Mike’s Journal
DAY 6
DATE: Monday, August 27, 2012
TIME: 10:10 pm
A. OPENING THOUGHTS/OBSERVATIONS:
I continue to reflect more on looking at my world as a dream. My understanding of what forgiveness is continues to deepen. I know that the “Kingdom of Heaven” is already here - we simply choose not to see it. This Kingdom can’t be seen with the eyes but can be known through the wisdom of who we truly are. As I’ve identified Critical Gaps today I realize that to judge these Gaps, or associate a negative emotion to them, is to make these Gaps real. To replace them with a more positive affirmation is to bless them and see them for what they really are - an illusion created by the ego.
B. DREAM ENTRY:
Dreams were about becoming a superhero. Having the ability to become invisible and observe people’s behavior. This ability allowed me to tune into someone’s true motivations and fears. With this ability comes the attributes to truly help someone. Using my superpowers, I was able to teach others to fly which I interpret to mean teaching others how to master one’s emotions in the “real world”. Upon further reflection I know there is no separation of Teacher and Student, we are all part of the Mind of God.
C. On this final day of the “Shadows” phase we will take one last look at the Critical Gap, or that which you perceive stands in the way of you and your intentions.
To do this we will take a four step approach with each physical exercise.
Step 1: Review and Restate each Critical Gap from DAY 3 and once again identify the emotions.
Step 2: Offer new evidence, or a new affirmation, of how to overcome this gap.
Step 3: Identify the emotion the new affirmation provides you with. (Use the list at the beginning of this chapter as a guide.)
Step 4: Repeat/review the original intention and state what it means to you today.
***
The Workout
Focus on ______Chest/Triceps_______________________
1. Exercise 1: ______ ____Bench Press_________________
___4__ Sets of ___10-12___ Reps
After Set 1:
Step 1: Review the Critical Gap/Identify Emotion
Step 1: “What stands in my way of increasing my confidence is being busy all day long. This book not only requires working out but also setting aside time to write these journal entries. By Sets 3 and 4 I realized to overcome this limitation was to take one day at a time and not concern myself with a 30 Day Quest. I chose to workout today. Let tomorrow come but today I’m sticking to this regimen.”(Copied from DAY 3)
Identified Emotion: _____________Apathy________________
After Set 2:
Step 2: Your New Affirmation
“My desire is strong enough to get excited about each workout. I find that my passion is increasing with each day. If I’m unable to journal this every day, I can still catch up and log three or four days in one sitting.”
After Set 3:
Step 3: Identify the New Emotion - _____Willingness, perhaps Joy_______
After Set 4/Between Exercises:
Step 4: What does your intention mean to you today, right now?
“Increased Confidence means easily making the right decision every day to work out to the best of my ability. This is now becoming a habit to feel comfortable and confident. I’m excited that I’ve made it to the 'Helping Hands' chapter which starts tomorrow. There’s confidence in progression and knowing the map.”
2. Exercise 2: ______ _Dumbbell Incline Press_____________
___4__ Sets of ___10-12___ Reps
After Set 1:
Step 1: Review the Critical Gap/Identify Emotion:
“On the first two sets I reflected on what stands in the way of a better spiritual life. Mostly fatigue and a booked schedule. (Though I must say since starting this thirty day regimen my spiritual life has been very alive and well.) My energy is increasing with my follow through of this program. I’m focused on daily follow through as the way to overcome this barrier.”
Identified Emotion: _______Fear/Apathy____________
After Set 2:
Step 2: Your New Affirmation
“Since beginning this Quest I feel that God has been filling me with a passion for the Course in Miracles content. Though I’ve attempted to read the material before and lost interest, I feel this moment is the precise time and place for me to practice these insights while developing my own ‘Spiritual Workout’ material.”
After Set 3:
Step 3: Identify the New Emotion - _______Clarity_______________
After Set 4/Between Exercises:
Step 4: What does your intention mean to you today, right now?
“Today developing a spiritual life means to me that it doesn’t matter whether or not I write this book. I enjoy writing it so I’ll continue to do so until it ceases to be enjoyable. My value is not in this world. That is, my ego can’t give me the satisfaction I seek through money or fame. My value is as infinite as my brother’s, which is the infinite value of being One with Source.”
