How to Not Follow Instructions

One danger with telling others how to do things is that people might use them to close off other ways. Anything human involves more than one method. Please notice, we don't say that this or that method is all you need or might find valuable. Had we said that, we hope you would have thought us stupid. Note this material quotes from Gene Gendlin (see the NFP Focusing Institute's site for more). These instructions relate to most things we humans can undertake, and especially to getting a felt-sense.

Anything you learn here can go well with anything else that you may find helpful. If there seems to be a contradiction, go easy. Let your own steps find the way to reconcile the contradiction.

There are other reasons one might not like specifics, such as these steps. Instructions may seem to diminish mystery and openness, although that is not so. Also, written instructions cannot avoid misunderstandings. No formula fits every person. Anyway, one must find one's own path. These problems occur with all types of knowledge about humans.

These are very exact instructions for how not to follow instructions! And, of course, they apply to themselves, as well.

• Assume that only sound expansive experiences are worth having.
• You will find your own body's steps, either through the instructions, or through what is wrong with them.
• Don't push on if it doesn't feel right, but you don't run away either. You go no further, but you back up only a little, so that you stay until what is in the way becomes clear.

• Focusing is quite safe. It may not work but it is not negative. So, if you sense something that does not feel life-forwarding and sound in your body, sense what that is until that opens.
• You do any method better than its authors can arrange.

• How to Focus and Get a Felt Sense