Re: noticing ways in which I abdicate my powers: I guess I first need to know what those powers are... That to me is the benefit of having a real question. It's not as much about finding an answer, as it is about really opening to the question. And things start showing up...
For instance, I was watching TV, Tuesday I think, and a character in the show said something to the effect that “the key to a successful 'con job' is misdirected attention.” That was a real aha moment.
The next day, I started thinking about attention. One of the first things that came to mind was advertising. While the ultimate goal of advertising is to get you to take a certain action (usually buying something, but not necessarily,) the primary goal is to capture your attention. If they can't do that, they have no power over you.
Then there's the different types of attention: the laser focus on a single subject, the diffused attention on the sensory input while lazing in the sun at the beach, the divided attention of trying to get lunch ready, while simultaneously keeping track of the dog/kids/grandpa.
So I count attention as one of the powers.
I think the ruminating on advertising is what led me to another power: the power to choose. But I can only choose if I am free to choose. And here is where I circled back around to the reason I use subliminals. While it is helpful to me to sort through things on the intellectual level, it is the slowest function. The emotional functioning, especially in reactions, and even the instinctive/reflexive bodily functions, are much quicker. And that is why it's so difficult to change. You don't necessarily have to go through all these mental gymnastics if you're running a subliminal, it's just my way.
Some of the posters on this forum who are journaling their OF runs seem to be making some pretty exciting changes. They are free to choose differently. Power accomplished!
For instance, I was watching TV, Tuesday I think, and a character in the show said something to the effect that “the key to a successful 'con job' is misdirected attention.” That was a real aha moment.
The next day, I started thinking about attention. One of the first things that came to mind was advertising. While the ultimate goal of advertising is to get you to take a certain action (usually buying something, but not necessarily,) the primary goal is to capture your attention. If they can't do that, they have no power over you.
Then there's the different types of attention: the laser focus on a single subject, the diffused attention on the sensory input while lazing in the sun at the beach, the divided attention of trying to get lunch ready, while simultaneously keeping track of the dog/kids/grandpa.
So I count attention as one of the powers.
I think the ruminating on advertising is what led me to another power: the power to choose. But I can only choose if I am free to choose. And here is where I circled back around to the reason I use subliminals. While it is helpful to me to sort through things on the intellectual level, it is the slowest function. The emotional functioning, especially in reactions, and even the instinctive/reflexive bodily functions, are much quicker. And that is why it's so difficult to change. You don't necessarily have to go through all these mental gymnastics if you're running a subliminal, it's just my way.
Some of the posters on this forum who are journaling their OF runs seem to be making some pretty exciting changes. They are free to choose differently. Power accomplished!
The banquet you enjoy depends on what you bring to the table.
