When the Work Doesn’t Seem to Work – Part 2

Despite the short-term evidence that Releasing and Inquiry works, there can be an inevitable disappointment with these methods, because they might not deliver the landmark, life-changing goals that we have been primed to expect. I find that I often seem to have a reluctance to use Releasing and Inquiry; I believe it all comes down to this lack of tangible evidence in the form of life-changing goals. It’s only when I finally get myself to release or inquire, and I experience the familiar and much-needed sense of relief, that I once again become encouraged to continue my efforts with these methods.

I am tempted to feel that the last two years or so of Releasing and Inquiry have yielded no benefit to me at all. But I also feel that this is not quite true: whilst I don’t seem to have fulfilled a single life-changing goal as yet, since I began using Releasing and Inquiry, I cannot deny the fact that there have been some beneficial changes. The changes are rather more subtle than the way-out, amazing, miraculous testimonies that make the latest self-help book so popular.

I admit that I do get frustrated and disappointed quite a lot and I wonder why I bother with Releasing and Inquiry. But when I compare myself now with myself two years ago – there has been a positive change. I seem to be doing a lot better in my job than I used to; I also seem to be a lot more enthusiastic in the workplace too. Whilst I don’t yet have that promotion that I’ve been striving to attain for numerous years – I do feel a lot closer to it now. There are quite a lot of things that I used to worry about in the past which I notice I no longer worry about. In fact, I do seem to be a lot more at peace nowadays than I used to be, although, I do still have regular bouts of anxiety and despondency.

In the past I derived my sense of hope from the fantasies that were established by the extravagant promises of charismatic spiritual leaders. I am now in a place whereby I can see the futility of those fantasies. Now, I would much rather take solace in the tangible reality of the subtle gains which I have made so far. These subtle gains might not be the stuff of popular self-help and motivational books – but at least they are real for me – I know which one I would rather have!

I truly am adamant that the best goal you can ever have is to maintain peace of mind: everything else, I feel, flows from there. You really cannot go further than peace: if you are in a constant state of anxiety, you really cannot achieve much in this life and you are likely to experience one drama after another. Even when you attain peace of mind, there is no guarantee that everything is going to be “plain sailing” from here. However, with peace of mind you know that you are in the best condition you can be in, in order to receive the best that life, God or the Universe has to offer you at this moment in time.

When the Work Doesn’t Seem to Work – Part 1

I would say that after many years of pursuing spiritual development and using various self-help methods, I have to admit that The Work of Byron Katie seems to be the most effective method I have encountered so far.

I have experienced the disappointment that inevitably results when a charismatic, writer, speaker or spiritual leader gives people amazing anecdotes, formulas and principles – which don’t seem to work for me.

Self help methods such as The Work and The Sedona Method take a different approach to the typical affirmation based methods, which promise wealth, power and control over ones life circumstances. Most people come to The Work and The Sedona Method after spending years pursuing popular self-help and spiritual pursuits, which promise the attainment of goals, but do not deliver. There is an inevitable sense of frustration when a person finally comes to the point whereby they realise that these attractive principles and formulas just don’t work. But this point of frustration and disappointment can be a great place to be in that they graduate from wrong motives and ideals. It’s at this point that a person can begin to wholeheartedly and passionately embrace Releasing or Inquiry.

When a person begins to see the value of Releasing or Inquiry, the sense of disappointment that previous spiritual pursuits brought, can give way to a sense of relief as they finally realise the sheer value of making the attainment of peace their only goal.

The great thing about Releasing and Inquiry is that once you grasp the basics, you find that you are able to experience results almost immediately. However, whilst these methods deliver a quick, short-term effect – the more permanent, long term effects are a different thing entirely. It is quite easy to become rather despondent as the same anxieties and wants seem to spring-back at you once you have released them or questioned them.

The long-term effects of Releasing and Inquiry seem to be a lot more subtle than the life-changing goals that many of us were encouraged to pursue, through methods such as The Secret and The Law of Attraction or even Christian Word of Faith. We all want to achieve goals that provide us with visible, tangible feedback that we are loved and we are finally getting something right. We want the promotion and pay-rise at work to validate our hard work spent at the office, factory, shop or wherever. We want the $5000-through-releasing-only to let us know that our efforts with releasing are finally paying-off and to make us feel that bit more secure. We want to see some sort of landmark change in our lives, money, relationships, job-title or whatever, that lets us know that the latest spiritual or self-help method we have put so much time and energy into, actually works.