Posted by Brian C. on June 28, 1999 at 20:05:14:
In Reply to: Need more practical, less theory posted by Cecil on June 28, 1999 at 19:05:08:
I studied the Enneagram and realized that a motivation was underlying
my behavior. My preferred way of paying attention led me to the same
consequences repeatedly. I realized that doing the same thing repeatedly
and expecting different results was crazy. With that realization came a
choice previously un-noticed; I was responsible for my life's outcomes
up to a point. By situationally using Head, Heart, Gut energies in more
appropriate ways, behavior and consequences changed. But, for me, it requires
discipline. I have to let go of laziness. Some others have to let go of
special, power, security, knowing, fun, helping, rectitude, success.
Whoops, I am still an anger type, a transcendent anger type, but an anger
type. The anger no longer festers within because (head, heart, gut) I
am aware of it. People no longer see me as "peaceful" eclusively. They see me
as a person with wants, opinions, desires and oddly eccentric. Some of the
people's needs, wants, opinions Conflict with mine. Thanks to Gurdjieff,
I can accept that a peaceful life of non-conflict is an ideal, not a reality.
I live in reality, so, some conflict is inevitable.
That little vignette is the same, but different, for all of us. Head, Heart,
gut. Use 'em or abuse 'em. The Enneagram shows how. Thank you very much.