That’s How I Do The Work
I write a Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet, or any thought to question, and I go through the four questions and the turnarounds. Sometimes I see something that shifts my perspective right away.
Other times, I don’t find anything significant.
But regardless, I keep on looking. If I don’t find something interesting even after coming up with three examples for a turnaround, I often keep going and see if I can find five or ten examples.
Sometimes the cumulative effect of many examples allows a shift even if each example alone is not enough.
And if One Turnaround Yields Nothing, I Go to the Next
Some flowers don’t have any honey. Why keep drilling if there’s nothing there?
Maybe the next turnaround will pop something open for me. Like a honeybee, I keep going and going. Exploring all the turnarounds, and examples.
Sometimes questioning one whole concept (stressful thought) yields no significant shift even when I go through all four questions and the turnarounds and the examples. No biggie. I move on to the next concept.
That’s why I like a Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet: there are so many thoughts to question from the same situation. If I get nowhere with one, I can try the next.
This Brings Up the Value of Time
Obviously, going through my work as deeply as I want with each turnaround, and allowing myself to work as many concepts as I need on a worksheet–even allowing myself to work as many worksheets as I need–takes time.
Which is why it can be frustrating if you put pressure on yourself to have a breakthrough in five minutes, or an hour.
The Work is a practice. Just as gathering honey is a practice for a bee. Honey accumulates over time.
This is Why I Emphasize Ongoing Practice of The Work
Sometimes clients come for a one hour session and expect their whole life to shift. It can happen, but it’s rare.
But if you want to increase the probability that your perspective will shift, I encourage you to somehow make a habit of doing The Work. Maybe it’s once a month, or once a week, or every day. Whatever works for you.
The Work deepens with practice, momentum is gained, and the heart’s nectar gets steadily replenished.
Have a great weekend,
Todd
“The Work is an ongoing and deepening process of self-realization, not a quick fix.” Byron Katie, Loving What Is.
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