MANAGING LIFE IN DIFFICULT TIMES

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

The Rev. Canon Paul Edwards and The Rev Canon Brian Nordwick, Canon for Administration and Finance, Diocese of El Camino Real

Any one can live life well when things go well. Life is learning to live well when things go bad. Life is about how we manage the solutions of our life during difficult times? Life can not be cured, but it can be lived in a joy-filled and graceful way. The proper solution will give us this kind of life.

We have all read advice columns. Some of them have given good advice. Advice is an answer, not a solution. This series is not to give advice.

It is based on giving people solutions, so they can get their own advice. Any problem lasting over six months means we have the wrong solution. Our need is to discover the right solution that gives us the right answer.

We are all looking for one thing in life, to feel good. This is the main reason we seek to solve our problems. We want to feel good. There are three ways we solve problems to feel good. We can change the event to feel good about it. If that solution does not work we can change the thought about the event to feel good. When that does not work we can change the mood to feel good in how we think in the event.

Three Dimensional Principles and Thinking

This is about discovering how three different dimensions create different solutions to our life problems. The uniqueness of this premise points to HOW changing our life from inside out is done. There are many books on what to do to live life from inside out. There are exercises, meditations, directions that instruct what to do. Some work and some do not. The challenge to the reader is to find any book which tells HOW to live ones life from inside out rather than from the outside in.

The Three Dimensional Principles To Living Life From The Inside

This is not about what to believe. Nor is it one on how we should believe. Its basis is on how we believe. It is discovering how we think in three different dimensions.

The three dimensional principles to life are the Peace Presence, Rational thought, and Conscious Awareness. Whatever one has thought of these must be put aside and we must look at them in a different way. It takes each individual time to discover this truth for them selves. It can only be done by identifying how we think in each dimension. We cannot just read about it. We must do it.

First, there is a PeacePresence in all of us. We all have it. It is a gift that is unconditional, inclusive and in all of us. Unfortunately, all of us are not always in the Peace Presence. When we are in the Presence we find Peace even when life throws us a curve.

Second, Rational Thought creates our feelings. It sees the seen, but can’t see the unseen. What we think is what we feel. This is called the power of positive thinking. If you think positive, you will have a positive feeling. If you think negative, you will have a negative feeling. Change the thought, and you will change the feeling.

Third, Conscious Awareness is when we are feeling the inner Peace Presence. We sense the unseen. This can’t be rationally explained. In this case we are up using our conscious faculty and we then can get in the feeling of the Presence. This Peace creates our thoughts in the event. What we feel is how we think.

The Difference In The Way We Think Is Dimensional

How we think is up to us. What we think depends on whether we choose to use one, two or three of the dimensional principles. It takes each individual time to discover this truth for them selves. It can only be done by experiencing what we think in each dimension. We cannot just read about it. We must do it.

One dimensional thinking uses presence (feeling) as the only dimensional principle. In this case it is to believe the event creates the feeling. We want to change a negative event that creates a negative feeling to a positive event that will create a positive feeling.

Two dimensional thinking uses two principles, thought and feeling (presence). It knows our rational thought creates our feelings. An event creates a thought that creates the feeling. We change our way of thinking about the event by understanding it in a different way. An event that creates a negative thought creates a negative feeling. If one can change the negative thought about the event into a positive one, it will create a positive feeling.

Three dimensional thinking uses all three dimensions, feeling (inner Peace Presence), Thought and Conscious Awareness. It starts with the conscious feeling of the Presence within. Rational Wisdom comes out of a feeling of inner Peace, Love and Joy. We have a Wisdom we would not have when out of the conscious Presence and feeling unloved, unhappy or upset in a low mood. When we encounter events and thoughts we cannot feel good about, we can discover an inner Presence that we can feel good in not about the event no matters what might be.

Research has found when we think rationally about an event we tend to see the more negative side to find a solution. When we use our conscious faculty we tend to see the event in a more positive manner and solution. The difference is a scientific fact. When we are thinking rationally out of the Presence and feeling unhappy, unloved and upset we will think, feel and act differently than when in the Presence of Peace, Love and Joy. Three Dimensional thinking changes the feeling from low to high mood by becoming conscious of ones inner Peace Presence. The only way one can tell what the response would be is to do it.

