that is important. Thank you mind, but I will test what you are telling me. Thank you mind, but my

values are at odds with what you are saying. I tend to drop the thank you mind bit after a while but retain the sense of detachment

from my mind processes.

I drew strength from the books saying if this particular method does not work for you try another one. For me pictures tend to be

more powerful than sounds so those techniques which use funny voices do not work as well as the cinema screen style of thing.

Examining 'like a curious scientist' is immensely powerful as it suits my education and career path. The sense of detachment this brings

is liberating.

It is a slow process not a quick fix but quick fixes are normally not reliable.

From: Greg

Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 1:58 PM

To: ACT_for_the_Public

Subject: Re: ACT and other philosophies

PS: Does anyone have the problem when using the 'thankyou mind'> technique for defusing thoughts, of not being able to say that without> sarcasm? It feels like my inner voice is rolling it's eyes...>Yes, Greg>> Hi Everyone,> This is a first post for me... I've been watching from the sidelines for> some time now. I was planning on writing an entry about how I've become> a bit of a compulsive ACT 'shopper'. Each morning I read the new group> contributions, follow up suggested links that look interesting which> inevitably lead to other sites with videos for viewing and book reviews> to check out. My 'wishlist' on Amazon is now getting too big to> navigate! It's all very interesting of course, but has become a means> of avoidance for me and I agree with Helena in that it can all be a bit> of a distraction. I can spend hours researching varying viewpoints on> how to best implement ACT principles in my life, without actually doing> anything that moves me towards values based goals.> > I noticed all this a few days ago as I've had a week off work with the> flu and have spent a fair bit of time online. However - while it's easy> to get distracted - what I've realised is that it's useful to relate> what I'm looking at or reading about back to the ACT framework. There's> so much stuff out there that is just plain inspiring. Whether it's> reading about brain plasticity and realising that it really is possible> to 'rewire' the way we think or following up a link to Genpo Roshi and> his kind of 'shortcut' approach to being present, it all relates to ACT> one way or the other.> > For example, (at the risk of feeling embarrassed) for the past year or> so, I've subscribed to a weekly 'Happiness' newsletter. Each Monday> there's a couple of inspiring stories and upbeat little nuggets of> positivity about how to stay focused on the positive. Which is great> in terms of having a light hearted idea to contemplate and start the> week with. Useful in ACT terms, (for me) in being able to use that> 'piece of inspiration' to direct my thoughts towards what I truly value> and from there, what goals I'm working towards, what steps or actions I> need to do next to keep heading in that direction. Not so useful as> something to try and stay focused on - probably a complete waste of time> - and inevitably a way of setting yourself up for failure.> > I think it's a good thing to have ACT as a solid foundation from which> to view the world and all of it's complexities.> > I liked the analogy of the turtle and the hare. It's good not to have> the pressure of being the hare and having to 'race ahead' as fast as> possible. But I was thinking about it and maybe we don't need to be the> turtle or the hare. In terms of connecting with the present moment,> maybe it's more that we're the one watching the race - the observer.> > That's all for now.> Leonie.> > PS: Does anyone have the problem when using the 'thankyou mind'> technique for defusing thoughts, of not being able to say that without> sarcasm? It feels like my inner voice is rolling it's eyes...>

[Guest guest]

Excellent food for thought, thanks !

 

Kate

 

I know what you mean it does feel strange my original problems stemmed from believing what my mind said without question.

What other people said might be wrong especially if it clashed with what my mind said but that hint of sarcasm is part of allowing

for your mind to be up to no good. My mind caused me to reject encouragement and praise, my mind, I have found, is not trustworthy.

 

Being able to stand apart and say that is important. Thank you mind, but I will test what you are telling me. Thank you mind, but my

values are at odds with what you are saying. I tend to drop the thank you mind bit after a while but retain the sense of detachment

from my mind processes.

 

I drew strength from the books saying if this particular method does not work for you try another one. For me pictures tend to be

more powerful than sounds so those techniques which use funny voices do not work as well as the cinema screen style of thing.

Examining 'like a curious scientist' is immensely powerful as it suits my education and career path. The sense of detachment this brings

is liberating.

 

It is a slow process not a quick fix but quick fixes are normally not reliable.

 

 

From: Greg

Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 1:58 PM

To: ACT_for_the_Public

Subject: Re: ACT and other philosophies

 

PS: Does anyone have the problem when using the 'thankyou mind'

> technique for defusing thoughts, of not being able to say that without> sarcasm? It feels like my inner voice is rolling it's eyes...>Yes, Greg

>> Hi Everyone,> This is a first post for me... I've been watching from the sidelines for> some time now. I was planning on writing an entry about how I've become> a bit of a compulsive ACT 'shopper'. Each morning I read the new group

> contributions, follow up suggested links that look interesting which> inevitably lead to other sites with videos for viewing and book reviews> to check out. My 'wishlist' on Amazon is now getting too big to

> navigate! It's all very interesting of course, but has become a means> of avoidance for me and I agree with Helena in that it can all be a bit> of a distraction. I can spend hours researching varying viewpoints on

> how to best implement ACT principles in my life, without actually doing> anything that moves me towards values based goals.> > I noticed all this a few days ago as I've had a week off work with the

> flu and have spent a fair bit of time online. However - while it's easy> to get distracted - what I've realised is that it's useful to relate> what I'm looking at or reading about back to the ACT framework. There's

> so much stuff out there that is just plain inspiring. Whether it's> reading about brain plasticity and realising that it really is possible> to 'rewire' the way we think or following up a link to Genpo Roshi and

> his kind of 'shortcut' approach to being present, it all relates to ACT> one way or the other.> > For example, (at the risk of feeling embarrassed) for the past year or> so, I've subscribed to a weekly 'Happiness' newsletter. Each Monday

> there's a couple of inspiring stories and upbeat little nuggets of> positivity about how to stay focused on the positive. Which is great> in terms of having a light hearted idea to contemplate and start the

> week with. Useful in ACT terms, (for me) in being able to use that> 'piece of inspiration' to direct my thoughts towards what I truly value> and from there, what goals I'm working towards, what steps or actions I

> need to do next to keep heading in that direction. Not so useful as> something to try and stay focused on - probably a complete waste of time> - and inevitably a way of setting yourself up for failure.

> > I think it's a good thing to have ACT as a solid foundation from which> to view the world and all of it's complexities.> > I liked the analogy of the turtle and the hare. It's good not to have

> the pressure of being the hare and having to 'race ahead' as fast as> possible. But I was thinking about it and maybe we don't need to be the> turtle or the hare. In terms of connecting with the present moment,

> maybe it's more that we're the one watching the race - the observer.> > That's all for now.> Leonie.> > PS: Does anyone have the problem when using the 'thankyou mind'

> technique for defusing thoughts, of not being able to say that without> sarcasm? It feels like my inner voice is rolling it's eyes...>