“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

All right. The physical assertion of the exercises is good. He lost faith in his physical performance, and got out of the habit of asserting himself physically.

In the exercises both will, faith and assertion, come into play in coordinated effort that is met by performance, and by achievement. He gives himself then physical achievement, and for the first time can say “I did this or that, that I set my mind on, and am succeeding.”

It places his mind on physical performance, and leads automatically into the future in a positive way as he achieves in simpler exercises and then goes on. The exercises themselves then help combat negative suggestions on both of your parts, for you are reassured by any progress. Ruburt reacts to the reassurance that you feel.

It’s according to what he is thinking of.

(“I mean the kind he usually gives himself when he lays down for perhaps fifteen minutes, etc.”)

His idea of noting down the pleasures or good points of the day should be maintained. He dropped it. A heavy-handed application of suggestion should be avoided—and look carefully for negative suggestions that may be implied on either of your parts. To be relieved of these is half the battle.

Ruburt’s list about what he will do when he is completely well is a good idea. Except that as an act of faith you see he should begin to carry out some of those points now.

Now this shows him that he can act resolutely in the physical world, that he can express himself through his body, that he can be physically assertive. It combats the lack of confidence that had built up.

The exaggeration of negative influences was brought about because of the repression. Now, for example: so as not to bother you, Ruburt made it a point of conscience to speak to your mother on the phone for you, and not call you, when he did not want to do so. Very seldom was he even aware of his true feelings here, and when he was he was ashamed of them, and was 10 times nicer to your mother to cover up the feelings from all of you.

Besides this he felt highly inadequate because he knew that all the time your mother of course would have preferred two minutes with you to ten with him, so then he felt unappreciated. You had a menagerie of repressed feelings. This is just one instance.

In his own way he is fond of your mother at the same time, you see, but also terrified of her because the repressions cause him to exaggerate the hidden fears. When you are frightened of fears then the most minute one is exaggerated.

To some large degree. Expectation now (underlined) is important here, and the fact that he got into the habit of denying impulses toward motion—by blocking, often, not the impulse so much as the motor response.

After sitting and blocking such impulses or responses, then it is only natural that the blockage pattern is set up. Now suddenly he wants to get up without blockage.

When his mind is engrossed as a rule the blockage is far less unless he suddenly remembers and thinks “Oh, now I will have difficulty getting up.” Giving into the impulses (to motion) then will automatically work, and give him confidence that the impulses can indeed be followed through.

(“There are contradictions there, though: if he wants fresh air, it’s bound to be cold because it’s winter, etc.”)

There are some connections here with his mother being in bed and in pain, that frighten him. And negative images, deeply repressed, of her sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to get up. He automatically projects distaste into your eyes at the spectacle, and is humiliated when you see him trying to get up. That is why he often waits until you are in the other room. This gives him a first defeat for the day, you see, and early. I will give you more at the end of our next session. (Humorously:) Have you had enough for tonight?

(“He’s still losing weight.”)