Throughout life, we are constantly being confronted with situations that seem extraordinary to most individuals.  Those times in life when we hear about a woman lifting a car off of her child or a man having the ability to saw off his arm to escape certain death.  How is it that these situations just don’t seem feasible to our petty minds?  Why can’t we all harness the energy and mental concentration to do the same?  The answer is that through the correct state of mind, we might have the ability. 

From time to time in our lives (and for some of us an extreme amount of our time), we tend to overlook the important things and not focus on the task at hand.  Our minds are constantly racing as we are planning the next day, worrying about the house payment, or simply stressing over a simple fight with our spouse.  The focus that we lose could be very vital to our success in our everyday endeavors.  The best line used to describe this is “Live in the Moment”.  Don’t let those outside distractions interrupt the task at hand and clearly focus on this.  

Within every one of us, we have the drive for desire or passion towards what is most important to us. However, it is the how difficult the road is that will determine if we are willing to push the pedal or simple put the car in park and get out in the driveway.  We must have the “BURNING” desire within us to obtain the seemingly unreachable feats.  

When we have obtained this obstacle that we want to reach, we must put full focus and concentration into this.  Through the mental state of mind, we will have the ability to start getting our mind the correct mental routine to push ourselves beyond on limits.  The mind is something that controls all aspects of life.  If we are able to have full control over the spectacular piece, how amazing could our lives become?  We would have the ability to control our mood and how we think in every situation.  Truth is, however, most will never obtain this commitment and will never have the ability to reach for the stars.  Without this ability, TRUE happiness and success will always seem out of reach.

Wow, what a statement this title brings about for the fourth part of Radical Honesty.  Things learned from the war between being and mind is a concept that would help all of us in some form or another throughout our quest to better ourselves both inside and outside.  

The first concept we encounter is that of change.  We must be able to deal with this in every fashion of life.  One concept that definitely hits homes during this is to stop trying and start doing.  “I want to lose weight, but I don’t know where to begin.”  This is an inner battle between two such beings within your mind.  Who is the one that wants to and who is the want that doesn’t know where to begin?  It is time to decide and stop trying.  This is the only path to truly encountering a change that is needed within all of us. 

In this process, it is very important to stop just surviving and start being alive.  Without being alive we won’t have the ability to truly live in the moment and experience what life is all about.  It is about accepting us for who we are and not trying to become perfect.  Striving for perfection and wanting to be perfect are two different concepts.  Striving allows us to reach beyond our limits and to continually break through barriers; however, wanting to be perfect will only force us to not accept ourselves and also expect the worst when we cannot “win” at everything. 

Freedom is what we all strive for and only through living in the moment as who we are is the only way to acquire this.  

Finally, Do Yoga it will make you happier LOL.

It is very important for us to forget what methods or processes we have used in the past.  Everything is constantly changing and individuals are as well.  We will not be able to use these old processes when everything has advanced well beyond this.  One discussion that takes place in chapter 9 sums every situation up in that of you being the Creator.  If you allow yourself to understand that you create what you want and how you get it, you will understand that fact that this is different than anything that has ever been taught or passed down to you.  

You must use the knowledge you have and learn more to live in the moment.  Work on material as it comes and do not look too far in the future to stress and worry about it.  Living in the moment and putting everything into each experience is the only way to live free.  In order to obtain this we must break for the traditions we have been taught and move on for our own good.

Nothing spells love more than being in a happy relationship with an individual who feels the same as you feel about them and you are completely connected with the individual.  However, how come these relationships never stay like this.  After reading this chapter I began to break down my current relationship.  We fight just like everyone else but we love more than others I believe.  We have had many trying situations and probably more than most people our age, however, we are constantly in a loving state.  I believe this is true because we are blatantly honest with each other on every aspect.  We rarely withhold anything for each other and if we do it doesn’t last long within us before it must be pushed out.  

Also, we understand that things are not always going to be like they were when we first got together.  It is important to realize that things will change with time and will get better if you let them.  Living in the experience each and every day and forgetting the past material is the best thing we can do.  It is important to realize that life with someone else has to be a connection between the both of you and not just something to hold onto because of a certain task like taking care of a child.  This will result in complete resentment of each other on a daily basis. 

