CHAPTER TWELVE
DISMANTLE THE MEMORY OF THE OLD YOU
(Week Three)
Once again, you will read through and perform your writing on Steps 5
and 6 before you do your Week Three meditation sessions.
STEP 5: OBSERVING AND REMINDING
In this step, you observe the old self and remind yourself who you no
longer want to be.
Just like our working definition of meditation in Part II of the book, to
observe and remember is to become familiar with; to cultivate the “self”;
and to make known what is, in some way, unknown. Here you will become
completely conscious of (by observing) the specific unconscious or habitual
thoughts and actions that make up that state of mind and body that you
named earlier, in Step 2: Recognizing. Then you will remind yourself about
(by remembering) all of the aspects of the old self that you no longer want
to be. You will become familiar with yourself “being” the old personality—
the precise thoughts you no longer want to give power to, and the exact
behaviors you no longer want to engage in—so you never fall back into
being the old self. This frees you from the past.
What you mentally rehearse and what you physically demonstrate is who
you are on a neurological level. The “neurological you” is made up of the
combination of your thinking and actions on a moment-to-moment basis.
This step is designed to create greater awareness and a better observation
of who you have been (metacognition). As you reflect and review your old
self, you will get clear on who you no longer want to be.