CONTENTS
Resisting logic, but what is the alternative?
The role of encouragement and of emotions
Making the choice
But wait a minute!
It is the deciding difference for a better life
Forms to follow, to use
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RESISTING LOGIC, BUT WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?
Sometimes, we as humans tend to think not so positively of "being logical", as that can seem cold and "not loving". But, I think, if it is used to achieve something that adds to our happiness, then it is simply a neutral means to achieve something good.
And, it appears to be the only way to unravel an illogical conclusion and the gathering of evidence around that.
If one does not take the illogical conclusion and identify it is something that is not working, then how can we progress? Surely we don't want to keep operating from the illogical conclusion and keeping doing the harm and/or wasting our energy by not operating at a higher level. (Of course, we'll always be wasting a part of our lives, as we are only human, but why waste more than is necessary!?!)
THE ROLE OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND OF EMOTIONS
And I don't intend to diminish the importance of the inspiration from an encouraging statement like "I know you will do it" with respect to a challenging situation to overcome in life. I think that both are positive and contributing and that we should utilize both if necesssary to reach our goals.
Yes, we are "emotional beings". That's true, but it is not determinate, not fixed that emotion rules us, as we clearly can choose rationally at times in order to get better results. As we grow up, we learn to accept short term anxiety in order to achieve better results long term - and life gets better because of that.
AND... I think that encouraging statements by themselves do not "complete the loop", they do not serve us for getting the level of results that we get from the completion process. However, a person may benefit from encouragement in order to finish the process (have the psychological energy to do that). We need to "finish off" the conversion of an illogical conclusion over to a beneficial, true conclusion so that our lives will not repeat the same not-useful process over and over again. (This is what the Beliefs section covers.)
As stated elsewhere in other sections: "What you do not complete, you are doomed to repeat!"
MAKING THE CHOICE
So, the choice is between two alternatives:
1. Keep what you have and keep repeating the process with the same results
or
2. Use logic and put forth enough effort to complete the process to a new conclusion that works better for life - with different results that are the ones we actually want.
Which do you choose? ____ #1 or ____ #2
BUT WAIT A MINUTE!
What about intuition and divine inspiration?
Well, I can't prove things one way or the other on divine inspiration, but I think it comes from the operation of our brain (though it is possible that we can pick it up a little bit from "waves" in the air).
As for intuition, it should be utilized but may not be reliable. Read Intuition.
IT IS THE DECIDING DIFFERENCE FOR A BETTER LIFE
Byron Katie was totally engulfed in depression for years, until one sudden moment when she discovered the root to living another way. She simply started using her logic by asking the question "is it true?"
And then she was never depressed another day in her life. She simply started on the road to using logic and not getting off the road, never giving up before reaching the goal of getting to where her conclusions met the test of "is it true?"
Using logic and reason is the only and the best way to create what you want.
And the "truth test" is an essential in that process. If it doesn't meet the truth test it has some flaw in the reasoning and/or assumptions.
AN EXAMPLE OF USING THE TRUTH TEST
In the piece entitled Justifications, Reasons, Excuses "Be Gone!", notice how the illogic of supporting "defending what doesn't work" is destroyed by what Wayne Dyer did in the CD Barbara was listening to. The "truth test" is used in that process.
FORMS TO FOLLOW, USE
Often the process of logic needs to be systematized in order to maximize the most effective use of it. So, when we say to "follow" the form, we mean that it will guide you in the steps in a much more logical format than you might come up with in the moment.
How to get people to use these is another (difficult) question, as people tend to prefer to drift or to have resistance to using a form. Also, they lose track of where the form is or what to do. As we beef up the "instant reference" section What To Do When... , it'll include a place to go to find these things quicker and hopefully better.
Notes on what to add later:
absolutes