Exposing yourself completely, sometime in embarrassment, is necessary for a successful relationship and the truth must be told.  Tell the truth completely and live a happier life in marriage or any form of unity with another.

We must, at some point, make the commitment to fully commit ourselves to total truth.  Not just telling the truth here and there, I am talking about every aspect of every conversation and every day.  It is only through this complete commitment will we have the ability to truly free ourselves.  Now, I understand that many out there say that it is just not feasible to do this.  “My boss will fire me; my wife will leave me, etc…”  However, you must truly weigh the consequence involved and understand that what you believe to be the worst may not be the worst at all.  Enlightenment is only reach through the commit.  

I understand that telling the whole truth does suck.  It will be very painful in certain situations and very uncomfortable in others.  However, it is these challenges that force us to use self-discipline discussed in the Road Less Traveled.  It is vital to use this in order to closer to complete freedom.  Giving up this security leads us to our only security in life and that is flying by the seat of our pants. 

Neurosis is the ability to refuse to acknowledge experience over and over again.  It orders to overcome this “disease” of the mind, it is vital for these individuals to release their feelings and past resentments and start living in the moment.  Many, and I mean a large percentage of human kind, are neurotic in the sense that we can’t live in the moment.  We have established an image for our being that covers up what we are truly experiencing.  We do not have the ability to full dive into the moment and really live each experience. 

We must understand that all of this will be an extreme struggle and will be very hard to live in real life.  By applying some simple principles discussed in the text, it is definitely possible for an individual to over the “lie” they have been living and the taboos they have put up with.  “Salvation is the rediscovery of us as beings.”  (Blanton, 1996) 

As discussed further in the text, the expression of anger is the main determinant of how the discussion will end.  It is only through the correct form will there be a positive ending and a successful and healthy relationship established.  My question after all this is “Is it possible to have a healthy relationship with any kind of a “lie” whatsoever?”  I am talking about all aspects of the relationship and would like some feedback or stories of your lives to aid in the position each of us take on these concepts.

Through a short story presented in the third chapter of Radical Honesty, we are presented with the truth of how our youth is brought up.  We are taught a certain way to be as a person.  The first of these teachings is that of control.  We are taught to control every aspect about our attitude.  Expressing our beliefs and emotional should definitely be sheltered to only those that are acceptable.  We go through a stage of oppression, which is masked as concern, in which children develop anger and lack of communication with that he/she is closest to.  It is through these teachings and oppressions that force us to develop the image of ourselves which is truly just an image of what other have molded out of us as an individual.  How can we get out of this hole that has been dug for us?  Why would these individuals closest to us throw us in this hole?  Why is it that they can’t teach us to be honest and tell the truth in every aspect of life?  Why is this case in only certain situations?  The answers to these can only be that this is the way they were taught. 

What would people think of each other if we all went around telling the truth to each other?  The answer is a lot.  We would think very highly of each individual if we could trust everyone because we knew only the truth would be told.  However, it is not this way at all.  We are all drowned in lie and deception on a daily basis and with everyone we know.  The real question is, can we really trust anyone completely??? 

By reading this material we can pick up on the different levels of the truth.  It is important to complete all the level to truly be free from lies.  By eliminating the past through the release of these truths from our mind through our words, we will truly be able to live in the moment.  We can eliminate all of the past and determine that it is not all that is factored in to becoming who we are.  We no longer have the dwell on the past and can now become real again.

Brad Blanton’s way of explaining his concepts definitely leaves no guessing to where he stands.  He is very straight forward and says what he thinks regardless if it is right or wrong.  The first couple chapters of these books discuss the moralism of individuals and also the “First Truth” which we must all understand to become radically honest.  

The discussion on moralism here brings about many questions to the readers and forces us to compare the stages of our lives and the principles we have been taught to can be changed through simply telling the truth.  It is very hard to fathom the very thought of getting right of every concept we believe to be “right” or “wrong”.  However, it orders to free ourselves from this anger and unhappiness, this is exactly what must happen.  How can this be?  How it is that everything everyone is taught in life is wrong and everything stated in this book can be right?  The extremist would definitely not believe this to be possible and would argue to the death with anyone who states that solely through telling the truth that you will become a more satisfied and successful human.  However, by looking at it on a larger scale and how it connects to everything, it makes a little more sense.  

