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Peter

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Self-help: Using Daily Contemplation exercise to improve coping skills
by Peter. A. Hausamann (2005)

The Objective
is to help yourself gain more insight into your life, and in turn develop better coping skills. Each quotation represents one daily contemplation exercise. If a quotation troubles you, don't worry able it, let go of it. Leave the next quotation for the next day.

Contemplation implies a definite focusing of one’s thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply.

The Method is to include this contemplation into your daily quiet time. All that is suggested is to first settle down and be relaxed, slow down your thoughts for a while. Let your thoughts come and go. Become aware of the ‘here and now’. When you feel relaxed, read only one quotation and just think about it for 3-5 minutes. Your mind may have preconceived ideas of what these quotes mean. Acknowledge them, and then let them go. Eventually, and usually after a quiet period, your mind will reveal even deeper meanings (revelations). The longer you contemplate on the quotation, the deeper you will go - to its core truth.

Some people, just before contemplating, use slow meaningful ‘self-talk’ to assist them to be more willing and open-minded. For example: “I am relaxed and calm – my mind is open to revelations”.

Here is a list of daily quotes to ponder on:

1. Let independence begin with me.
2. A goal without a plan is only a dream.
3. To be responsible is to be able to respond.
4. I am responsible for my improvement.
5. Improvement is common sense.
6. It works if I work it.
7. All is subjective.
8. All there really is - is my thoughts (about people, places, things, and situations).
9. Fear is being afraid of my own thoughts.
10. It isn’t necessarily so.
11. The greatest con is self-con.
12. My focus determines my reality.
13. I will see it when I believe it.
14. I become what I think.
15. Nobody can make me upset unless I choose to.
16. I am miserable because I won’t do something about it.
17. I am as happy as I make up my mind to be.
18. What is me, changes.
19. Worst days – best days.
20. It will pass.
21. It gets better.
22. Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
23. I am okay.
24. Easy does it, but do it.
25. Improvement is a process, not an achievement.
26. One day at a time.
27. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, all there really is – is today, now.
28. Just for today.
29. Keep it simple.
30. Doing – is going with a decision, trying – is struggling with indecision.
31. To believe – is trying to make something more real, more obvious.
32. What is obvious to a person is clear and plain – there’s no need for belief.
33. Reality IS.
34. The shortcut to serenity is acceptance.
35. Acceptance leads to gratitude.
36. Serenity is having an attitude of gratitude.
37. Acceptance is the answer to all my problems.
38. Live and let live.
39. Learn to listen, and listen to learn.
40. H.O.W. of improvement – (Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness).
41. First things first.
42. Keep an open mind.
43. Give in to win.
44. We are only as sick as our secrets.
45. Those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
46. Progress, not perfection.
47. With improvement, all my needs will be met (not my wants).
48. Am I willing to go to any lengths to improve?
49. Compromise – the thin edge of the wedge.
50. It took the time it took.
51. How important is it?
52. Count your blessings.
53. Improvement is a 24 hour program.
54. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity – am I prepared?
55. Same way – same result.
56. If nothing changes – nothing changes.
57. Don’t expect too much too soon.
58. Fear is the darkroom where all the negatives are developed.
59. Resentments can lead me to relapse into my old ways.
60. Impulsiveness – the all or nothing attitude.
61. Perfectionism – “If I can’t do it right, I won’t do it at all”.
62. Good enough is good enough.
63. Action speaks loader than words.
64. Procrastination – is a lack of faith.
65. Seven days without a supportive connection makes one weak.
66. Spiritual experiences lead to spiritual awakening.

If you have done the above – “Well done”! Try the following, even deeper, daily contemplations:

67. I have a body.
68. My mind is not my body.
69. I have an ego.
70. My ego is a self-fabrication – a story about me.
71. My ego knows it is not valid – just a story, a delusion.
72. My ego fears its truth.
73. My ego struggles to prove its validity.
74. My ego is not my truth but my fear.
75. Only truth exists, anything else is a delusion.
76. Truth is honest, reliable, unchanging, complete, and fearless.
77. Unconditional love is honest, reliable, unchanging, complete, and fearless.
78. To love is to be truthful. To be truthful is to love.
79. I am a Being.
80. My Being is okay.
81. My Being is complete and needs nothing.
82. My Being knows the truth.
83. My Being is my truth.
84. My Being responds only to what is true.
85. The more my Being responds, the more loving I become.
86. Love, the quiet truth within.

If you decide to repeat this exercise you will find that you will go even deeper than before because you will be reviewing the quotations with a new, deeper, meaningful mind.

It’s an ongoing process, and progress.
 
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