The Tools, Phil Stutz & Barry Michels

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Substrat: tools require energy at outset & increase energy in long run
- past has memories, emotions, insights but relief happens in present
- individual problems drive a person's exploration & evolution; evolutionary demand to change society while changing oneself
- humans possess higher forces that can be activated; change agent not therapist/coach/... but higher forces patient evokes
- we lost sense we're on same team & have duty to sth higher than ourselves
reality: pain, uncertainty, constant work; pain relative to reaction to it; commitment endless painful actions; healthy spirit unafraid of change/future
central task of adult: find purpose; fantasy: "after success life is effort-free"
- insecurities make people hard to work with (competitive, jealous, ...)
- if you can't control mind, spiritually immature; real power no need to prove anything
- we look for peace of mind in wrong places; most ads: buy this & you're accepted
- consumers make up for laziness by gorging on new information; collecting experiences can be consumerism, too
Force of Forward Motion (life force); accept pain & commit to moving forward
- Reversal of Desire (tool; stop avoiding): 1) focus on cloud of pain around situation; 2) scream silently "BRING IT ON!", feel desire for pain; 3) scream silently "I LOVE PAIN!" & move into cloud; 4) feel cloud spit you out while you say silently "PAIN SETS ME FREE!", feel propelled into light
The Maze: so trapped in hurt/anger can't move on; deeper you enter, harder escape; if you let go of hurt, life could go on immediately; trapped because belief "world should treat me fairly"; in maze, you need sth from person who wronged you (dependence)
- generate Outflow to exit maze: love independent of reaction; outflow own reward (you move on); inner state change doesn't require change of external action; active love (tool; embrace injustice): 1) concentration: feel surrounded by loving light, become one with light & concentrate it; 2) transmission: send love to person's solar plexus & feel it enter; 3) penetration: relax & feel surrounded by love again
The Shadow: 2nd self we're ashamed of (try to hide it); visit situation that caused panic, give feelings face & body; always with us; evolves
- Force of Self-Expression (life force): reveal yourself without caring for other opinions
  - Inner Authority (tool): 1) see shadow (practice it); 2) ignore audience & build bond with shadow; 3) silently command with one voice "LISTEN!"
- learn to work with shadow, not become him; if partnership falls apart, unbalanced life (weakness, inferiority, depression vs. craving for approval)
Black Cloud: incessant worrying creates negative energy like cloud; sunshine invisible under cloud; no peace of mind; survival that nobody sees (distrust & loneliness); close eyes, re-create worry, focus on inner state of thoughts: what does it feel like?
- The Source (life force): omnipresent all-giving power; **events in life where source makes itself known so powerfully we feel grateful without effort
  - Grateful Flow (tool; interrupt negative thinking): 1) pick ~5 things grateful for & slowly say them silently; 2) once finished, notice your heart pouring out gratefulness; 3) feel chest open & approach of overwhelming presence
- peace of mind requires constant work; perspective helps manage disappointments
people stop tools because success made them think not necessary anymore; tools temporarily repair connection to higher forces
- Jeopardy (tool; create willpower): fear-based situation triggers burst of energy (sense of urgency); 1) see yourself on deathbed; 2) older self screams not to waste present moment; 3) feel hidden fear you squander life; 4) feel urge to act
AA was developed bottom-up by alcoholics; AA elevates experience over belief
many males hide behind facade: "life under control", "need nothing from others"
don't argue with inner critic, turn it off
nothing is more pathetic than knowing what needs to be done and not doing it
universe doesn't reward you like trained seal; values internals (humans externals)