Natural Laws of Self-Healing - Review by Robert J. Resetar

  The Laws of Self-Healing: Are Future Goals a Thing of the Past?Some of you have probably heard the classic lecture series by author Brian Tracy called “The Psychology of Achievement.”  If you haven’t, you should.  It’s available at many public libraries.  In it, Tracy gives countless tried and true methods for becoming successful at anything, from the inside out.  His training is simple, clear, and goal-oriented.  He constantly stresses the absolute necessity of having goals, writing goals, visualizing, verbalizing, and taking action to manifest your goals.  Tracy also insists that goals be worded in the present tense:  i.e., I AM successful” rather than “I want to be successful.” When it comes to self-healing, Dr. Gerald Epstein has a very different approach.  In 30 years of extremely impressive work as an MD and psychotherapist he has taught both patients and health practitioners how to use mental imagery for conditions ranging from depression and stress to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune problems, and much more. Unlike Brian Tracy, Dr. Epstein finds that focusing on goals or outcomes can actually block you from achieving what you want.  He says that concentrating on future goals can trap you in a stressful state which he calls futurizing.  Many diseases are caused by unresolved emotions from the past or from being so attached to future outcomes that we are unable to live fully in the present moment.  As a result of these imbalances, our physical energy and health may begin to wane and a decaying process sets in which we call “disease.” Since both the past and future are illusions, we may spend much of our lives chasing a mirage instead of “experiencing” life.  Is it any wonder that so many people seem so out-of-touch with themselves and one another? Instead of goal-setting, Gerald Epstein suggests that we use “intentions.”  What’s the difference?  If I understand him correctly, an example would be, rather than focusing your attention on the goal of “making the disease go away” (which agitates, keeps the negative condition in your mind, and leaves you in a futurizing state of “want and need”), you take a few deep breaths, get into a relaxed, receptive state, and then use imagery to suggest or create the return of balance within yourself, without concern for the outcome.  You do this only a few minutes, two or three times a day, and then forget about it.  This approach allows you to remain in the present moment, feel more at peace, and invites the “invisible world” to help you. If you’re wondering what the “invisible world” is, some call it Chi, Energy, Spirit, Love, the Force, etc.  I recently heard Linda Moulton Howe report new scientific evidence showing that 95% of the universe is invisible and unknown.  Science can measure its effects, they know it’s out there; they just don’t know where it is or what it is.  Apparently, what looks like empty space has a lot more to it.  Some estimates suggest a similar ratio for our unused brain capacity. I can’t say I’ve fully grasped this idea of goals vs. intentions yet.  It seems to me that Brian Tracy’s “present tense” version of goal-stating would present us from living in the future.  Perhaps the common principle at work here is similar to the one discussed by Gregg Braden in the Essene Lost Mode of Prayer and The Isaiah Effect, which goes something like this.  Rather than praying (which is a form of intention, desire, or goal) from a state of weakness and want, where we focus on our need and appeal to a higher authority (usually outside ourselves) to help us, the ancient Essenes taught that “emotion” is the key to manifestation.  They recommend we visualize as if our desire has already taken place.  And equally important, that we “feel” like it has already manifested. The bottom line with any technique is:  Does it work for you? The Natural Laws of Self-Healing by Dr. Gerald Epstein may challenge those preconceived ideas you didn’t know you had.  That’s a “good” thing.  And although the exercises are simple and quick, they are very powerful.  There are plenty of enlightening personal stories of these techniques in action.  And unlike some lecturers, Dr. Epstein is a real pleasure to listen to.  He discusses what “imaging” really is, the importance of living in the present moment, the 10 Laws of Balance, the 12 False Beliefs, something he calls “inner terrorism,” and a lot more.