Steve H. 4-part discussion group on excerpts from Constructive Living

[Updated 11/15/14]

A few weeks back, Steve spoke into existence a 4-session study group on a book entitled Constructive Living.  Seven men stepped-up and are looking forward to the discussions; one that will utilize a modicum of technology.  Steve will be forwarding excerpts of the four discussion sections prior to each meeting.  Watch your emails.

The first phone meeting, Monday (Nov 17) from 7-8pm, deals with the author's 32 maximums summarized below.  

1. Recall turning-points in your life. Points that have enough meaning that you remember them. Points where things were different before and after. Points where you learned lessons, or rules, or consequences (e.g. things adults told you, marriages, divorces, changes in jobs or health, births or losses of friends or family, etc.)
   
2. Then, read over the maximums to see which one(s) speak to you and may have been useful to the turning-points.

Try doing this exercise with your study partner.

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36 Maxims from Constructive Living
complete maximum explanations here

1. Run to the edge of the cliff and stop on a dime.
2. Don't put your life on hold.
3. All I can do is...the next thing and the next thing and the next.
4. Have it be the way it is.
5. Stick it in your hara (the lower abdomen).
6. What needs to be done next?
7. Keep on doing what needs to be done.
8. Symptoms are mis-attention.
8. Give and give until you wave goodbye.
10. Quit only when you're succeeding.
11. Many "me's."  Variant: Changeable people.
12. Every moment a fresh one.
13. Unpleasant doesn't mean bad.
14. Emergency? Watch what emerges.
15. Action brings experience; experiential knowledge is dependable.
16. Exchange yourself for another.
17. Moldy perfume. Variants: Suffering grows from a seed of beauty. 
18. Active rest.
19. Self-centeredness is suffering.
20. I wish I weren't miserable.
21. Two kinds of "can't."
22. Depressed? Get moving!
23. Flounder with full attention.
24. Confidence follows success.
25. You care about what you care for.
26. Freedom through discipline.
27. There is always just enough time to do what needs to be done.
28. Feelings are for feeling.
29. When you're not noticing your grief, where is it?
30. You can't make anyone else feel good.
31. Feelings change like the Japanese sky.
32. If it's raining and you have an umbrella, use it.
33. Don't try to shovel away your shadow.
34. Watch out for the waves!
35. Making friends with fear.
36. Behavior wags the tail of feelings.

Constructive Living is a Western approach to mental health education based in large part on adaptations of two Japanese psychotherapies, Morita therapy and Naikan therapy. Constructive Living (CL) presents an educational method of approaching life realistically and thoughtfully. The action aspect of CL emphasizes accepting reality (including feelings), focusing on purposes, and doing what needs doing. The reflection aspect of CL enables us to understand the present and past more clearly and to live in recognition of the support we receive from the world.