Man, and the realization of his purpose

A guide to the doing of good and to a full and happy life

by Abraham Adar

Raising self-esteem
Some words of encouragement for those who don't believe in the existence of God

The most basic and efficient means, perhaps the only one that raises our self-worth in practice, is the acknowledgment and acceptance that we were created in God's image. This raising of self-worth is therefore conditional upon accepting the existence of this higher force. Many people reject His existence and therefore find it difficult to make use of this method.

I have to point out that it is illogical to reject something so helpful, merely because a prejudiced opinion inhibits your ability to accept it. Something inside us says that if a higher being, who has our best interests at heart, provides something important, we should gratefully accept it, especially when humanity cannot supply it itself. Since this higher source appeals to each and every human being, He turns to you as well. You too have the same right to utilize it in order to improve.
Preliminary advice

You are a creation which was born to succeed! Therefore be optimistic and even convinced that you will be able to raise your self-worth to a high degree and give it adequate expression.

Already after your reading this chapter and being convinced that a great truth is embedded within the divine declaration, you will have already embarked on the marvelous continual process of raising your self-worth, with all that this implies. Your spiritual blockages have begun to melt, and directly due to this, natural forces will begin to be released, enabling your development of those values, capabilities and talents which had been repressed. Allow these forces to act as they will.

Let us position this elevation at the top of our priorities. Your positions and positive beliefs are of particular importance. The desire and belief that raising your self-worth is feasible, will supply you with the requisite forces for its actual attainment.

Also according to the controlled method – raising your self-worth requires a lengthy period of time. However, once you have embarked on this process, the moment your natural forces begin to be released and to act, your entire inner self will  adjust to this improvement. You will begin to experience positive feelings such as joy, elation of spirit and even happiness and fulfillment. The more you progress, the stronger these feelings will grow, turning your lives into ones you so wish to live.

Don't be disappointed if despite carrying out the training, nothing happens. You will derive great profit by suspending your judgment for at least 21 days. This is the minimal period needed for exchanging an old spiritual quality with a new one. During this period, do not doubt in your ability to succeed; do not lessen your fervor to attain your goal. Enthusiastically carry out the training, persist in playing your new role and adjust yourselves to the new standards, even if you feel these attitudes and positions don't suit you.

From the first exercise to the last, try to be as free of stress as possible at all hours of the day. Try to refrain from arguing, to not react emotionally to events that are not to your liking and to stay away from all negative influences.

Raising self_esteem and its expression by the controlled method

We shall divide the process into two stages: 1. Preparation 2. Raising.

Preparation

Release from tension
Take a holiday, far from the noise and stress of life, for some time, in the course of which you will realize the raising of your self-worth. Stay in this tranquility for a day or two.

Receiving an impression; gaining understanding; embracing acceptance
In the morning, choose a place in which there are no disturbances and enter a state of profound silence. Once every two days, go in depth over this chapter's contents up to these very lines. Take enough time to comprehend it well.
 The following day, in the early hours of the morning, when you are calm and strolling on your own in a quiet place, deeply study the contents by heart with no time constraint; examine it from several directions, reflect upon it, activate creativity, present queries, think logically, and write down whatever questions remained unsolved so as not to forget them.
Re-examine these questions on your subsequent study of the material. Continue this process until you have understood; accepted this content as being true and are aware of the benefits which will follow the raising of your self-worth.

Improving beliefs and wishes by means of a controlled training
Number of exercises: 14, one each day after waking up; length of exercise: approx. 15 minutes.
Before commencing the exercise
Record the contents in a clear, slow voice and play it back when commencing it. Pause the playback for five seconds between each step unless specified otherwise.

The exercise
Enter meditation state or deepen this state if you are already naturally in it.
Ask that your visualized images be as clear as they can be, in natural color and in three dimensions and that they activate as many senses as possible.
Continue holding on to the sensations and images during the playback pauses between sections.
Believe you have the ability to act from a high level of self-worth.
Desire acting this way; feel this desire increase with each exercise.
Believe that raising your self-worth is actually achievable and that you have no doubt you will succeed. Give expression to feelings of joy and elation due to the hope the raising of your self-worth will be realized.
Expect this realization.