The process of going from one dimension to the other is not in a lock step. It is related to Kublar Ross’ five stages of grief. Anyone going through the five stages soon realizes they are not set in stone. The first Dimension includes denial that one has any responsibility for the feeling about the event. They might think and say, “If you do not like my attitude change yours!” Anger follows denial when the first stage does not make us feel good. If we cannot get out of first dimension we become a victim to the event.

The second Dimension includes bargaining to make a deal to feel good. It would attempt to change the thought by seeking understanding and negotiation. If it does not work depression sets in as there is no closure.

Finally there comes the third Dimension of acceptance and a chance to move on. In the Peace we no longer have to feel good about the thought or the event. It is possible to be at Peace in the event no matter what it might be.

These Stages and Dimensions move back and forth with each moment. Sometimes the acceptance or closure is reached and sometimes it is not. Sometimes the person never gets out of stage one or they go back into it to become a victim.

Three Dimensional Psychologies

There are three major psychological dimensional solutions for most problems.

One dimension is Behaviorism. It changes the event to change the feeling. A person may have Agoraphobia, fear of the market place. The treatment would be to take a few steps toward the mall until the fear arises. This would be repeated with a few more steps each time until the mall would be reached. By feeling good about the mall they then could become a shopoholic with no barriers.

Two dimensions is Analysis. It would change the way a person was thinking. If the person is filled with anger, the treatment would be to discover the thought to the original event that created the anger in one’s childhood. Once the event was discovered they would change the thought about the event to feel better.

Three dimensions solution is Spirituality. It is about living life from the inside out. Here one uses their conscious faculty to access the inner Peace Presence of Wisdom. A woman on Ophrah’s show had been married several times and had other partners. Recently her last partner had dumped her. She said, “I need a man!” The therapist relied, “You need to find what you are looking for inside, not outside yourself.” The problem with this is there is almost no instruction on how to find what we are looking for inside ourselves. There is only one way to do this. It is to become aware of how to use our Conscious instead of our Rational faculty to sense the unseen within us.

Behaviorism and Analysis become problems when they cannot change the feelings or the thought about the event. There are some events that no one can feel good or think well about. The advantage of Spiritual approach is one can feel good not about the event but in the event. The problem with Spirituality is when one does not know how to use their conscious faculty to access the inner Wisdom of the Peace Presence.

Here is an exercise that needs to be practiced to be understood. We understand this when we say to friends who are leaving, “Keep in touch”. We do not mean physically but spiritually.

Think of a person who is not here. As you think of them, become conscious of their presence. If you did this you did something different than you did when you only thought of them. You felt something. You touched the untouchable. If you did not feel something, than you only thought of doing it. Try again to do it to discover it.

If you felt something you did something you could not tell anyone what you did. Yet everyone who had done it knows what you did as they did the same thing.

If you are still conscious of the other’s presence drop your rational thought of them and just stay conscious. You will begin to experience an inner Presence of Peace as you stay conscious. Remain conscious as you are reading this. You will begin to understand things differently than when rationally try to grasp the unseen spiritual. It is not difficult to feel the Presence rationally. It is impossible to do it. It can only be grasped consciously.

We can only access the Presence through the conscious not the rational. If a person believes they know how to do it, by using one’s conscious thought than they still do not know the difference between the two. It only happens when we do it. Otherwise we are only thinking about doing it. This is where knowing the difference between the rational, and the conscious is critical. You must be warned if you cannot tell the difference by now, you need to stop and go back and not continue until you do understand this difference by practicing rational thought of someone or something and then consciously sensing its presence.

Three Dimensional Formulas

There are three formulas which might help the German Engineering mentality persons.

A One Dimensional person uses only presence (p). The formula would be Event equals feeling of their presence. or E = F A one dimensional person would become a victim to the event because they could never feel at peace about what happen. Their spirituality would be marked with fear, hurt, guilt or anger.

A Two Dimensional person using the Rational and their presence would know that thought creates feelings of presence. The event would create (+0) a Rational thought that would create (=) feeling of presence or E + R = F. A two dimensional person at first may have the same experience as the one dimensional person. They know event creates the thought that would create the feeling of the presence of fear, hurt, guilt and anger as their spirituality. If they could spin the thought from a negative one to a positive one, they could come out feeling a peace for their spirituality. The problem here is the negative thought of the event would still be in their minds. They would have to overcome it with the positive thought every time it came up. It can be done, however the power of positive thinking is the kind of fight that wears one out.

