The Work - Byron Katie

“Since the beginning of time, people have been trying to change the world so that they can be happy. This hasn’t ever worked, because it approaches the problem backward. What The Work gives us is a way to change the projector—mind—rather than the projected. It’s like when there’s a piece of lint on a projector’s lens. We think there’s a flaw on the screen, and we try to change this person and that person, whomever the flaw appears on next. But it’s futile to try to change the projected images. Once we realize where the lint is, we can clear the lens itself. This is the end of suffering, and the beginning of a little joy in paradise.” 

― Byron Katie

Over the last few weeks I've been reading Loving What Is: four questions that will change your life, by Byron Katie. I can honestly say: it's mind blowing. It is probably the most profound and yet the simplest approach to self-help that I have ever come across. 


The concept is this:


It is our internal battles with reality that cause our suffering. By insisting that the world/people/family* behave in a certain way, saying 'this is how life/my family/my loved ones should be*', which isn't at all how they are, causes our mental anguish.


“Placing the blame or judgment on someone else leaves you powerless to change your experience; taking responsibility for your beliefs and judgments gives you the power to change them” ― Byron Katie


Using inquiry, we can examine each thought and see it for what it really is and the act of doing so, then allows it's release.


Inquiry consists of the Judge your Neighbour worksheet, which asks 6 questions. You are invited to be as judgemental, petty, obnoxious and bitchy as you can manage (which frankly, Ladies and Gentlemen, I can manage bitchy, bile and spite as Olympic sports). You analyse each statement using these 4 questions and you then turn it around completely.


1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know it's true?
3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe this thought?
4. Who would you be without the thought?


You turn around the last statement on the sheet.


What do I like about her approach? You can go on her website, download everything you need to begin your enquiry without parting with cold, hard cash. She makes all of the resources needed to do the work readily available to everyone. She goes and does sessions in prisons, schools, churches; in fact, she'll go anywhere she's invited. For expenses.


The Work is almost like a short-cut into Buddhism. Thoughts become like rain, falling from the sky. Byron Katie teaches non-attachment. It is the belief in these thoughts that cause suffering, not the thoughts themselves. They flow on by without attaching themselves.


Reality is.


That's it. That's her big truth. 


She says there are three types of business: mine, yours and God's (or reality, whichever works for your belief system). When you spend all of your time thinking about someone else's business or arguing with reality, you are in effect completely separated from yourself. You aren't dealing with your business. And that's the only business you can deal with.


Is it that simple? Yes it is. That's what makes it so powerful. It's called The Work, because you do have to work at it. I can see it at a personal level. I start having difficulties when considering the news I read daily. It doesn't negate the NLP. In fact, it's made it incredibly more powerful. 


If you're curious, YouTube her. Let me know what you think.


*delete as appropriate