20. Cognitive Endgame:
I learned this technique from Dr. Christopher S. Hyatt at the Descendance: The Clear Observer workshop in Arizona in June of 2007. It keeps coming to mind as a powerful example of using the awesome power of the cognitive brain to shut down and deconstruct patterns of inauthenticity, human game playing, manipulation, and simply feeling bad.
The End Game technique is useful in moments when there is no time to duck out and stretch your face or take a break to get a handle on things. This is an emergency technique you can use anywhere, anytime. Take a deep breath, and let’s begin.
In the beginning, you may want to try this technique on something minor until you get the hang of it enough to know how to let go of more major games in your life. Just because you let something go does not mean that everyone around you will do the same. Let the chips fall where they may, but be prepared to face organic reality at every turn…
If you would like this kind of solid support while making changes in your life, as well as a bunch of dynamic techniques to aid you in your journey, contact me by clicking here to schedule an introductory session.
END GAME:
Step 1. Recognize your reaction or experience as a repeat of something you have done before.
Step 2. Ask yourself, “How many times have I done this before in similar situations?”
Step 3. Use the cognitive brain to END the game NOW by making a solid decision to end the game when it is wasting time and energy.
Step 4. Let it go for real this time.
Step 5. Proceed in authenticity. Do what you really want and accept your results.
Decide to only play games you want to play. Play them deliberately and not by default. Know when you are playing games and when they are being played around and with you. Now, I do not necessarily mean board or video games here. I mean real life Role Playing Games. Identify some of your own and leave a comment to that effect.
Just today I used the End Game technique to stop lying to myself about some of my personal relationships. There were subtle manipulations and fears I had allowed to dominate and control my mind and my actions. I made note of the hundreds of times in the past I had played that same game, over and over. Next, I consciously decided to STOP playing the game, once and for all. I then phoned the people involved and came clean about my former game playing and made known the truth of my situation and my desires.
This produced the results:
1. Bringing me into much closer touch with myself
2. Bringing me into deeper intimacy with a close personal friend.
3. Made me feel instantly lighter and better.
4. Brought me to tears over how difficult it had once been to be authentic, and how suddenly easy it became.
How about you?
21. Fists of Fury:
This simple exercise will allow you to detense, and thus access the massive power available, in your arms and hands. It provides an added benefit of stimulating the large portions of the brain dedicated to the hands. More on that later.
Take a few deep breaths. After a complete exhale, make fists as tight as you can without hurting yourself. Do so for the duration of a full inhale. Say, “Ah” and exhale fully while opening the hands as wide as you can. Repeat with the breath. Repeat for 3 or more minutes.
After you have finished with 3 or more minutes of opening and closing the fists in synch with your breathing, find a bed or thick, soft pillows. Either lay down, stand, or kneel next to the bed. Take a deep breath in. Give a loud shout as you punch your fists hard on the mattress or large pillow. Take another breath in and repeat. Do for 3-4 minutes.
Take a few moments to sense and feel your body after you have completed the exercise.
I will again remind you that after doing each of the exercises I have provided in this blog, you will know intuitively how to construct a daily routine for yourself. You can also create a whole weekend around working with yourself in these ways. It can be fun and/or disturbing to work with a partner….;)
22. Backwards Walking.
This one is extremely simple, and yet, the results can be profound. You will know what the results are when you do it for yourself long enough to find out. Are you starting to recognize a pattern here? You will have to conduct your own experiments to get your own results. All else is a variation on the theme of entertainment!
Walk backwards. Challenge yourself to do it for longer and longer walks. Watch the reactions you get from other people. I was surprised to find that most people did not respond at all. Others asked why I was doing it. Yet others sneered. Hilarious!
You can also try backwards jumping rope and backwards running. Master the walking first.
Check out this short video for an example:
That was shot in Carlsbad, CA with a tiny little Hello Kitty digital camera. I was indeed walking backwards, as evidenced by my big smile.
-Garrett
“cognitive end game” was just what the doctor ordered – once again, a massive thank you for these articles!