The Three Dimensional person would use all three dimensional principles starting with being Conscious of The Presence, which would create Rational thought or C + P + R. We call it “Spiritual CPR”. to help remind us of the principles we are using. This is not like the two dimensional message for those who are going through a difficult time to start to think positively. The person who has lost their job, lost their mortgage, lost their marriage is told to get up in the morning and think of one thing they are grateful for. The person using all three dimensions would probably be at the same starting line. There would be the initial sudden jolt. Rather than trying to change how they feel or think about the event they would change the feeling by becoming consciously open to their inner Presence. The Rational thought would be changed by feeling the Presence not the individual mind or event. They would find Peace not about the event but in the event.

The negative feeling created by the negative event or thought creates a low mood. Those in a low mood will think, feel and react about how they see the event in a different way than those in the Presence who have become at Peace in the event. Out of the event they would react by trying to change the event. In the Presence they would become proactive by changing their behavior that got them in the problem in the first place. In this new vision of the event they would find a different solution and the wisdom to respond to it in a proactive way.

One of the easiest ways to get in The Presence is to wonder. Wondering is a conscious act of the heart while thinking is a rational act of the head. We cannot think our way into The Presence. We can only wonder our way in.

When we wonder what difference it would make if we were out or in the Presence we can begin to discover a different kind of wisdom than when we are out. If we do not discover any difference it is because we are still thinking about doing it. Stop thinking and start doing is takes practice.

This offers us an opportunity to check it out looking at the same old problem with a different solution. We can find a new way of solving an old problem. Take a difficult problem you are facing. Begin to wonder what difference being in the Presence of your inner Peace would make. What is the difference?

We call this the “Wonder Key”. It is the key to all problems.

Contact Canon Nordwick to learn how he has used The Wonder Key in his ministry at brian@edecr.org

Practice Questions On How Do You Use One, Two And Three Dimensional Solutions

DEALING WITH OFFENDING PERSONS YOU ARE OFFENDED BY WHAT SOMEONE HAS SAID ABOUT YOU.

HOW WOULD YOU RESOLVE THE OFFENSE WITH ONE DIMENSIONAL THINKING?

HOW WOULD YOU RESOLVE IT BY CHANGING YOUR WAY OF THINKING THROUGH UNDERSTANDING IT DIFFERENTLY BY USING A TWO DIMENSIONAL SOLUTION?

USING THREE DIMENSIONAL SOLUTION, WONDER WHAT DIFFERENCE BEING IN OR OUT OF THE PEACE PRESENCE WOULD MAKE IN RESOLVING THE OFFENCE.

CONFLICTING RELATIONSHIPS

YOU HAVE A CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER PERSON

HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY CHANGING THE OTHER PERSON WITH ONE DIMENSIONAL THINKING?

HOW WOULD YOU RESOLVE IT BY CHANGING YOUR WAY OF THINKING THROUGH UNDERSTANDING IT DIFFERENTLY USING A TWO DIMENSIONAL SOLUTION?

USING THREE DIMENSIONAL SOLUTION, WONDER WHAT DIFFERENCE BEING IN OR OUT OF THE PEACE PRESENCE WOULD MAKE IN RESOLVING THE CONFLICT.

CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIPS

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A CONTROLLING PERSON

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE PERSON?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT THE PERSON?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OF THE PEACE OR IN WHILE DEALING WITH A CONTROLLING PERSON?

ARGUMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS

THINK OF A DIFFICULT ARGUEMENT YOU ONCE HAD WITH YOUR PARENTS

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DID YOU TRY TO CHANGE YOUR PARENTS’ OPINION

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION:: WHAT CHANGE OF YOUR TOUGHTS HELPED YOU IN THIS SITUATION?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE
WHILE DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION?

ANGER MANAGEMENT

WHEN YOU BECOME ANGRY ABOUT SOMETHING SOMEONE DID

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE PERSON TO CONTROL YOUR ANGER?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK TO CONTROL YOUR ANGER ABOUT THE SITUATION?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD YOUR BEING OUT OR IN THE PEACE MAKE TO CONTROLLING YOUR ANGER IN A SITUATION?

