Overcoming Compulsive Habits
How See Our Problem as Another Person Would?
How often do we find it necessary to seek out a good friend whose judgement we trust, who will listen to us as we discuss a problem which we are unable to solve? How easy it is for another person to see where we are in error and to give us sensible advice and guidance.
Why do they see things that we cannot see? The answer is because we are emotionally involved and the intellect has become obscured by our strong emotions which make objective analysis most difficult if not impossible. Since the emotions represent the chief barrier to logical and intelligent analysis which may lead to a successful solution of the problem, how is it possible to be able to see our problem as another person would? How are we to obtain an objective view?
Why do they see things that we cannot see? The answer is because we are emotionally involved and the intellect has become obscured by our strong emotions which make objective analysis most difficult if not impossible. Since the emotions represent the chief barrier to logical and intelligent analysis which may lead to a successful solution of the problem, how is it possible to be able to see our problem as another person would? How are we to obtain an objective view?
Ancient Method
The following method, ancient in its origin, has been practiced by several civilizations dating back for thousands of years. It is a technique which should be practiced by every person who is desirous of putting order, meaningfullness and sanity in his everyday existence. With it he will learn to solve all problems ultimately which may arise, if he persists daily in this method.
Don't Waste Time and Energy
When faced with a nagging problem, it is important to avoid trying to solve it during working hours, where your attention is required elsewhere. Do not allow your mind to flit back and forth, time and time again on the problem. It is wasteful of energy and if continued with deep emotional involvement, it leads to tension, irritability, worry and finally exhaustion.
To try to solve a problem when other duties are pressing in, prohibits us from gathering our thoughts together logically and is an unprofitable waste of time and energy and can only lead to frustration.
To try to solve a problem when other duties are pressing in, prohibits us from gathering our thoughts together logically and is an unprofitable waste of time and energy and can only lead to frustration.
How to Begin Your Review of the Problem
It is best to refuse to consider all thoughts relating to the problem and wait until you are able to be alone and free from the responsibility and pressure of work. Then, when alone in a quiet place, sit in a comfortable chair or lie down and begin your review of the problem, step by step in the ensuing manner.
Project on Movie Screen
Emotional identification with your behavior as you are reviewing it should be totally prohibited. You are to take the viewpoint of an outsider who is analyzing the situation for a friend. Review the incident as if it were projected on a movie screen and observe the scenes with yourself performing in it just as if you were watching actors in a moving picture.
The purpose of this is sever any emotional involvement with the performer (yourself) on the screen. The truth will be revealed to you in ratio to the amount of objectivity present.
If you could see yourself as if you were another person, completely free of any emotional or egoistic connection, then you will see the complete truth of the situation and all of its errors with total objectivity.
The purpose of this is sever any emotional involvement with the performer (yourself) on the screen. The truth will be revealed to you in ratio to the amount of objectivity present.
If you could see yourself as if you were another person, completely free of any emotional or egoistic connection, then you will see the complete truth of the situation and all of its errors with total objectivity.
Substitute Each Error for Correct Behavior
Once again, in reviewing each incident, as you discover each error, substitute the correct behavior in its place and see it acted out in an ideal manner. Make each correction in the entire story or scene which unfolds until you are completely satisfied that the entire incident has been performed correctly, ideally and in accordance with the highest standards which you aspire to.
As you are calmly observing this person as you would a total stranger, you are critically judging its thoughts, feelings and deeds, impartially and quite sternly, thus creating an effective method of self-improvement.
This will purify your motivation, educate your emotions, strengthen your willpower and improve your mental capacity. You will be making the fullest use of memory to effectively improve your character.
As you are calmly observing this person as you would a total stranger, you are critically judging its thoughts, feelings and deeds, impartially and quite sternly, thus creating an effective method of self-improvement.
This will purify your motivation, educate your emotions, strengthen your willpower and improve your mental capacity. You will be making the fullest use of memory to effectively improve your character.
Even Simpler Approach
When beginning this practice, if you find that after several tries you are still having difficulty in maintaining objectivity and that you are still emotionally involved with the person (yourself) that you are observing in the scene, there is even a simpler approach which you may use which will unfailingly produce total objectivity.
You should change the face of the performer to that of another person, say a friend, a member of the family or even a complete stranger. This will insure complete objectivity without fail. See that person who has a different face and body projected outwardly on a movie screen and going through the experiences and thoughts that you have gone through the day before. Make a critical appraisal of the chief thoughts, feelings and actions that transpired from the beginning to end of each incident. Analyze that person's thought and behavior as emotionally detached as if you were giving advice to a friend who requested it.
You should change the face of the performer to that of another person, say a friend, a member of the family or even a complete stranger. This will insure complete objectivity without fail. See that person who has a different face and body projected outwardly on a movie screen and going through the experiences and thoughts that you have gone through the day before. Make a critical appraisal of the chief thoughts, feelings and actions that transpired from the beginning to end of each incident. Analyze that person's thought and behavior as emotionally detached as if you were giving advice to a friend who requested it.
Daily Practice
What you will see with this method will prove to be a literal revelation. Perplexing incidents which have occurred in the past will reveal their solutions with a clarity that will startle you as you become adept at this technique.
It takes about 2 weeks of daily practice before this exercise becomes easy and natural. From there on, the enjoyment of it will increase daily and progressively, and it will prove to be a indispensible tool for intelligent selfstudy.
It takes about 2 weeks of daily practice before this exercise becomes easy and natural. From there on, the enjoyment of it will increase daily and progressively, and it will prove to be a indispensible tool for intelligent selfstudy.
Peace of Mind
It will lead to meaningful and purposeful living each day, and in time a great peace will settle upon your heart and mind, as your life becomes integrated in all departments -- physically, mentally and spiritually.