LESSON 5 I am never upset for the reason I think.

1. 1This idea, like the preceding one, can be used with any person, situation or event you think is causing you pain. 2Apply it specifi­cally to whatever you believe is the cause of your upset, using the description of the feeling in whatever term seems accurate to you. 3The upset may seem to be fear, worry, depression, anxiety, anger, hatred, jealousy or any number of forms, all of which will be perceived as different. 4This is not true. 5However, until you learn that form does not matter, each form becomes a proper subject for the exercises for the day. 6Applying the same idea to each of them separately is the first step in ultimately recognizing they are all the same.

2. 1When using the idea for today for a specific perceived cause of an upset in any form, use both the name of the form in which you see the upset, and the cause which you ascribe to it. 2For example:

3I am not angry at _________ for the reason I think.

4I am not afraid of _________ for the reason I think.

3. 1But again, this should not be substituted for practice periods in which you first search your mind for “sources” of upset in which you believe, and forms of upset which you think result.

4. 1In these exercises, more than in the preceding ones, you may find it hard to be indiscriminate, and to avoid giving greater weight to some subjects than to others. 2It might help to precede the exercises with the statement:

3There are no small upsets. 4They are all equally disturbing to my peace of mind.

5. 1Then examine your mind for whatever is distressing you, regardless of how much or how little you think it is doing so.

6. 1You may also find yourself less willing to apply today’s idea to some perceived sources of upset than to others. 2If this occurs, think first of this:

3I cannot keep this form of upset and let the others go. 4For the purposes of these exercises, then, I will regard them all as the same.

7. 1Then search your mind for no more than a minute or so, and try to identify a number of different forms of upset that are disturbing you, regardless of the relative importance you may give them. 2Apply the idea for today to each of them, using the name of both the source of the upset as you perceive it, and of the feeling as you experience it. 3Further examples are:

4I am not worried about _________ for the reason I think.

5I am not depressed about _________ for the reason I think.

6Three or four times during the day is enough.