This is the last post to the guide to The Work, a powerful system of undoing our painful thoughts and beliefs. In this post, we look at the most powerful, and yet most misunderstood section of the Work – the turnarounds, which involves finding the various opposites to your original story. We address the controversies and misunderstandings, as well as look at tips and variations.
In this series, we discuss the Work, a powerful system of inquiry that allows us to undo our painful thoughts and beliefs. This guide looks at the next set of questions – facing up to the cause and effect of our thoughts.
So many things in our lives begin with a single thought – they affect our behaviour, our character – our very destiny. And so to grow, to heal, thoughts should be the first thing we examine. This post presents a guide to one of the most powerful and deepest systems of inquiring into our thoughts – an introduction to those who have never heard of it; a sharing of experience for those who are familiar.
What do we do with the attachments, desires, and habits that cause our suffering? What if the usual methods of handling our behaviours are making them worse? This article details some of these errors, and provides a long-term solution, the most useful I have come across.
What are we to do with our afflictive emotions? Do we push them away, change the thoughts that cause them, accept them, or heal them? In the midst of all these conflicting advice, perhaps there is a middle path. Additionally, this is a guide to using cognitive techniques – when, not how.
We never, ever, see the world as it is. Our awareness – our beliefs, past conditionings, upbringing, the list goes on – these distort everything we see. One of the most painful misinterpretations lies in self-perception. Weaknesses are magnified, assets and strengths are ignored. This leads to low self-esteem; a strong feeling of inadequacy and constant unhappiness.
Here is a mixture of cognitive psychology techniques and Zen, that will make a difference.
Should we have beliefs? Should we build up a network of thoughts about how we should be, or how the world should be? Have your say here.
This is the last part in a series on stopping negative thoughts. I will discuss techniques from Cognitive Psychology, which crosses over with the final level of the Buddhist Sutra. Then, as a bonus, a final level that overtakes all the previous ones.
What is the one of the biggest obstacles that you can face in achieving personal mastery?
Your mind, your thoughts. Master them, and you master yourself. Then there is little you cannot do over time. Happiness, character, external success – they all begin in the mind. As the famous saying goes – “As within, so without.” Part 2 of the series.
What is the one of the biggest obstacles that you can face in achieving personal mastery?
Your mind, your thoughts. Master them, and you master yourself. Then there is little you cannot do over time. Happiness, character, external success – they all begin in the mind. As the famous saying goes – “As within, so without.”
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