Greetings All –
Step 29 - I will observe
myself today to learn of Knowledge. (MP3)
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folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
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| I will observe myself today to learn of Knowledge. Step 29 |
ON THIS SPECIAL DAY OF PRACTICE,
observe yourself throughout the day, maintaining awareness of your thoughts and
behavior as much as possible. To develop this quality of self-observation, you
must be as free of judgment as possible, for judgment disables you from being
observant. You must study yourself as if you were someone else with whom you
can be far more objective.
WE SHALL PRACTICE ON THE HOUR TODAY.
Each hour you will need to check in to see your thoughts and to observe your
current behavior. This constant self-checking will enable you to become far
more involved in your current experience and will allow your Knowledge to
exercise its beneficial influence upon you to a far greater degree. Knowledge
knows what you need and knows how to serve you, but you must learn how to
receive. In time, you must learn how to give as well so that you may receive
more. Your receiving is important because it enables you to give, and giving is
the essence of fulfillment in this world. But you cannot give from an
impoverished state. Therefore, your giving must be genuine, born of the
overflowing receptivity that you have cultivated within yourself, within your
relationships with others and with life.
EACH PRACTICE PERIOD NEED ONLY TAKE
SEVERAL MINUTES but should be given your full attention. You need not close
your eyes to do this, though if it is appropriate, it will be helpful. You may
practice in the middle of a conversation with another. In fact, there are very
few circumstances that will prevent this moment of introspection. In practice
you simply ask yourself, “How do I feel?” and “What am I doing now?” That is
all. Then feel if there is something you must do that you are not doing. If
there are no corrections to be made, continue on with what you are doing. If
there are corrections to be made, make them as expediently as possible. Allow
your inner guidance to influence you, which it will do if you are not governed
by impulses, fear or ambition. Observe yourself this day.
PRACTICE 29: Hourly practice.
This is the first practice that is done on the hour - an
hourly practice. This will become a common practice. Being aware on the hour
takes some doing. A chime on your watch, phone or computer can help. You might
want to do this first one without any assistance just to see how it goes.
Picture: People
doing daily food shopping, perhaps observing themselves ~ Leuven, Belgium –
April 4, 2009
Yesterday: Step
28 - Review
Step 22: I
am surrounded by the Teachers of God.
Step 23: I
am loved, surrounded and supported by the Teachers of God.
Step 24: I
am worthy of God's love.
Step 25: I
am at one with the greatest truth of life.
Step 26: My
errors give birth to my Knowledge.
Step 27: I
have a Wisdom that I wish to discover.
The review this time was quite important, as the prayer
it begins with had one phrase jump out at me: "I
accept the miracles of my life as a demonstration of the presence of
Knowledge."
From the Journal:
5:40 p.m. Aug 14 - Start S2K - Review - The focus and
exercises have helped me. I become even smaller and more humble in the world.
Every interaction is subject to error and likewise learning. I'm getting caught
up a little at work with this focus.
In my past I do not find huge, big, ugly errors. Staying
with M.E. - even that marriage has led to growth - and the children. Even
though I would have loved bright - college bound kids, I've learned much more
through David, Sarah and separation, divorce, single-parenting, special ed, and
being open to help those young minds grow.
Early on my radar for problems
has helped me avoid things and situations that were harmful. This my risk
management view.
In reality, this was the
first cut on this issue. I sound way more together than I actually was.
In my review today,
January 28, 2015, one sentence in Step 26 stood out: “USE THESE PRACTICE PERIODS for this introspective
process and when you are done, do not speak of the results to any other person,
but allow the investigation to continue naturally, as it naturally will.”
Beginning students, you are advised to keep to your own
thoughts. This direction is given in other parts of the New Message. The
journey is personal. Yes, I’m sharing my experience, after 15 years. The
message, “Being
Alone,” may be helpful in this regard. More is available to students today,
but without having done Steps, it can overwhelm you. The goal is experience,
not command of some written words.
So, let us observe ourselves - Step 29. That will be fun.
NNC
Journal
2nd Time Step 28. This is for those who have completed Steps once. Doing Steps
with only the texts, messages and your life experience, including what you may
have studied and practiced is your journey. I’m showing my first year Step
comments after the Step, so as not to influence you in advance. It is a
wilderness trek to be left to your own wits, but then you can also listen more
closely for guides, angels and teachers, always first saying: “I surround and
protect myself with the Love and the Grace of God.” Thankfully, I was taught
this practice in 1989.
P.S. If you’ve some interest due to this or other
Steps, you should go to the beginning blog post. From here you will learn about Steps to Knowledge
and can begin it on the day that makes sense; then progress as needed. You can
use the posts on this blog as a companion if it helps. They will remain in
order in the archives - one post per Step.
Often it takes 18 months to get through the Steps
once. For this blog, the pace is one-a-day, but it really makes no difference
how fast you do it, only that you begin, persist and repeat. Posts here provide
a trail that may let you have a virtual companion when and if you want one. One
may have to study alone, as I did in the beginning. There are other Steps
students blogging their experience and you might find a person more like you as
a companion, or use a number of such Steps journeys. There are options as well
through the Free School of the New Message.
