Question about The Work/Byron Katie...

[demk]

I recently got into Byron Katie's stuff and I find it really useful (check out - ByronKatie.com: The Official Blog for The Work of Byron Katie and http://www.thework.com/index.asp) but I need answers from someone who has experienced this or something similar.

Basically, I understand how you rationally enquire into your judgements that you make of other people and how it helps to detach yourself from these thoughts/beliefs and understand that you just don't know. The thing is that I make so many judgements during a day. Some days it is worse than others and my ego is in overdrive. Does your mind stop judging after a while and start to automatically apply this sytem? it seems overwhelming to me to deal with every thought that arises in one day.

I once had an experience where I started to notice all the thoughts that occured in my head that fed my ego with a sense of superiority. I noticed every thought, explained how that particular thought was operating and feeding my ego and eventually they went away for a while. They crept back in quite quickly. With that too I feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the task of cleaning up my thoughts.

Is there a better way than taking every thought and picking it apart. To be honest the automatic thoughts that arise are quite annoying because I can usually see their immaturity or ego-ness but I can't stop them. It frustrates me that that is the quality of my consciousness.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[Velvet]

I have applied Byron Katie's 4 Questions processes to my judgments and upsets so many times in the past 3 years that it's almost second-nature.

The mind never stops thinking, never stop judging, and emotional upsets still happen, but I have found that I am a more peaceful person than I was before. I credit the 4 questions, yoga, EFT, Abe-Hicks, and maybe just being alive on the planet and getting tired of letting my neuroses control my life.

Just yesterday I had an upset about something--exacerbated by a hangover and lack of sleep--and it was horrifying in the moment, but I was able to calm down and look at it for what it was. It was over in a few minutes!

In the past, this same situation/thought would have bummed me out for days, I would have had to talk it out with 10 people, cry, whatever.

I feel like I am also a much better listener, a much more compassionate friend. I can see situations from so many angles, and can understand/empathize with even the most outrageous behavior and beliefs, because my judgments and needs no longer cloud the issue. I can offer my love and compassion instead.

So, go easy on yourself--the goal is peace. Your life may not change overnight (or it might) and you may not lose all your judgments, but I think even one moment of peace can do a lot of good.

[liselo]

Hi I am new to the group and I wanted to reply to the message regarding the Byron Katie work. I have been involved with The Work for 6years. I understand the overwhelmed feeling as I do the same. What helps is to just jot down the thoughts you have in any moment and do the work on them either right then or later it really doesn't matter. The mind will still remember the stress around the thought. My experience is that an over active mind such as mine will "try and find the right thought" just another belief the mind has attached to. Yes the mind will release the thoughts for awhile and in my experience they just might come back. It gives you an opportunity to do the work again on them as they will let go of you. It is also my understanding that the judgements will always be there at some point you will just not really notice them - not attach to them and it will just be a passing thought. It is by far the most empowering tool I have come across in 15 years of self help books. I hope this was helpful and if you have any other questions, I'm willing to try and help.

Blessings

[demk]

Thanks for the replies. They are appreciated.

I'm getting better at taking things one thought at a time.