LISTENING

A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER TOTALLY IGNORES WHAT YOU SAY AND NEVER DOES ANYTHING YOU ASK OF THEM.

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GET THEM NOT TO IGNORE YOU?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: IF YOU HAVE TO DEAL (LIVE) WITH THE PERSON HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT THEM WHEN THEY IGNORE YOU?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHEN DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO CONSTANTLY IGNORES YOU?

LISTENING

YOUR HAVING A HARD TME DEALING WTH SOMEONE WHO IS BOSSY AND WILL NOT LISTEN TO YOU.

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DID YOU TRY TO MAKE THE PERSON BE MORE ATTENTIVE?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT CHANGE OF YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU TO HANDLE PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD THINK OR DO?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH THIS KIND OF PERSON?

TRUST

A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND HAS BETRAYED YOUR TRUST

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DO YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE PERSON TO BE MORE TRUSTFUL?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT CHANGE IN YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU TO HANDLE A PERSON YOU CANNOT TRUST?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH TRUST ISSUES?

CRITICISM

YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO IS ALWAYS CORRECTING AND CRITICISING YOU.

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW WOULD YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE PERSON TO BE LESS CRITICAL.

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT CHANGE IN YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU TO HANDLE PEOPLE WHO CRITICIZE YOU?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH CRITICISM AND CRITICAL PEOPLE?

POWER STRUGGLE

YOU ARE CONSTANTLY ARGUING WITH A PERSON OVER WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG.

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DO YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE PERSON TO BE MORE AGREEABLE

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT CHANGE IN YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU TO HANDLE A PERSON YOU DO AGREE WITH?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH A PERSON YOU BELIEVE IS WRONG?

DEALING WITH PAIN

A PERSON HAS ACTED IN A WAY THAT DEEPLY HURT YOU. THEY HAVE ASKED TO BE FORGIVEN BUT YOU ARE STILL HURTING.

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DO YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE PERSON TO HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR PAIN?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: HOW DOES A CHANGE IN YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR PAIN?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH YOUR PAINFUL MEMORY?

GUILT

YOU FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE A PERSON IS HURT AND ANGRY WITH WHAT YOU DID.

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DO YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE PERSON TO BE MORE FORGIVING?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT CHANGE OF YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU TO HANDLE THE PERSONS HURT AND ANGER AND YOUR GUILT?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH ISSUES OF YOUR GUILT OVER THEIR HURT AND ANGER?

DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR

A PERSON CLOSE TO YOU IS ACTING IN A FOOLISH AND IRRESPONSIVE WAY

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DO YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE PERSON TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT CHANGE IN YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU TO HANDLE A PERSON WHO IS ABOUT TO ACT IRRESPONSIBLE?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH AN IRRESPONSIBLE PERSON?

UNHAPPY PERSONS

YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND WHO YOU CAN NEVER PLEASE. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO IT IS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH.

ONE DIMENSION SOLUTION: HOW DO YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE PERSON TO BE MORE APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU DO FOR THEM?

TWO DIMENSIONS SOLUTION WHAT CHANGE OF YOUR TOUGHTS HELP YOU TO HANDLE PEOPLE YOU CANNOT PLEASE?

THREE DIMENSIONS SOLUTION: WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF YOU WERE OUT OR IN THE PEACE WHILE DEALING WITH A PERSON WHO DOES NOT APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU DO?

THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPIRITUALITY (Summary)

It may be difficult to switch from the rational head to the conscious heart.

Go to the Fifty-two Days first and refer back to the Summary if needed.

There are many definitions for spirituality. We need to be on the same page to discover Three-Dimensional Spirituality. We have both rational and conscious faculties. All that physically exists is seen rationally. All that spiritually exists is unseen and is consciously sensed. Thinking is a rational act while wondering is a conscious act.

All of us always have an inclusive, unconditional Presence within us. However all of us do not always experience this Presence. We can only experience it through our conscious faculty, never though the rational faculty. When we are experiencing the Wisdom of the Peace, Love, and Joy of being in the Presence we will feel, think, and act in an entirely different way than when we are out of the Presence and feeling insecure, unhappy, and unloved.

