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Anyone seeking to progress from their own
imperfect state to developing promising qualities - with Jesus as a standard and help -
(compare the page "...ethics"),
may first
become conscious of their own weak points, mistakes and the lapses they have made,
instead of projecting their own bad moods, problems and harm onto others (compare
Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you
pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you
get. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice
the log that is in your own eye?..."). Afterwards,
you may work on that "speck" of someone else as well = how you
suffered.
One notes it down, either mentally or on paper, and seek to improve as soon as possible, quietly (cf. our main text, chapter
"the silence in the dessert"), and carefully like manufacturing something. If one has some success, one
should take note of it. Our own
efforts are called for in this case - maybe with the help of a related
prayer, and according to one's faith
God's help may come. However, if done seriously, one will look at attitudes,
thoughts and emotions, and finally change one's behaviour too. It is easier to first search for a component of a problem, and then to pray for its
solution... (Cf. the chapter "The holy
zeal, and viewpoints concerning emotions")
It is difficult to change the "habits of a lifetime", but it is possible, if
one is able to find out more and more of their unconscious parts. Nevertheless,
in certain cases success may come immediately. Compare the successful
decision of a smoker to stop smoking now for good. (Cf. the chapter "The transfiguration of
Christ").
This practice of "looking at what happened and consciously digesting with
prayer" could already be a spiritual path that helps us to progress greatly,
and can accompany us through our whole lives. However, with intensive practice at least
some important changes may occur soon. "Deeper layers" of these
problems may still become apparent to us, although there is already some
improvement.
It is then possible to take
care of the other person’s "speck" or what has been done to someone.
In cases where a judgment seems to be necessary – in regard to one’s own
actions, or those of someone else – this shouldn’t be undertaken based on
appearances but in a "right"/ "just"manner – that is, in a
differentiated way and as constructively as possible (Cf. John 7:24).
This leads to a more
loving and wise orientation. So one is no longer one's own obstacle on the path.
On this path, Jesus can also serve as a compass that allows us to find a new
balance beyond the one-sided "wrong tracks": (See the Table
of the final chapter of the main text: "A Christian attitude - in the
world, but not of the world", cf. John 17.).
- Impulses will come from one's own conscience too... (Matthew 5,5 and
5,9).
(This practice is
mainly meant for people whose problems could be evaluated as "normal"
by psychologists. If one wants to improve traits of one's own´personality, which are
looked at as "ill" to a certain degree, it is all the more necessary
to get assistance from an experienced, possibly also psychologically trained person -
because he or she has even less self control than "normal" people when
it comes to looking at their own problems. If this ability were so limited
that they could not do this in spite of some help, it would still be possible
for the person helping to pray for the person concerned, complementary to an adequate
therapy. The "prerequisite" is to seek help: Jesus himself is known to
have used the important question "Do you want to get well?" Cf. our page
"...Healing".)
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