“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.

Now there are several, and they are being bypassed and to some extent unrecognized because of this other emphasis. Some of this also applies to you. For example, Ruburt is doing very well in his classes, enjoys it, and closes his eyes, relatively speaking, to the improvement he has worked in the lives of his students, and to the freedoms he has allowed himself in class in using his abilities. The class before last is a case in point. Both of you do not realize the exceptional impact you have on others in personal relationships.

I should mention that it is because Ruburt asks so much of himself that he so often fails in those requirements he has set for himself. Yet both of you should realize that those failures still give you an overall performance that few people can achieve, in terms of the quality and overall endurance.

Often Ruburt’s failures would still be successes by other standards. Do you follow me?

(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.

Now, some of these problems are simply those of the creative personality emerging, in Ruburt’s individual case, in their own way. They should not be overemphasized however, for the creative personality, by the very standards of creativity that it adopts, becomes a focal point for varying conflicts that in many other kinds of personalities are never allowed to emerge. Therefore they are not resolved.

The conflicts however are also points of impetus, explosive elements that propel the creative individual from the, in quotes, “ordinary” dimensions of consciousness into another. Now you have experienced this in your own way, and so has Ruburt.

Now. While these conflicts appear highly destructive, and you shake your head at what appears to be some stupidity or stubbornness on Ruburt’s part, the conflicts themselves are creative, and will be used creatively. Do you have questions?

I suggest that you take your break, and we shall continue. Some of the material tonight on the creative personality should help you understand other points that we have not discussed. The determination to attempt so much, the responsibility to use potential, helped make our sessions possible. It is two-edged therefore. It helps bring about Ruburt’s greatest accomplishments, and yet at the same time, overemphasized, it can become a source of failures.

In the back of your minds, your main point of concentration has been “What is wrong with Ruburt?” Now, I gave you this information a while ago, and I have said it in various ways at different times.

Overconcern however is negative. Ruburt has physical symptoms. This is not good. They are not the worst symptoms in the world however, and while there is much room for improvement, they should not be concentrated upon. They are not a stigma.

You did not get the full information from the pendulum. It was not so much that Ruburt was jealous of my book, as it was that he felt he should distrust anything that came so easily.

Now, in your good intentions you told Ruburt lately that he was using only a tenth of his abilities, meaning that most people only used a portion of their capabilities. (I also explained this meaning to Jane at the time.) He took this as an accusation, however, and further concentrated upon his lacks. Neither of you should expect perfect performance in your work, and I say this to you as well as to Ruburt. To some extent there has been a weaving in and out, so that at times Ruburt’s symptoms were personal, and at times they were symbols for both of your attitudes.

It was like having a handy whipping-dog around. Now if the whipping-dogs were not connected with Ruburt, this would be a handy family mechanism. Another point I would mention: Ruburt knows quite well your own progress in your own work. He has always been psychologically and psychically attuned to your work. He knows for example when you are doing well and when you feel you are in difficulties, even if it seems to you he does not look at a particular painting, or take, notice.

It is all connected. The trouble is that when the early environmental conditions, which helped set up the episode, ceased operating strongly, the pattern of behavior was set, and used then for other psychological purposes as noted. (Important!) Past environmental episodes have little now to do with the symptoms. The data given this evening relates to the present situation. Now, the cat lover’s attitude has a healthy effect on Ruburt, regardless of its basic legitimate nature. Do you follow me?