Let me add...

[Guest guest]

> >

> > Hi and all,

> >

> > Thanks - I haven't read much of the book yet so forgive me if I'm

> >talking out of my a*$# at this point - it seems like the process of

> >The Work is based on cognitive type processes - coming to a logical

> >solution through a process of questioning so called reality ? In my

> >mind it's hard to imagine how you can apply logic to emotions

> >(emotions are illogical) and have the logic win out.

>

> I like to use metaphors, so here's one that might help you wrap your

> mind around the process. Imagine reality like a fat woman. Imagine

> your beliefs and thoughts like a tiny corset. Imagine a tailor trying

> to fit that fat woman into the tiny corset because he thinks, for

> whatever reason, he should. All of it - the fat woman, the tiny

> corset, the tailor attempting to fit them together - is all you, just

> different aspects of you. This process makes you realize the

> uselessness and ineffectiveness of trying to restrict reality. The

> Work works on the tailor part of you which is your ego (the part that

> is most under your conscious control), the part that thinks reality

> should fit inside your beliefs and thoughts. The negative emotions are

> the uncomfortable natural consequences of trying to restrict reality

> into your beliefs and thoughts.

>

> Your negative emotions are the first indication of this attempt at

> restricting reality beyond what is attainable. They are useful for

> becoming consciously aware of the flaws in your beliefs as they

> pinpoint your own unreasonableness. You are merely teaching the tailor

> part of you how to best fit your preferences to reality, not fight

> against reality, but to work with it. You CAN fit that fat woman into

> a corset but you, as the tailor, have to learn where to let that

> corset out comfortably. That's how the fat woman can be appealing, the

> tailor becomes satisfied, and the corset isn't squeezing the life out

> of things.

>

> For example, here's a common belief put into a 'should' statement:

>

> The weather should always be pleasant (even though it is not).

>

> Broken Down:

>

> Reality (The Fat Woman): Unpleasant Weather

> Belief (Tiny Corset): I Want Weather To Be Pleasant At All Times!

> Ego (Tailor): These Two Should Fit Together!

>

> But try to fit reality with your belief and you will feel negatively.

> Emotions can be very logical and helpful if you understand how to work

> with them because they indicate to you where your thinking isn't

> working to your best advantage.

>

>

> >'s awakening/enlightenment was spontaneous - she woke up one

> >day... something had changed profoundly within her.

>

> I think her corset of beliefs just exploded spontaneously from the

> stress and she was left with only reality. For the rest of us, it's

> only just a much more tedious and gradual process to undo the

> stressful restrictiveness of our beliefs. It is rare, this immediate

> annihilation of beliefs. While she was jetted there instantaneously,

> the rest of us have to walk it through. At least for me, it's still

> very much worth it.

>

>

> >Would her own

> >therapy have worked on her, for example, if she didn't have that

> > " awakening " . I guess it would have like it's done for many others,

> >but I can't help thinking that what she experienced was a rare thing

> >and not something you can replicate just by thinking about it (I

> >guess she's not trying to replicate it for others - just help them

> >with their pain). (I had a very unusual experience when I learned

> >meditation - it had similar qualities to what described, and I

> >knew it was special). I think that I'm thinking too much again,

> >that's why I'm interested in The Work - it would be nice not to think

> >so much or at least think of nice things.

> >

> > Best,

> > Leonie

>

> Just start questioning your stressful beliefs. See what it's like to

> loosen that corset.

>

> Cheers,

> Hypegia

>

> *No matter what you think about life, life is still going to happen.*

>