3. Exercise 3: ______ ____Cable Chest Fly______________
___3__ Sets of ____10-12___ Reps
After Set 1:
Step 1: Review the Critical Gap/Identify Emotion:
“Sets 1 and 2 were focused on how I feel like I’ve never really accomplished the big goals in life. To become a different person in thirty days, a person able to write a useful book about fitness and spirituality, sometimes seems unlikely. By Sets 3 and 4 I reflected how this is merely a 30 day goal for fitness, something I understand, and am committed to. I don’t have to be this great “writer”, I only need to use this program for myself.”
Identified Emotion: ___________Shame___________________
After Set 2:
Step 2: Your New Affirmation
“As stated before, writing this book is not about succeeding on the world stage anymore. As long as I have a good work out, express myself through writing, then I’ve won for the day. My focus is on winning the day.”
After Set 3:
Step 3: Identify the New Emotion - ___Acceptance, Clarity______
After Set 4/Between Exercises:
Step 4: What does your intention mean to you today, right now?
Becoming a different person in 30 days means that I am doing more and thinking less. Actually it seems like I’m “knowing” more and thinking less. This comes back to the concept of “knowing without thinking”. It feels like my understanding and mastery of this concept is heightening.
4. Exercise 4: ______ _____Dips_____________________
___4__ Sets of ____15___ Reps
After Set 1:
Step 1: Review the Critical Gap/Identify Emotion:
“My focus was on becoming more intelligent on Sets 1 and 2. What stands in the way is that I have no idea how you can measure whether or not you’re getting smarter. By Sets 3 and 4 I focused on how the next phase of the “the Quest” will focus on emotion. When we understand our emotions and can manage them, our mind becomes clearer. With a clear mind comes the ability to make better decisions, therefore giving the impression that one is getting 'more intelligent'.”
Identified Emotion: _____________Fear__________________
After Set 2:
Step 2: Your New Affirmation
Yes, emotional mastery does provide heightened clarity. Wisdom comes through giving someone else a guidepost, not a doctrine. Self-knowledge is knowledge and my self-knowledge is heightening through this emotional clarity. I can only provide another person with my personal experience and do not control their reaction or affiliation with the material. There is simple wisdom, or intelligence, in identifying this belief.
After Set 3:
Step 3: Identify the New Emotion - ________Clarity______________
After Set 4/Between Exercises:
Step 4: What does your intention mean to you today, right now?
My mission is to become “more intelligent” in 30 days in order to develop content for a book: Today I believe it’s not a question of becoming smarter but coming back into the awareness of having a clear head. In that way, my intelligence amplifies and matches the situation in which intelligence is needed. It becomes flexible, pliable and fluid with life’s unexpected twists and turns.
5. Exercise 5: ______ ___Triceps Extension with Dumbbells__________
___3__ Sets of ___10-12___ Reps
After Set 1:
Review and Summarize 1st New Affirmation:
Increased Confidence: "I don’t have to do everything today."
After Set 2:
Review and Summarize 2nd New Affirmation:
Deeper Spiritual Life: "My entire life has prepared me for this perfect time to review the Course in Miracles material."
After Set 3:
Review and Summarize 3rd New Affirmation:
Developing Content for a Book: "My focus is only on winning the moment; winning the day."
After Set 4/Between Exercises:
Review and Summarize 4th New Affirmation:
Becoming a "New" Person: "Intelligence is having a clear head in the moment."
6. Exercise 6: ______ ___Rope Triceps Push Down___________
___3__ Sets of ____10-12___ Reps
Review Original Intentions:
1. _____Increase Confidence________________________________________________
2. _____Deepen My Spirituality______________________________________________
3. _____Develop Content for a Book__________________________________________
4. _____Become a New Person in 30 Days_____________________________________
DIET JOURNAL: (log in any foods you consumed for the day)
Blueberry Muffin
Protein Bar
Chicken Salad
Carrots
Crackers
Sliced Turkey Sandwich
Greek Yogurt
Protein Shake
ADDITIONAL JOURNAL ENTRIES:
Click Here to return to Chapter 7.
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