The Way It Is: It’s the RACE Trap. Free Yourself!

The Way It Is

The Way It Is

By Gregg Sanderson

In the world of BOB* the RACE Trap is THE obstacle to Spiritual development. RACE is an acronym which stands for Righteousness and Approval Complicate Everything.

The RACE Trap is the emotional need to be right, or need for approval from somebody else. It distorts or interferes with your creative mental output and provides results and consequences other than optimal. It also creates unpleasant and destructive emotional responses. Here’s how it works: We’ve learned that stimulus triggers response. If I say you have a big nose (stimulus), you feel bad (response). If I say you’re smart (stimulus), you feel good (response).

Stimulus >>> Response.

Paradigm shift: Stimulus >>> Belief System >>> Response.

If I say you have a big nose (stimulus), your need for approval says “disapproved” and need to be right says “I’m not OK.” You feel bad (response).If I say you’re smart (stimulus), need for approval says, “approved” and need to be right says, “I’m OK.” You feel good (response).

The good news is, when you recognize it’s your needs that cause the bad feelings, and not the stimulus, you have the power to do something about it.

The better news is, the needs are part of the BS (Belief Systems) you accepted unconsciously, and you can change them. Wow!Where did this silly BS comes from. To get almost biblical, I call them the “BEGETs”. (I said ALMOST biblical).

Some examples:

PARENTS: BE obedient to GET love.

FAMILY: BE nice to GET approval

SCHOOL: BE alike to GET friends.

CHURCH: BE good to GET saved.

SOCIETY: BE quiet to GET along.

MEDIA: BElieve to GET in line.

FAIRY TALES: BE beautiful to GET a prince…Or the converse, BE a prince to GET the girl

Are you BEginning to GET the idea?

Surely you can think of other sources that have had their influence. That’s a lot of programming to counter, but, it’s a worthy goal on the way to the ultimate BEGET:
BOB: You can BE free and GET a life!

There’s a lot you can do to counteract the RACE Trap programming, and this month we’ll start with the easiest. — Talk back.

In the computer world, we have a saying, “Garbage in, garbage out.” and this also applies to Belief Systems. We can expand it to “Spot incoming garbage, and no garbage out. Counter the limiting belief on the spot, and it doesn’t find a home in your consciousness.

When the TV commercial tells you you’re not OK because you don’t use the right detergent just talk back to the TV, or even better, shout, “BELIEF SYSTEM!” Feel free to abbreviate (or substitute).

When the professor insists that you are somehow responsible for somebody else’s hurt feelings, let ‘em have it: BELIEF SYSTEM!When a religious leader says you’re a guilty sinner and bound to fry in Hell, immediately remind yourself: BELIEF SYSTEM!Same thing if somebody says you’re going to go to Heaven. It’s still BELIEF SYSTEM!When the newspaper tells you …uh… anything: BELIEF SYSTEM.

When somebody in a white lab coat announces that chocolate is bad for you: BELIEF SYSTEM. Wait… That’s not good enough. Shoot them!And when I say you can break out of the RACE trap so you can be in charge of your thinking to create a life of peace, love, and happiness, that’s a BELIEF SYSTEM, too.Which BS appeals to you most?

You are free to choose. (BELIEF SYSTEM)

*BOB – Being of Bliss. See Spirit With A Smile or previous columns.

Gregg Sanderson has a rare view of the metaphysical universe. He traveled the road from Christian Science through Judaism, Agnosticism, Atheism, Living Love, Psychic Development, Spiritualism, Teaching of the Inner Christ, all the way to the International Centers for Spiritual Living where he is a licensed practitioner. He is the author of What Ever Happened To Happily Ever After? and Split Happens – Easing the Pain of Divorce. Gregg’s latest book is Spirit With A Smile — The World According to BOB (www.Transformation-Publishing.com) gregg@spiritwithasmile.com.

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