The discussion here is also linked to the independence and the dependence of all individuals.  It is important to understand that we are just an image to ourselves and there is no possibility that we can describe what we actually are.  We were pure and independent of perception at a very early stage in life, however, we were taught indirectly to cover this up with a self-image which is not truly who we are.  Is it possible to get back to what we once were through telling the truth? 

The second concept under “The Being” is that of the first truth.  The first truth is that of the dawning of consciousness.  This is when we develop the ability to believe we are who we are through the lessons we have learned from past experiences.  The Hindus, as stated in this reading, called consciousness the light that enlightens the light, or the light that allows us to see light.  

Another concept touched on in this chapter is that of Enlightenment.  This is the concept of knowing unity.  This is the ultimate goal for humans.  However, even when individuals reach a point of unity, it last for a very short time, and they usually run from it.  This creates a moment of change in one’s life to where their past self before this moment must “die” in order for their new self to be born.  

My understanding of this causes myself great grief that ultimately we do not control who we are.  We are definitely following those who have helped establish our personality that covers our true image.  How can we allow for us to not truly be us?  I guess the question that is brought up here is how much does the outside world influence the image that we put on for everyone?  To truly become who we are, we must get to the center of this and eliminate all the “fronts” we put on for society.  We must get back to the moment, when we were three months old in the womb, when we were “pure”.  We are the creator or our own being and must understand this in order to truly progress in this world.

“Amazing Grace” by John Newton can easily be used to sum up the view of grace by the American public.  We use this hymn to associate the word grace with the word amazing.  Used in any case, each of us ultimately associate amazing beliefs to any form of grace.  However, do we truly understand what grace is and how it affects our life on a daily basis? 

I understand that many of you make the connection to a spiritual superior in which worship and prayer is created.  This is definately not the case in every situation and needs to be made mention for those who don’t truly understand and have the fortune to be touched by alternative forms of grace. 

Linking grace to the mind is understanding how certain circumstances affects lives of some but not all.  Confused???  What I am stating concern situations such as viral diseases that have linked to more extreme circumstances.  However, these do not develop in all humans and only happen in a select few.  Could this possibly be linked to the way the mind perceives life and how “healthy” the mind is?  Possiblities are endless and opinions and theories are needed.

Alright…open up the flood gates and let the responses start.  Religion is definately one of the most debated topic and this section of the book definately leaves this subject way open.  Dr. Peck discussion different examples of his treatments where lack of religion is a must and on the other hand religion is a necessity to those in need of growth.  It definately depends on the exact situation of each individual and to their background or childhood. 

Looking back throughout life, there are definately many moments where it is vital to have faith in something. (God in most cases).  However, as discussed in this book, just because one may not believe in God does not mean that they don’t believe in something.  Even when an idividuals states that there is not belief, they are usually not telling the full situation.  There are alway some form of morals or “something” that keeps us within this set of rules.  To determine what it is that each of us do believe in, we must consider all other aspects to rule out any other choices that we may make.  Let’s use this to further this discussion and help others to see the light of each of our lives.

Ahhhh…what a wonderful subject this is.  Isn’t the time in one’s life where they feel the fullest and feel as if they are on top of the world?  How come if this is true, we don’t feel love towards everything in this life?  To answer this, it is because we don’t find everything in this life easy.  We feel that life is full of hard times that just aren’t acceptable for love.  Wait a minute, if we can love everything and feel on top of the world all the time…why not approach every situation and problem this way?  The answer is definately linked to discipline and is such that it is just too hard to love all the time.  For one to truely extend love, we must extend ourselves for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.  (Peck, 1978)

Once this is understood, it is important for us to go the extra mile and obtain ulitmate love.  We must extend ourselves beyond limits to achieve what we believe to be impossible.  To do this, it is important to use the discipline to extend ourselve and get rid of the laziness within all us.  Approaching every decision or situation in life with complete “love” for the subject and value it in a manner that will increase our spiritual growth and hopefully that of others.  Through this approach, we definately can make this a better place.