140. Cognitive Dissonance

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CXL

2DI Preparation:

Self-Image, Cognitive Dissonance,

Abuse, and Fallacious Expectations

Questions:

1. How do self-image, cognitive dissonance, abuse, and fallacious expectations relate to the identity—the false part of our self-perception?

The identity is based on our attachments to temporary elements of this earthly life—possessions, health, social position, lifestyle, education, etc. In correspondence to this, identity can be connected to how people treat us. Also, the false standards of perfection that society imposes upon us configure in the recipe for a bad identity problem.

If the Astral Body accepts a bad belief system, it feels conflict when real life doesn’t match its myth. Psychologists call this cognitive dissonance, because the ego strives to change its perception of the environment to harmonize with the false self-image.

For instance, suppose that my religion demands that I must always be a peaceful person. Then, when I smash something in anger, I would have to justify the event by saying it was an accident or blaming it on someone else. This is how cognitive dissonance maintains a false self-image—through blaming others and/or refusing responsibility.

The Astral Body looks the way you feel at this moment. It moves rapidly in a jerky manner. It appears to have multiple faces that reflect the different images of behavior and perception. A whirling energy surrounds it with whamming types of noises. There is no peace here!

The abusive quality of our current society (and it encompasses all mankind) cultivates a wrong standard that won’t tolerate mistakes.

The closest that mainstream Christianity has come to being correct in this regard is that bumper sticker that reads BE PATIENT, GOD HASN’T FINISHED WITH ME YET. The great philosopher Ashleigh Brilliant http://www.ashleighbrilliant.com says, “I feel much better now that I’ve given up hope.” Meaning, in a humorous way, that expectations can be a source of emotional trouble.

Guilt, despair, jealousy, victim consciousness, hostility, and discrimination are all connected to this problem. We solve it by finding out what is real about ourselves, accepting our imperfections, and becoming free from the tyranny of society.

2. What is humiliation and embarrassment?

When the identity floats on how others perceive you, it is easy to tip you over. It’s mixed up with fear, too—the fear of rejection. Someone who is accustomed to the idea of brain farts and mistakes (while at the same time striving to get it right, of course) will not suffer cognitive dissonance during these moments of imperfection.

This is beautifully illustrated in the film The Sand Pebbles. A navy company is pelted with produce as they march out of a village. The commanding officer can barely keep from crying until he gets back to the ship. He orders his soiled uniform to be burned (cognitive dissonance can make one feel dirty). He declares that he will never wear that suit again. An enlisted sailor in the same predicament just shrugs it off. He says, “wash this for me, will you” to the laundry guy. Everyone in the room stops to consider the contrast. One man can let an uncomfortable moment go; the other man wears shame like a straightjacket.

If you can laugh at yourself, you will be hard to tip over and people will like you. We call this genuine humility. On the Astral Body, it looks like a golden light radiating from the core of a person. It varies in size according to the size of humility, but it can be more than 10 times larger than the Astral Body itself. It serves as a point of balance for the emotional body.

3. Are self-image and self-esteem different from the identity?

Self-image is a neutral term. It merely means the way we perceive ourselves. This can be correct or a big boo-boo. This is the first appearance of the Astral Body to someone who meets you for the first time. It is also described in your astrological chart as the first house.

The identity is what we call the accretion of attachments that we wrap ourselves with as we become seduced by the appearance of this earthly dimension’s values. If a person is crusty, then she/he has a thick, hard, dark coating of identity shrouding the aura. The Awakener Angel loves to smash this to bits every year, during the Open Key Period.

Self-esteem is a horse of a different color. It appears on the Astral Body as a general mien of confidence, silent power, and general puissance or capability. It is integral to character, because it is based on the strengths that cannot be taken away. It is the factor that determines our ability to succeed in life.

It grows through survival through hardship. It thrives on small daily victories. It gains size through our capacity for love, kindness, and tolerance. Self-esteem is a major element in Personal Power.

4. How can I apply this concept to my daily life?

The I Ching describes this in the hexagram The Preponderance of the Small.

•First, accept your immaturity. This is the first step toward adulthood. Say, “Oopsy! Did I do that?” Then resolve to be more focused from now on. We succeed at this by saying the affirmation, MY MIND IS SHARP AND CLEAR AND I ONLY THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HELP ME AND WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

•Recognize that inner peace and solid happiness come from order and simplicity. There is no peace in the bells and whistles of the material world. Appreciate these for the fun that they can bring you, but don’t base your self-image on them.

•Patience for yourself and patience for others is recommended. Practice saying, “nobody’s perfect” in every situation when dealing with people.

•”The words, thoughts, and deeds of others have no power in my triumphant life.” I think that Joseph T. Murphy said this. I can’t remember. If I said it, then I’ll still give him the credit.

•Remember than men blow their tops when they are afraid. Don’t pour oil on the fire by confronting them about this. Just try to validate and reassure them.

•Remember that women blow their tops when they’ve been suppressing resentment for a very, very long time. Ditto on the validation and reassurance.

5. What is the single, worst culprit of bad behavior?

Guilt creates dissonance, anger, resentment, and resistance. This is why people who owe you money will avoid you. This is why abused children act out aggressively to their peers. In fact, this is the primary indicator of abuse.

If someone or something is making you feel unworthy, guilty, and punishable, then shout “ABUSE!” and go somewhere else. Psycher Demons (family pets) actually stir up these thoughts between people and in yourself to stimulate more conflict.

When you are more spiritually mature, others will still try to abuse you, but you won’t fall for the game. You can command people and life to be nice to you. “Everybody likes me, everybody loves me, everybody wants to be with me. Everyone and everything supports and nurtures me.”

6. Exercise: Aroint Ye, Psycher Demon!

PSYCHER DEMON, PSYCHER DEMON,

YOU MUST OBEY MY COMMAND.

YOU MUST LEAVE ME ALONE

AND STAY IN THE ANGELS’ HANDS.

THEY WILL TEACH YOU TO BE HAPPY.

THEY WILL TEACH YOU TO LOVE.

THEY WILL TEACH YOU TO FEED ON

GOD’S MANNA FROM ABOVE.

Under Grace, in perfect ways,

Thank you, God.

So mote it be.

So mote it be.

So mote it be.

7. Draw or describe one of your helpers.