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Get your own Free Home PageI took a look at it as a favor for my friend. I found out it did come with an operating manual, but the manual was stored on the computer's hard drive. You had to know how to operate the computer before you could look at the operating manual!
That's the way life is. We all have an operating manual, but we have to know how to find it -- deep inside ourselves.
Other people have tried to remedy the situation by publishing their own operating manuals for life: religious books, political treatises, philosophical tomes, and psychological how-to manuals.
What worked for Plato or Siddhartha or the Apostle Paul or Confucius more than two thousand years ago, however, isn't likely to be useful to me today.
I have spent my life reading "operating manuals" for life. All of them apparently "worked" for the people who wrote them, but none of them really "worked" for me.
The pages that follow are not an operating manual for life.
They are a guide for writing your own operating manual.
Based on my many years as a minister and counselor, this guide is designed to help you write your own theology, your own psychology, your own philosophy.
The only guide available to each of us is the one we write ourselves.
BOOK TWO -- LIFE AND HAPPINESS
14. Things always work out for the best... Whether we want them to or not!
15. Happiness is a process of mind over matter: If you don't mind...It doesn't matter.
16. The only person who knows what's right for you... Is you
17. You are the only one who has the right to judge you
18. Since no one has the right to make decisions for you... You are totally responsible for making all your own decisions yourself
19. The past and future don't exist. They are merely fantasies
20. Only the present is real.
21. Planning for the future is a present activity
22. We are all time travelers.
23. The past is always open to revision
24. The father and mother inside your mind... Are both really you in disguise.
25. Since you can control your own thoughts... You can also alter your memories.
26. You can't change what happened to you in the past. Only the way you choose to think about it
BOOK THREE -- LIFE AND IDENTITY
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27. Why strive for perfection? You are already perfect!.
28. But even perfect people don't always have all the information they need all the time
29. We create our world through information. By defining things, we give form and substance to reality.
30. Be careful how you define yourself
31. When you talk about yourself, Use only those words for you ... That you want to apply to you
32. You need to become your own hero.
33. Don't model yourself on someone else. Create your own being from scratch.
34. Always choose for today. Don't make choices for your tomorrow.
35. The person you will be tomorrow Is not the same person you are today.
36. Don't compare your insides (Fears, doubts, etc.) With other people's outsides. (Appearances)
37. You create your own identity (Like you create your world) By the choices you make.
38. Surround yourself with positive people, Those who like and respect you.
39. Avoid negative folk. If necessary, change your friends. You can even change your family if need be!
BOOK FOUR -- LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITY
40. Guilt is a waste of time.
41. Guilt is nothing but resentment.
42. Anger and fear are your body's natural response to outside threat.
43. Anger and fear are the same emotion. A response to threat. The only difference is how you choose to react to the threat
44. Anger is that state of mind when you decide to defend yourself
45. Fear is that state of mind where you try to escape from the threat.
46. There is an alternative to fight or flight: Humans have the ability to talk about it. To others and to themselves.
47. You are never a threat to yourself. (Except in fantasy)
48. When we turn that anger in on ourselves, We become depressed
49. You are only responsible for the things you can control
50. The only things you can control are: Everything you do ... Everything you feel ...
In the present time ... In the present place ...
51. This means, of course, that you are totally responsible for everything you do, In the here and now.
52. You are responsible for creating Loving relationships in your life
BOOK FIVE -- LIFE AND LOVE
53. Love is mutual affirmation. Two-way respect and consideration. Love is two people living a conversation
54. There are four stages of love: Hi. I like you. I love you. I am in love with you.
55. Be kind to strangers. They can give you love. Just by saying "Hi."
56. Treasure your friends. They can give you love. Just by liking you
57. Make time in your life for close friends. Those who share your deepest feelings. They give you love -- because they love you
58. A loving and committed relationship... Is something most people spend their lives looking for. Most people aren't willing to pay the price required.
59. Marriage is only a legal contract, Not a relationship.
60. Really! It isn't really love if they don't love you back
61. And it isn't love... If you don't love them back.
62. Rape is a power issue. And has nothing to do with love.
63. Jealousy is a property issue... And has nothing to do with love
64. Don't take yourself so seriously!
65. It's true. Lovers really do live longer.
BOOK SIX -- LIFE AND HEALTH
66. Body and mind are one.
67. If you want to be well, Learn to listen to what your body says
68. You think with every cell in your body
69. Think sick and you'll be sick
70. Germs don't cause disease
71. If you want to be healthy, Learn to relax.
72. What you think and how you feel control the production of brain and body chemicals.
73. Be wary about taking any mind-altering chemical
74. Don't take any medication unless you really need it
75. Look to nature for most of your medicines
76. Learn to be gentle with yourself.
77. Learn to treat your body with respect
78. You are your body.
BOOK SEVEN -- LIFE AND SOCIETY
79. As long as you cause no harm, You are free to do whatever you wish
80. The requirement that we do no harm Applies to other people, other living creatures, Even inanimate things, And you yourself
81. The universe operates on balances. Life is a balancing act
82. Everything in the universe is connected. Everything.
83. Everything in the universe is alive. Everything.
84. Every action you take -- No matter how small -- Has an effect on your world
85. Judge every action by: Is this how I want my world to be?
86. If you would live in an honest world... Act honestly in your world.
87. If you want a better world for your children, Create that world through your own actions
88. Life isn't supposed to be fair. It just is..
89. Yet the things we do will come back to us, Eventually..
90. There is a statute of limitations on guilt. After a child turns 18, the parents are no longer responsible!
91. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to all of creation