The Other Ten Commandments

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Okay, I got this one in the mail today. I don't think that most of us here have any problem with these issues, but it does make a good checklist --

"The Other Ten Commandments," written and designed by Bobette Bryan, 2001

1. Thou shall not worry needlessly about mistakes. You aren't unworthy or incapable just because you made some mistakes. Remember that mistakes are necessary for growth.

2. Thou shall not control things. Your way is not always the best way. Remain open-minded, and don't worry if things don't go as expected.

3. Thou shall not blame others. Don't make others responsible for your happiness. You are in control of your happiness, and you can choose to make the day a positive one.

4. Thou shall not worry. Don't worry about the things that you can't change or have no control over. Have faith that storms never last long and tomorrow will be brighter.

5. Thou shall never surrender. You must try to climb that hill even when it seems too steep. No matter how difficult the task seems, it's better to try, than to wonder if you could have succeeded.

6. Thou shall grow. Never think that you have to stay where you are in life. Every new day offers an opportunity for change.

7. Thou shall not judge others harshly. Try to accept other people for who they are. Just because someone is different from you, doesn't mean they are inferior. Everyone was created in God's image.

8. Thou shall not fret over other's opinions. Not everyone will like you, and some people will criticize you, but you must not feel unworthy. You need no one's approval to be you.

9. Thou shall not doubt your ability. You should always have faith in yourself. Refuse to give the negative voice in your head an audience.

10. Thou shall not fix the world. It's good to help others, but remember that you can't fix everyone's problems.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Answers

Thanks for that,Julie. I emailed the whole page to my son and his wife....maybe it will "straighten" his wife out:-)!!!

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Gosh darn Julie! I have to admit some serious problems with #4 and #10. I worry about things and especially the world.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Yeah, well, I have a lot of stumbling blocks with this too. I'm hoping that I can use it to cut a little stress out of my life....

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Love it ,printing it out now.Thank You

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Julie those are great. I just want to know something tho. How do you get from the shall not, to the not. I mean I know that I am not soppose to think certain ways, but HOW do I stop. Somebody please tell me the magic trick, to change ones mind! TREn

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


I know what you mean Tren!

What works for me: take one issue at a time, (don't try to change too much at once) make it a priority. Make big gaudy signs saying something pertaining to the issue you're working on, like "EVERYTHING HAPPENS JUST AS IT SHOULD" all over the house. Say it to yourself all day long,and really try to FEEL the emotion connected to it, especially when things happen during the day that try to return you to your old thought patterns. Look into the mirror and say it, with feeling. Write it down a hundred times, but you must FEEL it every time.

You are re-programming yourself, and eventually it should become a part of you.

And pray too. Have faith. It will happen.

Love,

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


You can't change your mind on something unless the conditions involved in the situation change, which they always eventually do.Other things change to become more acceptable or you change to accept it. While waiting for this to occur, change your perspective by concentrating on other things but not completly isolating yourself from the controversial situation completely.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Thanks Jay, Thanks EarthMama, I think your nickname should be Earth Angel, because that's what you are to me! TRen

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

"Julie those are great. I just want to know something tho. How do you get from the shall not, to the not."

When I have the answer for this, I am gonna write a book (or ten) about it and make PILES of money. The last true goldmine of America, the Self-Help Book.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


Great,,shall we say suggestions, Julie. That commandment word is just so 'religious' and a red flag to the rebellious. In pursuit of those goals, I might suggest, a little herb goes a long way. ;) jz

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001


O.K. Jz quit bogarting the thing and pass it over! Ha! TRen

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

If I had it , I'd share it, specially with this mellow bunch Tren but no such luck :(

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001

DID YOU HEAR THAT EVERYBODY JZ CALLED US MELLOW! gRIN tREN

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001

Like em all, but especially like 2,3,4,6, and 8.

Number 3 is a good one, one that I have taught Steve over the years. He used to let his mama control his happiness, if she was angry at someone, he was angry at the person. I would have him say, "It's none of my business, it's none of my business" over and over. It took a long time to deprogram him and for him to realize he could control his own happiness. What freedom we feel now as we have cut the cords and are no longer sucked down into the black hole!

And I personally feel soooo much freedom from the words of #8. I don't care anymore if someone dosen't like me, those who really know me, like me. I did go thru several months of kinda depression about not being accepted into his family, but I grew out and above it. It has taken a long time for Steve to feel worthy of love, but we have gotten there, and he understands now that other peoples words do not make a person who they are!

I'll write some more later, gotta go now. Been busy but this is neat, I like this.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001


nice to see you back jz, I thought you had left us.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001


Great stuff this.......don't think I agree with number 5 though; guess I feel that surrendering is sometimes a good thing to do. There are times when the Universe has plans for us beyond our own vision, and discovering/accepting those new ideas displays the greatest wisdom.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001

Hey, Jay, I can't agree with you here. I examined my situation when I was about thirteen years old and decided that my self-esteem with in the pits. So, without changing any external circumstances, I began to brainwash myself during my walk to and from school every day. Within a couple of years, my self-esteem had improved remarkably, proving to me that if the problem is internal, the solution can, or maybe should, also be internal. Most of these commandments seem to deal with problems that are internal.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001

Actually I did leave for awhile and lo and behold it seems I missed a bit of a ruckus. So there it just goes to show ya, you all look mellow , at least from my uninformed :) perspective. I felt I was neglecting my sweety by spending so much time on this infernal machine so I thought I'd take a break. Must admit I kinda missed ya.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

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