Msg # 5156   
Date: 09 May 94  17:35:00
From: Chris Rensing
  To: Bob Johnstone
Subj: RELAX TO THE MAX
____________________________________________________________________________

 BJ> moment, just accept this, until its proven wrong.
 BJ> [grin]  Let's say, that EVERY experience we have had in
 BJ> life, is nothing more than a learning experience.
 BJ>
 BJ>  But, we have been taught certain types of these
 BJ> experiences are traumatic or terrible.  Because the
 BJ> brain functions like a computer, doing what it is told,
 BJ> due to false programming, it creates bad feelings.  We
 BJ> feel resentment or anger in certain types of memories.
 BJ> Just because we're programed to believe thats what we -
 BJ> must- feel.  Because the brain has been programed to
 BJ> create anger, in these situations, we cant function in

 BJ>  As they begin to change perceptions, their feelings change.  As the
 BJ> feelings change, they are able to use them in
 BJ> beneficial ways.  They stop experiencing the stress or
 BJ> pain associated with them. They stop feeling anger or

 Your whole message here is correct. That is essentially how I got rid of my
depresion. My therapist helped me change my "programing." He taught he new
and more productive ways to see myself and life in general.

But I have been told by more than one therapist that the majority of
theraputic work goes on outside of therapy sessions. And this is true. I
spent a lot of time thinking and writing and praying about my problems. God
often gave me wisdom I didn't have on my own, and the ability to forgive
people who hurt me and realize that they are just doing the best they could.
Much healing has gone on in me. And I now hav more of an ability to live and
let live. Realizing that everyone must live their own lives, and learn their
own lessons, and suffer their own consequences.

Your ideas about self-hypnosis sounds interesting. However, I doubt that they
would have worked on me anymore than positive thinking did. I'm the type that
needs to know "WHY..." regarding the way I thought and felt. And I discovered
that and much more. The idea of self-hypnotism would have never worked for
me, anymore than the idea of just thinking positive ever did.

My old therapis and myself consider me to be mostly neurotic. That means I
can get taken over still by bad thoughts - which are like toxic poison to me.
They make me feel like the sky is falling. This doesn't happen to much to me
anymore, but I must watch out for it. Because such episodes carry a negative
impact of there own that can be very devastating.

However, I congratulate you on your good work in self-hypnosis. If it works -
the one must use it!

Chris

--- Maximus 2.01wb
 * Origin: PSYCHE [Calgary, AB] (1:134/128)

PATH: 134/128 1 10 3615/50 138/103 1 352/3 410
 3