“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

You spoke to Ruburt about imagination, and he must learn to use it for his benefit, through imagining himself free and well. This fear itself should be faced for what it is, and dealt with like any other fear. Ruburt considers it almost unspeakable. (The fear that he will not get well.)

If Ruburt shows a bad bout of symptoms then often you both become extremely fearful. Very aware of those symptoms, concentrating upon them, and this worsens the condition. I am not saying that the symptoms are not fearful. This should be admitted.

As you were reading today, your imaginations are centered in the wrong direction. Ruburt fears that he has a condition which will persist indefinitely.

There is a definite time period involved, and your own remark only shows that what I said earlier is correct. Both of you must believe that he is to completely recover. It is most important that Ruburt believe this, but extremely helpful if you will.

The method is not difficult. You are using it the wrong way quite well in some regards. Ruburt has had his own negative attitudes about his illness to contend with, and often yours as well. You did more good by telling him he bent over well from the front this evening (while we were exercising), that simple statement, than you ever could by any remark, however well-meaning, that he is not bending his leg when he walks for example.

I am not telling either of you to ignore a physical fact, but to avoid habitual, often unthinking negative suggestions that might prolong it. This is an important point, and Ruburt would not have let me speak about it earlier. Now take your break.

Ruburt had great difficulty with it. Strong feelings of failure. When you replaced it the hands began to improve. The ritual involved in opening the cans was a constant habitual negative reinforcement.

Ruburt has taken to using the railings. He does not need them. A sense of defeat is connected with the railings. Let him try resisting their use.

Quite hidden, all the habitual rituals of a family have deep psychological connotations. To change such habits is often illuminating therefore, and that is why I mention this here. Ruburt can stop trying to get everything arranged on his desk before work, so he will not have to get up for example. This is a strong negative suggestion that helps to override the conscious suggestion “I can get up easier.”

—but you made some leeway with Ruburt in your last remarks (which I’ve forgotten as I type this) and I would like him to examine his normal habits in the light of what I said about his table and arrangements. Do you follow me?

The little habits that have been built up about Ruburt’s condition should be abolished. This does not mean that you need to stand aside and not help him now and then when you see he needs it. It does mean that habitual limiting tendencies of his should not be continued.