ByronKatie.com

Is funny but when we are possesed by a desire to help others we are not really thinking whos business we are. Or even if we are on someone elses business it only happens naturaly..however sometimes in the middle of the action a thought might occur to us..like, why am i doing this? or i should stop im helping too much ...or my help is not been appreciated..i should not have offered my help...etc etc etc ..all of this is really the story that wants to take over a simple action pure and honest action.. at that point i would stop only to examine my thoughts and then i will happyly resume my action.....thanks

I think what Katie means by her "body is her doctor's business" (it is silly for me to interpret her words--but I will)is that a "clear mind" can hear what the doctor says, and then either follow directives or not--it would all depend on what story arises upon "hearing" what the doctor says. "The Work is not about healing the body, Katie often says, the work is about healing our thinking." Bodies will do what they will do, and all the thinking in the world can't change that. But, the power of the work resides in loving anything and everything our thoughts conjure up about our bodies, and allowing the 4 questions to uncover the fears we hold about our bodies, so we can come to "see" what is for each one of us.
I'm one of those who have trouble with the G word. What works for me is "reality or what is this moment" I can call that God for lack of a better word because "what is" is always here now, and I have no control or say about it. Someone close to me is sick--I get sad, I worry, I also know that what I feel is the fear of losing that person--of losing someone who adds something to me. It's my thoughts about this person or situation that make me sad or happy. So, once again, it's my thinking--my story--that is trying to manipulate what is in order to make me feel safe.

Maybe the reason you cannot think of another way to "frame" the three kinds of business is a reflection on the fact that the concept itself is faulty. If there is no God who is all powerful, omiscient, and omnipresent, as the Christian God is said to be, then there is no such thing as "God's business." When you see your neighbor's suffering,and it is not God's business --who's business is it? Maybe it really IS our business to provide help for that neighbor.

In a similar way Katie is fond of saying that her healthcare is her doctor's business, not hers--"He's the one who went to school, not me." But, that statement implies lack of responsiblity for self neglect. A diabetic, for example, must take control of his or her own blood sugar levels. You cannot expect the doctor to be at your side constantly making choices for what you eat and how much insulin you take.

I would like to see my comments get posted and I would like to see some discussion about the underlying premises in the three kinds of business--is the concept useful, or does it actually have potential to cause harm?
Thank you.

Hi Turil,

'Not our' (or rather 'not my') business sounds pretty universal to me :-)

For me it feels like the important point is to notice that I am not in my business, rather than the definition of who's business I am in - if it is not my business it is to time to get out of it - it is merely a signpost that suggests a direction back to my own business.

With love,

Jon

Billy L. thanks for the suggestion, I'm wondering if there is a way to clearly define for those who aren't familliar with Katie (or the philosophy of non-duality) the difference between the reality that we can't control and the reality that we can. Using the term God's business compared to "our" business is useful for those who's stories include the idea of God being a seperate entity, but this description doesn't really help those who's stories don't include a God at all, or who believe that God is not seperate from us.

I work with a lot of people who are younger and non-traditional, and I love sharing The Work and Katie's ideas with them, but they aren't likely to be able to use those ideas if I don't frame the ideas in ways that make sense to them.

So, yeah, I'm still really hoping to find a more universal term for "not our" business. Any other suggestions?

Just discovered Katie this week through the founder of Holosync...I'm walking in a daze...I'm questioning EVERTHING and smiling ALL THE TIME. Am I crazy or incredibly sane?

"I'd love to find another word/idea instead of "God" in the three types of business. I imagine that there must be another way to explain the part of reality that is not in our control in a way that doesn't include the idea of things being in some external, superior being's control. Any suggestions?"

Katie often says "Reality" instead of "God." Because, like God, Reality rules. I am either in my business, your business or Reality's business.

Whose Business Am I In?

How true and practical. This advice helps me focus and remain focused in the now and on "my own business". It frees my "mind space" a lot. Thank you.

Bruno

Wow... I just read this after being referred to your blog from another blog and it just grabbed me. I never stopped to fully realize how much energy was expelled on business that was not my own and when you write it so simply, it makes me want to slap my forehead in amazement!

I really am going to make an effort at staying within my own business and waiting until other people ask me for assistance or advice on their business.

Thank you!
Erin

I am in everyone's business but my own. There are those who seek me out for advice and those I listen too and offer advice and those that I just say what I believe is their issues.

However, I know that all of this is my own business that I am offering advice on. The individuals around me say I am the most positive person they know, however at times I don't feel very positive about anything in my life. I am struggling to survive, emotionally, financially, spiriturally and in other aspects. I feel like a hamster must feel on its wheel. I would very much love to get off and have a good life. One that is spiritually enlightening and empowering, emotionally fulfilling and financially satisfying.

Where do I begin?

I too am guilty of telling other people how to live my life. Yikes this sure brought that home and now I making it real.

I'd love to find another word/idea instead of "God" in the three types of business. It's a really powerful statement, but doesn't work for those folks who either aren't religious or believe that they are a part of God (as in Pantheism, Gaia, etc.).

I imagine that there must be another way to explain the part of reality that is not in our control in a way that doesn't include the idea of things being in some external, superior being's control. Any suggestions?

Thanks! And glad to see you blogging Katie!

I've been working on this one myself for sometime. I always seem to butt into other people's business and tell them how to live my life. Thanks for the new angle!