The THREE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUALITY
PRESENCE:THOUGHT:CONSCIOUS
experience of presence creates our that creates thoughts of the event senses our inner Presence inner wisdom
The THREE SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS
1 DIMENSION2 DIMENSIONS3 DIMENSIONS
Uses presence (f) Events create feeling (f) Uses thought (t) and presence (f)
events create thought that create feeling
Uses Conscious (C) Presence (F) Thought (T)
CONSCIOUS of the PRESENCE (F) creates THOUGHT (T) that creates how we see events

THE THREE SETS OF SPIRITUAL FORMULAS

1D Negative event creates negative feeling about our realty -e + (-f) = -r

Positive events create positive feelings about our reality +e + (+f) = +r

2D Negative thought creates negative feeling about realty e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

Positive thought creates positive feeling about our reality e + (+t) + (+f) = +r

3D Conscious Feeling of inner Presence creates positive thought in the event for our reality. F + T + E = R

Event is small “e” out and capital “E” when in the Presence.

Thought “t” creates our own feelings of presence (f) when out.

Capitol “T” is created by experiencing our inner Presence “F”.

The feeling of our presence created by our thought is small “f”

The feeling of our inner Presence is a capitol “F”.

Reality can be the one we create by our thought “r”

or the one created by the experience of our inner Presence “R”.

THE THREE THERAPIES

All problems are solved by 1, 2, or 3D Spirituality

BEHAVIORISM: One Dimension, changes the feeling about the event.

Negative events create negative feelings about realties -e + (-f) = -r

Positive events create positive feelings about realities +e + (+f) = +r

ANALYISIS: Two Dimensions, changes the thought about the event

Negative thoughts create negative feelings about realties, e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

Positive thoughts create positive feelings about realities, e + (+t) + (+f) = +r

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: Three Dimensions. There are some events and thoughts that are impossible to feel good about. Spiritual Direction changes the feeling to change the thought in the event about the reality, F + T + E = R

FIFTY-TWO DAYS TO GROWING IN GRACE THROUGH THREE- DIMENSIONAL SPIRITUALITY: Knowing how to access the Presence within must be consciously discovered through practice only you can do. These exercises are to help in practicing how to get in and stay in.

WEEK ONE: Our life can be described in three categories: (Events) what happens to us, (Others) what others do to us, (Self) our personal behavior. We solve our problems in each of these areas with One; Two; or Three-Dimensional; solutions.

Day One, One Dimension: what area in your life makes you disturbed the most: what happens to you, what others do to you, or your personal behavior? -e + (-f) = -r.

Day Two, One Dimension: what happens when you cannot change the event, the relationship or your behavior to make you feel at peace about it? +e + (-f) = -r.

Day Three, Two Dimensions: what thoughts disturb you the most; what happens to you; what others do to you; what you do to yourself?
e + (-t) + (-f) = -r.

Day Four, Two Dimensions: what happens when you cannot change the thoughts about the event; the relationship; or your behavior to feel at peace about it? e + (-t) + (-f) = -r.

Day Five, Three Dimensions: wonder how being conscious of the Presence of Peace makes a difference in solving a problem that has disturbed you. F + T + E = R

Day Six, Three Dimensions: wonder how being conscious of the Peace makes a difference in solving a relationship problem. F + T + E = R

Day Seven, Three Dimensions: wonder how being conscious of the Peace makes a difference in solving a behavior problem you create. F + T + E = R

WEEK TWO: GROWING IN GRACE. Practice what a difference in thinking in One, Two or Three dimensions can make when dealing with your feelings?

Day Eight, One Dimension: who makes you feel angry? -e + (-f) = -r,

What do you do to change them? +e + (+f) = +r

What happens if you cannot change them? -e + (-f) = -r

Day Nine, Two Dimensions: when you cannot change others, what thoughts can you change about them? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r.

What happens if you cannot change your thoughts about them? e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

Day Ten, Three Dimensions: if you cannot change the others behavior or your thoughts about them what difference would being in the Peace make in solving your problem? F + T + E = R.

Day Eleven, One Dimension: who makes you feel guilty by criticizing you? -e + (-f) = -r. What do you do to change them so as not to feel guilty? +e + (+f) = +r

What happens if you cannot change them? -e + (-f) = -r

Day Twelve, Two Dimensions: when you cannot change, what thoughts can you change about them so as not to feel guilt? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r.

