Byron Katie teaches people “The Work.” It’s basically a simple questioning process. You take a statement that is bothering you and “work” on it.
For example, “My boss infuriates me” (which could be “My spouse infuriates me” or “My neighbors infuriate me” or “That blogger infuriates me”) could be the statement you focus on.
You now ask these questions:
“Is it true?”
“Can you absolutely know that it’s true?”
“How do you react when you believe that thought?”
“Who would you be without that thought?”
There’s a bonus technique to do after you answer those questions, too.
You take the original troublesome statement — “My boss infuriates me” — and turn it around, to its opposite: “My boss loves me.” (Correction: The turn around statement would be more personal, such as “I infuriate me.”)
Note how that feels.
This procedure is a powerful way for exploring what troubles you. There are many books and audios by and about Bryron. A good place to start is www.thework.com
While in Canada, I picked up a copy of her book, Question Your Thinking, Change the World. It’s a collection of quotes from Bryon. Here’s one:
“There’s no suffering in the world;
there’s only a story that would lead you to believe it.
There’s no suffering in the world that’s real.”
Chew on that.
Ao Akua,
Joe
www.mrfire.com
PS — My Miracles Coaching program is currently accepting new applicants. See www.miraclescoaching.com
6 Comments
The Work is amazing! I have used it on difficult relationships and seen great results in myself as well as in the tone and quality of those relationships. It is another great key to our own personal powerhouse — the unconscious mind. Thanks Joe!!
The Work of Byron Katie is an amazing tool for breaking through the belief structures of the mind. Katie is a gift to the world and an amazing spirit. What you refer to as appearing as a simple questioning process is actually a series of questions designed to take the mind into deep inquiry into “what is”. Katie’s work is about bringing one to the realization of “what is” versus “what is my story about what is”. As you may be aware, her first book is entitled “Loving What Is”, very appropriate. Loving “what is” sets you free.
You wrote:
“You take the original troublesome statement — “My boss infuriates me” — and turn it around, to its opposite: “My boss loves me.””
Actually the turn around here would not be the statement you give, but instead it would be: “I infuriate me” The truth of What Is that comes to light is that it has nothing at all to do with the boss at all.
Thank you bringing The Work to more people’s awareness. It is profound.
In Joy and Gratitude!
Amy
The four questions above is already powerful enough. I can’t believe there are more.
Amy, thank you! That was an EXCELLENT clarification!
Gratefully
joe
Well, first, thank you Dr. Vitale. I am very grateful to have discovered your teachings. Or is it the other way round ? 🙂
As for the neighbours issue, I am really stuck there, because as far as I am concerned, here are my replies :
“Is it true?”
Definitely yes, they ARE infuriating me (their activities and behavior is but unfuriating to everyone)
“Can you absolutely know that it’s true?”
Well, facts are what they are.
“How do you react when you believe that thought?”
I am unfuriated, especially as no one is obviously willing to help (the town hall, the police,…)
“Who would you be without that thought?”
I am convinced I would much more happy without that reality, and hence the tought of it.
I have tried to to think that I am not unfuriated and the whole point is, well, that I keep being. It is far beyond my capacities to believe that my neighbours love me, either.
I am ready to admit that I have somehow attracted those neighbours. My problem is to make them leave the neighborhood.