“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Some of this has to do with the fact that both of you think in terms of absolutes, but often in different ways. Ruburt feels free enough to go to Florida, if he feels he does not have to face what he thinks of as your idea of absolute freedom, in which he is performing as normally as anyone else, or nearly so. If that is expected of him in line with both of your current beliefs in the body’s poor performance then he does not feel free to go at all.

The fact that he plans a trip means to him that he is free to go, and that there are some gradations of freedom physically in which he can operate and use as a vehicle. Now: your idea that you are not going freely, with freedom, is in those terms an absolute. It means that within the gradations offered you will not have a good time, but will compare what you have with a “perfect” freedom that Ruburt now does not possess. All of this because of your beliefs about Ruburt’s body—again, primarily Ruburt’s beliefs, but yours also. Often I use “you” to refer to each of you.

Within Ruburt’s present physical situation there is a degree of freedom for the trip and for enjoyment—an opportunity for manipulation, and understanding this will add to that freedom. You are each concentrating on negatives when you ignore the freedom that does exist, and denying yourselves pleasures that could help enlarge that freedom. This does not apply to the trip alone. Give us a moment.... If you both understood all I have said about the point of power, you would not compare the present physical situation with what is desired, and set the present situation in an unfavorable light, but as a progressive series of stepping stones toward the desired state.

The body is responding despite this, however. The improvements can and will accelerate as you really believe that they can, and as you actively explore the freedoms that are now available.

(Much louder and forcefully:) As far as your trip is concerned, concentrate upon the pleasures that are possible within it, so that neither of you manage to overstrain yourselves and forget the condition for one minute. I should not need to tell you this: see yourselves enjoying yourselves, having a good time, even within the horrendous conditions as they exist. You should each be ashamed of yourselves for ignoring the abilities, the freedoms and the pleasures that you have, and instead concentrating on the one area in which lacks are apparent, while at the same time not utilizing the methods I have given you to fully help yourselves in that area—and instead focusing your imagination to continue the situation.

In such a situation all enthusiasm becomes taboo, unrealistic, and only fear is realistic or logical. You allow yourselves little freedom in which to operate by ignoring, belittling, and denying the freedoms that are available.

You do not need to imagine him arising with your flexibility, nor should he at this point, but you should each expect continued improvement, and gradations of ever-growing freedom of mobility. Above all, you are from this point to stop structuring your lives upon the bedrock reality of Ruburt’s condition. For that “condition” is not a permanent thing, but a changing reality, an improving condition.

Then you will be free to release your own energy for yourself, and to actively and joyfully encourage Ruburt to do the same. There are many things, including this trip, that you both can actively enjoy—but not while you are insisting upon absolute freedom, while at the same time concentrating upon those elements in your experience that seem to keep you from it. Then your main concentration is not upon freedom at all but upon the lack of it, so that the freedoms that are available, even physically to Ruburt in his condition now, become minimized, and both of you suffer.