Self Defense from the Self Part 1: Basic Principles

Being good at Mind Fu doesn't only mean defending ourselves from others. It also means doing that for some parts of ourselves.

And just as its important to identify others' possible attempts to manipulate and control us, its just as important to know where our own inner thoughts and impulses may be coming from.

As any broken heart can tell you, just because something that seems like your inner voice is telling you something is good for you, doesn't mean it really is.

Finding the perfect, real inner voice and always being sure you're in contact directly with it and it alone, is hard working that's never certain. I find it far easier, at least for now, to define when it is definitely not that inner voice.

1. If it puts you down
2. If it puts others down
3. If it wants to hurt anyone in any way

...then what you're dealing with shouldn't ever be in the driver's seat. And it's almost always a wounded part of yourself.

Keep this in mind, the next time some part of your mind that comes from your wounded past is yelling insults at you as well. "You suck!" is not supportive, coming from anybody; when it's another part of your mind yelling at you for making a lame joke at a party - you wouldn't want to hear that tone from a stranger. Why accept if from yourself?

Get your individual components in line with your self. Be focused. Don't worry, it will never be complete. It's a journey.