Posted by Larry Hoover on October 24, 2004, at 12:31:22
In reply to Re: » Larry », posted by 64bowtie on October 24, 2004, at 11:46:25
> << > Since beliefs are a substitute for re-thinking things over and over, the person starts being aware of so much more going on around them by being less dependent on beliefs for answers.
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> <<< Thanks for giving me slack with my mistake! The above thought is messy since the conclusion does not relate to the premise.
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> A belief is only a tool. I sorta pointed that out. What I left out is that, as you said in your response, old beliefs must be gleened for those that belong to us ourselves. Otherwise we get all twisted up, involved in paralyzing internal-conflictedness.Happy to help with the muddled part.
One way I model things is to consider the flow of feelings that arise from some event. Most people operate under the assumption that the event triggers a feeling. Symbolically, that might be represented as E --> F. However, that is not correct. Events are interpreted before the feeling is generated. Symbolically, that becomes E + I --> F.
Becoming conscious of the addition of interpretation to an event is what I mean when I say I seek pseudo-objectivity over self. I want to see and assess what it is that I add to an event, that which colours it, on the way towards a feeling.
Interpretations are many different things, and I mean a very broad category. Memory, experience, teachings, dogma, mom's voice, dad's, expectations, dreams, unresolved emotional trauma, beliefs, social pressure, and on and on.
Seeing those influences in real time permits real choice.
Sometimes, without realizing it, events trigger habitual response, like a tape being played in the brain. The fact is, all tapes can be modified. They can be deleted, partially deleted, or re-recorded altogether. History is not destiny.
When I look at that symbolic representation, E + I --> F, I always focus on the I in the middle. I am/is where the change is possible.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:406263
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041016/msgs/406643.html