What happens if you cannot change your thoughts about them? e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

Day Thirteen, Three Dimensions: if you cannot change their behavior or your thoughts about them, what difference would to being in the Peace make in solving your feeling of guilt? F + T + E = R

Day Fourteen, One Dimension: what makes you feel stressed? -e + (-f) = -r. What do you do to change the situation to feel peace? +e + (+f) = +r.

What happens if you cannot change it? -e + (-f) = -r

WEEK THREE: GROWING IN GRACE

Day Fifteen, Two Dimensions: When you cannot change the stressful situation what thoughts can you change to feel peace? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r. What happens if you cannot change your thoughts about it? e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

Day Sixteen, Three Dimensions: if you cannot change the event or your thoughts about the situation what difference would being in the Peace make in solving your problem? F + T + E = R

Day Seventeen, One Dimension: what makes you feel regret for something you did? -e + (-f) = -r. What do you do to change the situation so not to feel regret? +e + (+f) = +r.

What happens if you cannot change it? -e + (-f) = -r

Day Eighteen, Two Dimensions: when you cannot change the situation what thoughts can you change not to feel regret? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r.

What happens if you cannot change your thoughts about it? e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

Day Nineteen, Three Dimensions: when you cannot change the event or your thoughts about it what difference would being in the Peace Presence make in solving your problem of regret? F + T + E = R.

Day Twenty, One Dimension: what causes you to feel worried? -e + (-f) = -r. What have you done to change the situation so as not to worry?

+e + (+f) = +r.

What happens if you cannot change it? -e + (-f) = -r

Day Twenty-one, Two Dimensions: when you cannot change the situation what thoughts can you change so as not to worry? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r.

What happens if you cannot change your thoughts about it? e+ (-t) + (-f) = -r

WEEK FOUR

Day Twenty-two, Three Dimensions: F + T + E = R. If you cannot change the event -e + (-f) = -r or your thoughts about it

e + (-t) + (-f) = -r what difference would be in the Peace Presence make in solving your worries? F + T + E = R

RELATIONSHIPS: The heart feels what the head thinks out of the Presence. e + t + f = r
The head thinks what the heart feels in the Presence. F + T + E = R

Practice switching from the Head to the Heart in the Presence.

Day Twenty-three: Communication. Think of someone you have a difficult time communicating with. How does the Heart feel when the Head thinks out of the Presence? How does the Head think when the Heart feels in the Presence?

Day Twenty-four: Compatibility. Think of someone you have a hard time being compatible with. How does the Heart feel when the Head thinks out of the Presence? How does the Head think when the Heart feels in the Presence?

Day Twenty-five: Communion (intimacy). Think of someone you have a hard time getting close to. How does the Heart feel when the Head thinks out of the Presence? How does the Head think when the Heart feels in the Presence?

Day Twenty-six: Cohesion. Think of someone you have a hard time working with. How does the Heart feel when the Head thinks out of the Presence? How does the Head think when the Heart feels in the Presence?

Day Twenty-seven: Commitment. Think of someone you have a hard time trusting. How does the Heart feel when the Head thinks out of the Presence? How does the Head think when the Heart feels in the Presence?

Day Twenty-eight: Feeling Understood. Think of someone who has a hard time understanding you . How does the Heart feel when the Head thinks out of the Presence? How does the Head think when the Heart feels in the Presence?

WEEK FIVE: Grace Practice and Psychology. Grace is the unconditional, inclusive Presence that is in all of us. We are not always in the Presence. Everyone has experienced this grace, but few know how to access it anytime any place and under any conditions.

Day Twenty-nine: One Dimension. Behaviorism treats the event to change the thought. What are you most fearful about? -e + (-f) = -r Can you overcome the fear by gradually facing the event? What happens if you cannot overcome your fear by gradually facing the event? -e + (-f) = -r

Day-Thirty: Two Dimensions. Analysis treats the thought to change the feeling by tracing the feeling back to the original childhood thought. What makes you angry? Trace the anger back to the original thought of who or what made you so angry? e + (-t) + (-f) = -r. Can you change your thought about the event or the person? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r

Day Thirty-one: What happens if you cannot find the thought to change

the anger you still have? e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

Day Thirty-two: Three Dimensions. Spiritual Direction seeks to find what you are looking for inside not outside yourself. What happens if you do not know how to look inside yourself? F + T + E = R

Day Thirty-three: Consciousness. Think of someone who is not with you right now. Sense their presence. You did something different just then by moving from the rational to the conscious. Now drop the thought of them and just stay conscious.

