Your Belief – Is it true?
If the natural order is one of harmony, then we know we are in alignment with nature, as we are in harmony. Not fighting or defending or opposing anything. The spiritual background to this is that the experience we have in life is what we choose but also it is by design. You can call it god, nature, life whatever you relate to. I will discuss Byron Katie and The Work to give some context to this discussion. It starts with the question – what is reality? If we asked a group of people what is reality you would get diverse viewpoints, none would be the same. In respect of Byron Katie she states it is in the moment. So whatever turns up now, is your reality. In fact it is a personal experience. Yet interestingly enough, if you had that same event happen a day later, your experience would be different, so you make it up literally moment to moment. Fascinating. When you learn to look at what turns up without judgement but with an attitude of curiosity and discernment (simple seeing), then you shift from fear to love. This is how we all see differently, it is to examine the inner feeling whilst observing. For some they may feel neutral and allowing of ‘what is’ and enjoy the moment and indeed their life. It is all a gift I am discovering. For in every moment, in reality, it is different. Even when you go to the same job, your experience each day is unique. So we live in a world of 6 billion people all living in different realities, thinking different thoughts but sharing some culturally or socialised beliefs that are agreed upon (television helps there). What we are seldom taught is to actually examine our own beliefs and simply ask – is (belief) it true?
This is why I love Byron Katie’s ‘The Work’, as it makes me challenge myself and live a more truthful life. I love that because being wrong shows me that there is more to learn. So I am not offended if I discover this, I am really happy and thankful to the person kind enough to tell me the truth. I had some discussions with a friend this week who interpreted my ideas to help her as making her wrong. So each time I came up with something she blocked it. I actually wondered if she wanted to get out of her situation or stay there. I observed she was sure she was right. Later on I examined my thoughts and found myself in some judgement of her, so I will transform that. That is how I find the harmony and take responsibility for my part. Even if a person wants to stay in their pain, that is their choice. I am available to love them. That is the gift I will give but I can’t live their life for them or make it better. Maybe it is meant to be the way it is, I have no idea of their purpose in life.
Anyway, I wanted to show you The Work, you can visit the website at www.thework.com and try the Judge-Your-Neighbout Worksheet. We often make judgements about the world, but in truth none of us know the reality for the entire planet, I will leave that for a higher mind. For me, I can work with myself and find truth in my own judgements and let go of things I have no power over. What is interesting about The Work is that it shows us projection. The inner beliefs we hold as true we project onto others, we colour the world we see and make ourselves right. I smile to myself as I write this, how many times have I done it, heaps. So I will start with me and I invite you to have a go. If you are wrong, let’s celebrate ya hoo.
So here is The Work in brief. Look at your belief let’s make it a person. Paul doesn’t listen to me.
The Four Questions
1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
4. Who would you be without the thought?
Turn the thought around (original thought: Paul doesn’t listen to me.)
a) to the self (I don’t listen to me.)
b) to the other (I don’t listen to Paul.)
c) to the opposite (Paul does listen to me.)
Have fun with it. I intend to practice this year to unravel beliefs that I have held that made me feel stressed and work with the truth of what I know. I would describe it as finding the peace beyond belief.
Enjoy