Quote:
Originally Posted by Wax Frog  "How does one choose a better-feeling belief that won't feel like delusion or self-deception?" |
What a great question! That IS big. One way is to move your thinking in small increments, and check at each step to see if you can accept the next increment. If you can't, then go sideways and look for something you can accept. I like how Abraham refers to going upstream or downstream. Does the incremental thought have you feeling like you're paddling to get somewhere, or does it have you feeling like you can just put your paddle down and relax as the current of the thought has you flowing in the direction of your desire, easily and effortlessly?
You don't have to go from Powerlessness to Joy in one step. You can move from a powerless thought to one that has you feeling angry, and that's moving in a downstream direction. Good. Next you can think a thought that has you feeling doubt, and that's downstream, too. You could blame someone! oops, upstream, how about trying one that has you feeling impatient -- downstream! Then maybe a thought that bores you - downstream - leading to a thought that leaves you contented. Maybe you can move from there to hopeful, and then to enthusiastic, downstream downstream, and from there it's a hop skip and a jump to Joy.
At each step, you can reach for a small increment of downstream that you can really believe. If you don't believe it, it'll feel like upstream to you. So just reach sideways for something that you can believe. It's not so difficult once you get into the practice.
Do you believe me, or do you think I'm delusional?
Google "Abraham Emotional Guidance Scale" for more on that, and examples. I've seen videos on youtube where she actually talks out thoughts that move more and more downstream, too.