Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

The Only Change that Matters
A Change of Heart

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Why You Can't Think Your Way
Into a Change of Heart
 by Matt Moody, Ph.D. 

 
You can't really "think" yourself into being happy.
Neither can you chant enough affirmations to change
yourself into a person of higher character.

Cognitive therapies of "mental programming" may alter outward appearances, but "who you are" from the heart remains unchanged. Like ripples that undulate from a pebble cast in a pond, leaving the pond unaltered at its depths, . . . the superficial effects of mind power eventually dissipate & disappear.

It is true that positive attitude and vivid visualizing can raise your bowling score, improve your golf swing, and make you a more dazzling dancer—but the same cognitive conjurings cannot increase your character or bring peace to a troubled soul. Using "head" remedies only, even the strongest mental determinations to be a better person will not work.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence,
for out of it are the issues of life"
- Proverbs 4:23.

Fundamental change occurs as true principles are loved and lived! The very principles that are not being taught by self-improvement gurus generally, nor by many helping professionals, and particularly not by the purveyors of cognitive psychology — the scientific field that asserts the erroneous idea that the human brain works like a programmable computer.

The truth is . . . freedom from self-defeating habits requires living true principles from the "heart," there is no other way.

"The only change that matters is a change of heart,
every other change alters us cosmetically but not fundamentally,
modifies how we appear, what we do or what we say,
but does not change who we are."
- C. Terry Warner.

Understanding the Heart Metaphor

Again, fundamental change occurs as true principles are loved and lived, yet how can YOU possibly love and live principles of truth unless the disposition to do so . . . is in you? Thus, you need a new Heart that inherently feels to love and live the truth. You cannot "think" your way to a New Heart — such is impossible. Having a New Heart is a miracle and gift from the Creator.

Although we speak of it as something within, “Heart” is not really something in you, rather it is an activity you are in. Self-introspection of the body-self in not something you can actually do; this look "inside" yourself is just a way of talking (words playing tricks again). If you take a literal look “inside” you will only find a couple of kidneys and a lung or two; hence, personal guidance and fulfillment is not really found inside of you. In contrast, the look “inside” the self as be-ing can literally be accomplished—an examination of your relations, how you are being-with others.

"The Greatest Prize
for Life's labors isn't
in material possessions
or impressive accomplishments,
but in the progress of personal character.
You labor for your own becoming, this is your richest reward.
Who You Become is your greatest possession,
make it your Masterpiece!"
(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 274) 

“Heart” is a metaphor that represents your relational harmony with other things and beings—to include beings of spirit. On the Light side of harmony is clear communion with the Creator; and on the dark side sings a sinister harmony, a duet with the devil. This dark duet is the reason and reality behind the words: "hard heart." So to start with the best questions . . . that will lead to the best solutions, it is best to focus upon the vital communion you are in—this is the meaning of "Heart."

Mortal life means living in a dialogue with all living beings and things: a conversation with people, plants, animals, the earth's physical features, material property and possessions—and permeating every moment of this empirical conversation is the inescapable dialogue with spirit beings of both darkness and Light.

Contrary to common belief, thinking is never really done alone; it’s always done in duet! So when focus is mistakenly given to an individualistic mental monologue of self-talk affirmations and brain programming, three things occur:

       * Focus upon YOU defeats true self-discovery,
       * The Divine Dialogue is disconnected — Your Heart is out of Harmony,
       * By default, you dance with the devil.
          (Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 267).

My new book, "Changing Your Stripes" presents principles for:
Getting out of the ditch in which you've been dumped, . . . the difficulties of which you are a Victim, &
Getting out of the ditch in which you've jumped, . . . the difficulties for which you Volunteer.

"Mastering a challenging situation
is ultimately a matter of.
.mastering yourself!"
- Matt Moody 

"Changing Your Stripes," teaches you the principles that lead to lasting change,
making you a new kind of creature capable of communicating
with calm, even as storms of contention swirl.

If these ideas resonate and ring true,
then . . . this book is for you!

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through this website

Changing Your Stripes is a
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you understand, . . . and solve all of
Life's ever-appearing problems.
Here are more reasons to buy
Changing Your Stripes

Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor