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Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

Following Your Heart

"The Greatest Prize
for Life's labors isn't
in material possessions
or impressive accomplishments,
but in the progress of personal character.
You labor for your own becoming, this is your richest reward.
Who You Become is your greatest possession,
make it your Masterpiece!"
(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 274) 

You can't really "think" yourself into being happy.
Neither can you chant enough affirmations to change
yourself into a person of higher character.

Cognitive therapies of "mental programming" may alter outward appearances, but "who you are" from the heart remains unchanged. Like ripples that undulate from a pebble cast in a pond, leaving the pond unaltered at its depths, . . . the superficial effects of mind power eventually dissipate & disappear.

It is true that positive attitude and vivid visualizing can raise your bowling score, improve your golf swing, make you a more dazzling dancer, or help you "Go for the Gold," . . . but the same cognitive conjurings cannot increase your character or bring peace to a troubled soul. Using "head" remedies only, even the strongest mental determinations to be a better person will not work.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence,
for out of it are the issues of life"
- Proverbs 4:233

Fundamental change occurs as true principles are loved and lived! The very principles that are not being taught by self-improvement gurus generally, nor by many helping professionals, and particularly not by the purveyors of cognitive psychology — the scientific field that asserts the erroneous notion that the human brain works like a programmable computer.

Why is programming your brain an erroeous idea? Simply solved by a quick question: What brain are you using, to program your brain? Answer: It's the same brain — the lame brain! Therefore Einstein's Mind Bind applies:

"One cannot solve a problem with the same mind-set that created it."
- Albert Einstein 

This means, "you can't change your mind, using a mind that needs changing; and you can't fix a situation, using a mind that needs fixing!" (CYS, p. 175). Instead of trying to talk yourself into Change, using self affirmations and vivid visualizations, freedom from self-defeating habits and Lasting Change requires living true principles from the Heart, there is no other way.

"The only change that matters is a change of heart,
every other change alters us cosmetically but not fundamentally,
modifies how we appear, what we do or what we say,
but does not change who we are."
- C. Terry Warner 

Again, fundamental change occurs as true principles are loved and lived, yet how can YOU possibly love and live principles of truth unless the disposition to do so . . . is in you? Legendary trumpet player Louis Armstrong offered this pithy wisdom:

"If ya ain't got it in ya, . . . ya can't blow it out!"

All thinking and choices flow from Who You Are, your way of being — a way of being which in turn corresponds to the fundamental condition your heart. For example, if a "heart of peace" is not IN YOU, positive and peaceful thoughts, words, and deeds will not flow out!

Thus, in order to love and live the Truth, you need a new Heart that naturally feels a love for Truth. You cannot "think" your way to a New Heart — such is impossible. Having a New Heart is a miracle and gift from the Creator.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh."
- Ezekiel 36:263

Understanding the Heart Metaphor

Although we speak of it as something within, “Heart” is not really something in you, rather it is an activity you are in. — at least, this is the meaning of the Heart metaphor as defined by the Bible.

Self-introspection of the body-self in not something you can actually do; this supposed look "inside" yourself is just a way of talking — words playing tricks again. If you took a literal look “inside,” you will only find a couple of kidneys and a lung or two; hence, personal guidance and fulfillment is not really found inside of you. However, the look “inside” the self as be-ing can literally be accomplished, for it is an examination of your relations, how you are being-with others.

“Heart” is a metaphor that represents your relational harmony with other things and beings — to include beings of spirit. On the Light side of harmony is clear communion with the Creator — and on the dark side sings a sinister harmony, a duet with the devil. This dark duet is the reason and reality behind the words: "hard heart."

So to start with the best questions . . . that will lead to the best solutions, it is best to focus upon the vital communion you are in, this is the meaning of "Heart" — the Harmony and Communion you have with the Creator, . . . or not.

Mortal life means living in a dialogue with all living beings and things: a conversation with people, plants, animals, the earth's physical features, material property and possessions — and permeating every moment of this empirical conversation is the inescapable dialogue with spirit beings of both darkness and Light.

Contrary to common belief, thinking is never really done alone; it’s always done in duet! So when focus is mistakenly given to an individualistic mental monologue, a.k.a., self-talk affirmations or brain programming, three things occur:

       * Focus upon YOU defeats true self-discovery,
       * The Divine Dialogue is disconnected — Your Heart is out of Harmony,.
       * By default, you dance with darkness — You Leave the Light..
          (Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 267).

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Dr Matt's book, "Changing Your Stripes," presents principles for:
Getting out of the ditch in which you've been dumped . . . the difficulties of which you are a Victim
& Getting out of the ditch in which you've jumped . . . the difficulties for which you Volunteer.

"Mastering a challenging situation
is ultimately a matter of.
.mastering yourself!"
- Matt Moody 

"Changing Your Stripes" teaches you the principles that lead to lasting change,
making you a new kind of creature capable of responding
with calm, even as storms of adversity swirl.

If these ideas resonate and ring true,
then, . . . this book is for you!

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through this website

Changing Your Stripes is a
unique reference book that will help
you understand, . . . and solve all of
Life's ever-appearing problems.
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Changing Your Stripes

Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor