Conference hydra::dejavu

248.0. "the law of change" by MILRAT::KEEFE () Sat Nov 22 1986 10:48

(reproduced without permission from Far Journeys)

****    The anti-ulcer, anxiety-lowering, tension-reduction, 	****
****    get-it-together formula:				****
    
    The major underlying cause of human worry relates to the Law of 
    Change. All human conflict relates to this law. Some worry that 
    change _will_ take place, others that it will not. Wars are fought 
    to resist change or to accelerate it.
    
    At the individual level, this translates into various forms of 
    indecision. Fear enters into the pattern, fear of consequences of 
    any decision or action. The pressure builds up, intensifies as the 
    decision is put off, delayed. The result accumulates toxins in all 
    parts of the human system until there is failure or severe 
    reduction in operating efficiency. Indecision is the killer.
    
    Consider the statistics of decision, in general and simplified. In 
    any abstract decision, there is a 50% probability that the correct 
    constructive choice will be taken. If the correct path is taken, 
    obviously no problems will exist. If the incorrect selection is 
    made, it will become evident. When it does, there is a 50% 
    probability that the choice can be reversed and the constructive 
    path substituted in its place.
    
    Therefore, there is only one chance in four, at the most, that an 
    irrevocable direction may be taken in decision making. All vital 
    decisions in the history of man have been made on much worse odds 
    than three to one. Some were as high as one in twenty and came out 
    positively.
    
    To move away from the null point of indecision, take the position 
    that _any_ action or decision is better than none at all, based 
    upon the odds of three to one. To get the process underway without 
    trauma, perform the following:
    
         Make up an A list. Place on this list all of your worries, 
    anxieties, and concerns about which you can do absolutely nothing. 
    You cannot do anything about tomorrow's weather conditions. It 
    will rain, snow, be cold or hot, and there is no action you can 
    take to prevent it. If there is absolutely nothing you can do 
    _today_ about such items, place them on this A list.
    
         Make up a B list. Place on this list all of your worries, 
    anxieties, and concerns about which you can do something _today_, 
    take action, large or small.
    
         Make up a C list. Place on this list all of your needs, 
    hopes, and desires, large or small, which have yet to be 
    fulfilled.
         
         Today, perform the following functions:
    
         1. Take the A list and destroy it, and in so doing, dismiss 
            all items contained therein from your consciousness. Why 
            waste your energy worrying about that which you cannot 
            control?
         
         2. Take the B list and take some action, however small, to 
            begin the resolution of each item contained therein. 
            Several may be concluded immediately and thus can be 
            released and dismissed from your consciousness. Others 
            will be reduced in pressure because the flow has begun, a 
            decision has been made.
         
         3. Take at least one item on your C list and perform one act, 
            large or small, that moves you in the direction of such 
            goal.
         
         Perform this entire process each day until you have no A 
         list, no B list, and all of your energy and consciousness are 
         devoted to items on your C list. 
         
         You then will complete serenely your human life purpose.

    RE: .0
    
    That's really excellent...and very well stated.  I can see how
    making the lists could work well in ridding ourselves of worries.
    It would be a good way to force ourselves to really look at what
    we're worrying over.  Then continuing on with the exercise of
    ripping up the first list, we would be making a declaration in
    our mind that we were ready and willing to give up those things.
    
    I think going through the motions is very helpful because you are
    showing yourself that you're serious enough to go through the
    motions.  When you know you're serious and willing enough, you are
    suddenly in touch with all kinds of power you were previously
    blocked to.
    
    Of course, if we're real stubborn on letting go of something, it
    may take more than one display of "going through the motions"...
    because we can keep convincing ourselves that it's hopeless and
    nothing will help.  But eventually, our blocks wear down and we
    get on with it.

    Here's to...getting on with it! :^)
    
    Jerri