Begin to sense the Presence of Peace within you.

Day Thirty-four: Consciousness. Do the same thing again and this time practice staying conscious of the Presence while reading or speaking. Discover the difference speaking to another out of the Presence and then in can make in your relationships.

Day Thirty-five: Which do you find most effective, changing the event +e + (+f) = +r, the thought e + (+t) + (+f) = +r, or the feeling? F + T + E = R

WEEK SIX: How do you get into the Presence?

DAY Thirty-six: One Dimension. How easy is it for you to get into the Presence through prayer, communion going to church? +e + (+f) = +r

How long do you stay in the Presence after you move on to another issue?

Day Thirty-seven: Two Dimensions. How easy is it for you to get into the Presence though reading Scripture or other inspirational materials? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r. How long do you stay in the Presence after you have moved on to another issue?

Day Thirty-eight: How easy is it for you to become conscious of the Presence if you have not practiced it for a while? F + T + E = R
How long can you stay conscious of the Presence after you move on?

Day Thirty-nine: How easy is it for you to become conscious of the Presence if you have practiced it for a while? F + T + E = R. How long do you stay conscious of the Presence after you have moved on?

Day Forty: How easy is it for you to get in and stay in the Presence after you have rationally started speaking? F + T + E = R. How easy is it for you to stay in the Presence if you have become conscious before you start speaking?

Day Forty-one: How easy is it to move from trying to change negative feelings about the event -e + (-f) = -r, to changing your way of thinking about the event? e + (+t) + (+f) = +r

Day Forty-Two: How easy is it for you to change the way you are thinking when you cannot feel peace about what happened e + (-t) + (-f) = -r

to becoming conscious in the Presence? F + T + E = R

WEEK SEVEN: A human being on a spiritual journey depends on the journey for their spirituality. +e + (+f) = +r. A spiritual being on a human journey depends on their spirituality for the journey. F + T + E = R

Day Forty-three: What events are you depending upon to feel at peace?

+e + (+f) = +r. what happens if you cannot change them? -e + (-f) = -r

Day Forty-four: What difference does it make if you depend on being in the Presence to feel at Peace no matter what happens? F + T + E = R

Day Forty-five: Who are you depending on to feel loved? +e + (+f) = +r

What happens when they do not respond to you in love? -e + (-f) = -r

Day Forty-six: What difference does it make if you depend on being in the Presence to feel Love no matter how others react to you? F + T + E = R

Day Forty-seven: What do you depend on for your success to feel happy? +e + (+f) = +r. What happens if you do not succeed? -e + (-f) = -r

Day Forty-eight: What difference does it make if you depend on being in the Presence to feel Joy no matter how well you do? F + T + E = R

WEEK EIGHT: In One and Two dimensions we seek to solve problems to feel at peace about the event, the other or our behavior. +e + (+f) = +r. If we cannot, then there is no closure for us. -e + (-f) = -r. In Three Dimensions we seek to find Peace in the event, the relationship or our behavior to gain the Wisdom to know how to respond. F + T + E = R

Day Forty-nine: What difference does it make when you try to solve the problem to feel at peace about it +e + (+f) = +r, but you cannot change it,

-e + (-f) = -r or you consciously get in the Peace to solve the problem?

F + T + E = R

Day Fifty: What difference does it make when you try to resolve a relationship to feel loved about a person +e + (+f) = +r but you cannot change them -e + (-f) = -r or you consciously get in the Presence of inner Love whether you resolve the relationship

or not? F + T + E = R

Day Fifty-one: What difference does it make when you try to do well to feel happy about what you do +e + (+f) = +r, but you cannot -e + (-f) = -r.

or you consciously get in the Joy no matter how well you do? F + T + E = R

Day Fifty-two: What difference does it make if you try to get the wisdom to solve your problem to find peace, love and joy e + (+t) + (+f) = +r, but you cannot find it -e + (-f) = -r, or you consciously sense the Peace, Love and Joy you already have to get the Wisdom to solve your issue? F + T + E = R

Share your questions and comments with Fr. Paul at paulnanita@sbcglobal.net

Copyright 2008-2011 Paul Edwards