ByronKatie.com

I am new to work, a few weeks in, and even though I hit snags now and then, I wouldn't want to tie up the hotline to work out issues that aren't urgent. However, I do seem to hit a certain quota of unruly thinking patterns, specifically around the following: jealousy, for example, when I see my b/f check out another female, secondly, my lack of motivation - I am starting my life over in my late 30's in France due to an international divorce and custody battle (he won), and thirdly, the Islamist Jihad movement...there are plenty of Arabs in my neighborhood here in Southern France, and today one spit in front of me to demonstrate his own issues, so to speak, and so it triggers a ricochet effect of all kinds of fears and expectations for the future...I eat the work for breakfast, but always am eager to for more insight and help in these underlying strongholds. If ANYONE has anything to say regarding this, you have my utmost gratitude.

Thank you, Jon x and Mona. That was very helpful. As Katie says, it makes all the difference to sort out what's imagined and what's real. We are all so conditioned to argue with reality and expected to react a certain way to what most of the world sees and believes. Thanks again.

RM: I'd suggest keeping it simple with the thoughts about the baby and the mother.

You don't have to believe that it's good that the baby died that way. (If the baby did in fact die and she actually did what the headline says.)

But if those things did happen, just notice how you're arguing with reality with thoughts like these:

- The baby should have had a longer life.
- The baby should not have been killed.
- The baby should not have died.
- That baby was supposed to live a longer life.
- Babies should not be killed.
- Babies do not belong in microwaves.

- She should not have microwaved her baby.
- She killed her baby.
- Mothers should not kill their children.

Take it slow - just one thought at a time. Rest into your inquiry as you go. Let it hold you.

Hi RM,

Thank you for posting this news story headline - so my first couple of instincts on reading your comment were:

1. Just do the work on it - write out a worksheet and see what comes up
2. Imagining just how bad someone's world has to feel to microwave their baby.

Then, when I went and looked this news story up, I see that this mother was convicted, but has not admitted to it - her attorney said that she was as stunned and horrified as anyone else - so where that takes me is 'She microwaved her baby' - is that true?

Thank you for sharing this - you've helped me to really look at what I see as good and bad without questioning it.

With love,

Jon x

I love the Work and generally it "works" very nicely for me.

One of today's news headlines is "Mom microwaves 3 week baby". How can something like that be good, perfect etc? I have a hard time doing the Work on (evil) stuff like that. Would appreciate any pointers. Thanks.

William Where my mind goes with the statement about consequences is this...(and I wasn't at the event with Katie to hear the discussion around it)

Let's say I'm a waitress and I call in sick for work. As a result of me calling in sick for work, I will not get paid for that day and my boss may fire me.

If I don't question my stories, not getting paid that day could feel like a consequence. It sees the cause/effect relationship as a bad thing. "Not making money is a bad thing."

And if my boss were to fire me for not coming in to work, the mind might see that as a bad thing too.

But if I'm questioning my mind, where is the room for consequences? There's only great if this happens...and great if this doesn't happen.

I don't make money that day. Great!
I get fired. Great!

There's no consequence. Only one thing after the other that is for my best interest.

So yeah, consequences exist only for those who don't question their minds in that only if I'm not questioning my mind do I even see a consequence in the first place.

Thanks for bringing this one up. It's good stuff to look at for sure. :-)

I used to think I could walk into a room and sense how everyone was feeling.

I used to think I was shy because I was overly sensitive.

I used to think that rejection was my greatest fear.

The work is so amazing, so easy and so efficient. Today I am freer than I was yesterday, and yesterday I felt pretty free. Thank-you Katie.

My dear Katie...

So I got back from The School, and went into this very personal, withdrawn process, it was almost like grieving, until the 11th. And then I had a dream and I woke up and soon experienced this most amazing clarity. There was no duality - only one thing. Even "Thing" is probably not quite necessary. There was only One. I experienced NO separation. Only 8 months ago, I was practically housebound to one room, on drugs, and had been completely disconnected from anything spiritual for years and years. Near death, Angry, Bitter. I went to treatment where I was given hours and hours of Eckhart, then I found the Work and The School. Now suddenly ancient teachings are available to me, they just arise (that's the only way i know to say it) And it seems I can see clearly what is truth, and what is not quite truth, but close, and what is not truth.

I see no separation between this and that. And more is revealed every moment. Although i am aware of calendar time I also seem to be experiencing a different kind of time, and I could go on and on. Astonishing! It's like I died. and remembered myself. And I can only fall at the feet of everything!

Katie, i thought i was just going to the school to do a little work on my addictions. I was right. And there was more. I see us so clearly at times it brings tears.

I love you.

Lisa

PS: and with no effort the work is moving into my community. The POP resource is wonderful. Thanks to all for the efforts in giving us the tools to give this Work to others. I am clear that is what I am hear to do.

I love this post! It reminds me of the work I did at the school last month where I transformed one of my most difficult "past" stories into a news report (edited lovingly by Inquiry so that only what REALLY happened remained) was incredibly impactful. Yesterday, in my house, was this headline:

DOGS LEFT IN HOME UNATTENDED. RUGS DAMAGED. HOMEOWNER LEARNED HOW TO USE NEW CARPET MACHINE.

No stress. Even the smallest things I once used to "strike" terror in myself. Now? ..... Laughter! I am quite the little reporter now.

Love To All

Lisa

Katie, at the November 11 workshop, you said, "Consequences exist only for those who do not question their thoughts." You also said, "If you have a goal and it's not yet fulfilled, you've been spared." For some reason, both these statements resonated with me, and at the same time I don't understand them. They also seem closely related. Could you say some more about this Katie?