Rest for two minutes in this tranquil atmosphere.
Say to yourself: I shall remember all I pass through in this stay and every learning and experience in it will add up and accumulate to my experience for my next stay (in α state). Also say to yourself: When I next enter α state, I will dive deeper into it and my learning and experiences will be more impressive.

Exit meditation state. If you stayed naturally in α before this exercise, say to yourself: "end of exercise".

Raising self-worth and its expression

The elevating of self-worth will be carried out by means of the following exercise (see the notes after the exercise for further details). 

Before the exercise
Strengthen your desire and belief in the successful raising of your self-worth. Record the exercise's contents using a clear, slow voice and play it back when beginning it. Pause five seconds between each section unless specified otherwise

The exercise

 Enter meditation state or deepen this state if you are already staying naturally in it.

(*) Ask that your visualized images to be as clear as they can be, in natural color and in three dimensions and that they activate as many senses as possible.

(*) Continue holding the sensations and images during the playback pauses between sections.

Accept it to be true that God created you in His image, Feel a significant elevation of your self-worth due to your acceptance of this.

Feel your-self being freed of those opinions, beliefs, disturbances and truths which had prevented you from raising your self-worth.

Feel higher truths, encouraging this elevation, taking their place. Feel elation and joy due to this fact.

See yourself as possessing a high self-worth, because you were created in God's image. See the other as being of the same status due to the same reason. Feel your self-worth elevate with each additional stay.

Feel yourself exalted far higher than you were before; feel your horizons widening; you see things more clearly and properly; your judgment and decision-making are more proper and you also are more creative than you had been before.

Feel these spiritual capabilities grow with each further stay. Accept this to be a fact. Express feelings of joy and elation at this.

See yourself possessing principles that are more positive, more moral. You recognize immoral acts that you committed in the past and reject them. Hold this image in your imagination for a half-minute, turn around it, admire it, accept its existence as a given fact and express happiness and elation at that.

Feel the other beginning to grow in importance in your eyes and you begin to appreciate him more.

Feel you wish to do something for him which you had not yet done in the past. This will grant you great satisfaction.

Before turning to the other, remember that you are standing in front of a wondrous creation, born in God's image.

Feel this recollection significantly contribute to the elevation of your self-worth.

See yourself active in the company of others; see yourself helping the other, assisting to raise his self-esteem and encouraging him to help the other too. See yourself succeed in this endeavor and feel considerable satisfaction due to it. Hold this image in your imagination for a minute. Turn around it and admire it. Examine your self-confident and satisfied gaze. See this picture as being a given fact.

See yourself placed in a most senior international position.

See and sense your capabilities grow and adjust themselves to function efficiently at this high status.

(-) See yourself functioning efficiently, making the best use of your capabilities. Hold this image in your mind for a minute, turn around it, admire it and accept its existence as a given fact. Express happiness and elation at that.

(-) Feel greatly honored due to this activity, but also with a sense of great responsibility.

(-) Feel this life is more precious to you than ever, and that you very much want to live it.

Feel a need to thank the Creator, in efficient ways, for what He so generously bestowed upon you.

Remain to rest for two minutes in this marvelous meditative atmosphere.

Say to yourself: : When I next enter α state, I will dive deeper into it and my learning and experiences will be more impressive  I shall remember all that I pass through in this stay and every learning will add to my experience for my next stay in α

Exit meditation state. If you were staying naturally in α, say to yourself: "end of exercise".

Notes:
The sections marked by (*) should be carried out only during the first five sessions. The sections marked by (-) should be carried out from the sixth time onwards.

Exercise details: Period – 26 days, one exercise each morning, after waking up; Exercise length: About 20 minutes.

As of the 16^th exercise, in addition to the controlled training begin to act, amongst people with this new attitude, turning it into a second nature. Begin cautiously, gradually widening its activity as time passes. Avoid arguments. Instead, offer the other your appreciation and assistance and experience positive feelings as you did in your exercises of imagination. Be real; you no longer have a reason to be ashamed.

Recollection exercises

Continue the controlled training: For up to six weeks, three times a week. Later – twice a month, on Saturday, for an unlimited period. Go over the entire contents of this chapter once every six months.

Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.
Albert Einstein