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For example, in Hypsoconsciousness by John Baines, a book of consciousness-developing exercises,
author describes a consciousness building exercise where
individual moves very slowly and carefully, in a relaxed manner, mentally concentrating on
movement. Any physical movement (such as writing or walking) works and is performed at an exaggeratingly slow pace for five to ten minutes, and sometimes more. After practicing this exercise, you should feel an increase in vitality, presence, and greater mental clarity. Try this exercise when you feel fatigued, and see how it makes you feel.
Take life as a Challenge
When life is taken as a healthy challenge, difficulties seem more like an engaging game; it becomes more intense, joyful, and real. To spend most of our lifetime fearfully avoiding problems ultimately doesn’t work, because fear contaminates our every act, and in
end, we have to deal with even more problems. Things take a different color when we accept difficulties as normal, patiently work through them, and don’t assign so much negative emotional weight to them. This takes development of
will.
Try this suggestion: Set one small goal for yourself this week. For example, if you hate washing dishes, set yourself
challenge of washing
dishes with a light, cheery attitude for
entire week. If you tend to be shy around people, go to a party with
specific aim of chatting comfortably with a few strangers. Whether you succeed or not, if you take
right attitude with this exercise, you will see yourself and your possibilities differently. Remember to take small steps - making
challenge too difficult or too easy defeats
purpose.
Seeing
Big Picture
Have you ever been positively influenced by a person who had some quality you admired? Sometimes just one well balanced and positive person can affect a great number of people just by
way he or she “is”. It’s been said: “If you want to change
world, start with yourself.” Though it’s tough to accept at first, each of us who is concerned about
world can make a contribution with our own development, with our own growth. The most potent tool each person has for attaining genuine happiness is his or her potential for self development, and
greater
number of people who work on themselves,
greater
effect on
world.

Junod Etienne is a Seminar Presenter at the Institute for Hermetic Philosophy in New York. The ideas and exercises in this article originate from the Teachings of philosopher and author Dario Salas Sommer, who writes under the pen name John Baines. For more information about the Institute visit www.ihpny.org or write to seminars@ihpny.org.