Day 19 Changing who you are

[HPJM]

To what extent is it necessary for a person to change who they are in order to overcome TMS?

Well, you hear of people being cured just after reading, so that rules out any personality change happening other than simple insight. I think all we need is more insight and awareness. Seeing our personality patterns, our emotions, our issues. Journaling is about awareness, not necessarily about changing anything other than your level of mindfulness. It is just breaking that link between the emotions and the physical symptom.

Since starting this program have you done anything that makes you proud? Where does this sense of achievement come from?

I’m very hard on myself, so pride is a rarely felt emotion. Pride in the context of TMS? Sure. I am working out pain free now, and I'm proud of that. The only downside is I’m starting to take it for granted, before TMS, exercise was like a holy grail. So I have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am I found this. And proud for not giving up, and resolving it.

 

[Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)]

Hi, HP JM.

I don't think we have to change. We just have to modify our perfectionist and goodist personalities. Bring them more in line with being average.
Not expecting so much of ourselves or others. Not knocking ourselves out so people like us and approve of us.

I have had more than 40 books published but almost none of my family or friends has read any of them. They seem to not care about me as a writer, but I know they love me as a person. That's okay with me. I'd rather be loved for myself than liked as a writer.