“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I suggest, quite seriously, that Ruburt make up a list of his accomplishments; that he make a list of his good points; that he write down a short list of those things he thinks he is doing right (humorously), and the things he enjoys; and you add to these lists. I want him to concentrate upon his accomplishments rather than any failings, and you also. In a determination to do better, he has begun to concentrate upon failings. Your loving endeavors toward him have indeed helped, but until very recently you also fell into the same trap.

He began to think that just about everything he did was wrong. His reader’s report (for Prentice/Hall) pleased him however, as did your reaction to it. Now I think you will agree we need to build him up—

—put some weight on him. Now think of it this way. He has been tearing himself down psychologically in an effort to find out what has been wrong, that the symptoms persist. He has simply gone overboard in that direction. So to build him up psychologically and not artificially, we remind him of his accomplishments and those areas in which he is doing very well.

(Pause.) The achievements therefore must be kept in mind; not only are they not focused upon, but they are often forgotten. To some extent this also applies to you in your own endeavors. Reminding Ruburt of these achievements, of the things he does right, will put some weight on him. For when he concentrates upon his failings, for whatever reason, he sees himself as a person of no substance.

That is why I am giving this material in this session. Tell him he does not have to be spiritually, psychically, or creatively perfect in order to have good health, in the particular way I gave that statement; remind him, for he is equating perfect health with inner perfection, and no human being attains inner perfection. He is holding off (emphatic) on good health until he feels he deserves it. Now this is a point that has not come up before, and he does not realize this consciously.

In other words, he felt that unless he was using his abilities fully, and was spiritually, creatively and psychically perfect, he should mar his physical performance. His idea of honesty and his literal interpretation led him to the idea after the worst part of his difficulties were over, that he should keep some of the symptoms to show he was not a hypocrite to others.

Now if you please, tell him that despite any misgivings, overall he is using his abilities rather well. Tell him also that good health is free. He does not have to pay for it, by being a saint on earth; and that if this were true no man or woman alive would be in good health.

Tell him that good health is as accessible to him as air. He does not have to work for it. It is indeed his right, and natural heritage. It is a means toward using his abilities, not a reward for using them. It is not something given to him when he is good, and withdrawn when he feels he has been bad.

According to the standards he set, no man alive would ever be healthy. Tell him also that he need have no worries about my book. It will progress.

You work mornings outside. He feels guilty that you do. He feels how you would enjoy and appreciate painting in the same way that my book is being presented, so spontaneously and quickly, comparatively speaking. He thinks this should be granted to you rather than to him, to make up for your job, and so he has felt somewhat guilty about it, and punished himself by holding off. He was afraid you would be jealous of the book, and hurt, and his panic was of your reaction.

He long ago made a pact with himself, that he would not hurt you. Now, none of this material was known to him. It has all been beneath the surface. So when you said to him “use your abilities fully,” he was in a quandary, for to use them might be to hurt you in that particular manner.

Incidentally, the parsley is good for him. Make it a part of your salad diet, for his periods. It is an old, valid recipe. Take your break, for your fingers’ sake.

—I’ll shortly close. A few more points however. Discuss particularly the early portion of this session with him, and get it through his head that health is not dependent upon perfect performance, creativity, psychically or spiritually. This is extremely important, for this is a strong belief with him now; and he did not see the humor when he heard what I said—it made perfect sense to him. This is an area where you can help him.

To him, because you are in good health, he took this to mean that you were therefore better than he was, closer to perfection. When you felt at your best he felt accused. Do you follow me?

Now I can laugh with you, but he will not when he reads this. He felt he was not worthy of the healing ability because he was not perfect. Again, do all you can to convince him that his good health is not dependent upon his performance or perfection. This is extremely important.

I intended to do some on the book, just to set him at ease this evening, but when I found him open enough to get this material through, I decided this would be the greater benefit. Now, I will take a moment to see if there is anything else, and you may use the time to think of any questions, if they come to you. (Pause.) On certain evenings he does not feel he deserves to sleep if he has not produced.