Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

PRESS THE "FIX ME" BUTTON

Balboa Press

Contents

INTRODUCTION......................................................1NO ORDINARY LIFE..................................................5PHASE 1: WHERE ARE YOU TODAY?.....................................15Session...........................................................20PHASE 2: DISCOVERING YOUR BEST SELF...............................27Session...........................................................27Session...........................................................37Session...........................................................38Session...........................................................46Session...........................................................56Session...........................................................58Session...........................................................61PHASE 3: OBSTACLES, CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES.....................67Session...........................................................67Session...........................................................75PHASE 4: REDISCOVERING YOUR PAST..................................85Session...........................................................85Session...........................................................94Session...........................................................98Session...........................................................103PHASE 5: PLANNING AND GOAL-SETTING................................111Session...........................................................111Session...........................................................114PHASE 6: INITIATING YOUR PLAN.....................................119Sessions #17-19...................................................119PHASE 7: MAINTAINING OPTIMAL WELLNESS.............................121Session #20.......................................................121ABOUT THE AUTHOR..................................................125APPENDIX..........................................................127

Chapter One

The Master observes the world, but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. His heart is as open as the sky."—Lao-tzu

I was introduced to Dr. Lieber through my addiction counselor at Stillwater Recovery, which was housed in a Victorian mansion that had seen better days. I was enrolled in a 26-week outpatient program that featured 3-times-a-week group therapy/drug & alcohol education sessions, as well as one-on-one meetings with my counselor, Lindsay. She was a sassy 25-year-old who masked her empathy with a sarcastic "drill sergeant" persona.

We were in her office one afternoon, discussing my odds of avoiding prison, when I told her that I was almost happy about my legal mess. If the universe, the Tao, God – whatever governed the cosmos – hadn't brought me to this point, I might have suffered a worse fate. But now, I was filled with gratitude and a serenity that enhanced my perceptions of life. I wondered, however, if these feelings were just "the pink cloud" phenomenon – a temporary euphoria that some recovering addicts experience. I worried that my new perspective would suddenly vanish. I wondered how I could hold on to my mental and spiritual gains.

Lindsey asked if I'd ever heard of perception modification. I hadn't, but the term conjured images of A Clockwork Orange – where the protagonist is strapped to a chair with his eyelids clamped open, forced to watch violent films until the mere thought of violence makes him physically ill.

"That was sci-fi behavioral modification," said Lindsey. "Perception modification is a process that helps people achieve their goals by changing the way they perceive the past and present. You work with a coach who helps you analyze your past experiences – especially traumatic memories – to figure out how they shaped your outlook. Then you learn how to modify your perceptions to become a happier person. There aren't any experimental drugs or torture devices. It's more like a combination of therapy and life coaching."

She began typing on her computer keyboard. "Here we go."

She hit a final key and walked to a nearby printer. A single sheet of paper emerged, and she handed it to me.

"I met Dr. Lieber a few years ago. He gave a presentation about his program. He doesn't treat addictions or mental illnesses. That's my job. But his perception modification process can help you uncover the causes of your addiction and learn how to deal with them."

"Is he taking new patients?"

She shrugged. "Call and find out."

"Okay. I just hope we don't have to conduct our sessions in prison."

"He lives in Idaho – too far away for prison visits."

"What a relief."

"Besides, you're not going to prison. County jail, maybe."

Dr. Lieber was working with a client when I called later that day, but he returned my call within an hour. I gave him a Reader's Digest condensed version of my life, focusing mainly on my boozing and the career problems that fueled it. I also mentioned Lindsey's referral and her brief description of his program.

He said the perception modification process was inspired by key concepts and practices drawn from (and sometimes shared by) modern psychology, life coaching and the philosophies of Taoism and Buddhism. The process was designed to promote optimal health in all four areas of life – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – by helping clients achieve their Best Selves, however they define that.

The process is based on the notion that people are the sum total of their experiences. Because experiences define us, they can either block progress toward mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being, or highlight the paths to optimal health. Wellness hinges on our perception of our experiences and the positive lessons we draw from them.

Behavior is taught through how we perceive events and experiences. Some of these experiences may be positive and joyful. For example, when we do well at our jobs we may receive a compliment or a pay raise. A positive action yields a positive reaction by prompting us to do the best we can. On the other hand, some experiences produce negative reactions. For instance, a middle child may feel she isn't getting enough attention and act out, causing her parents to react with stern discipline. The child learns that bad behavior generates the attention she craves (albeit negative attention). Over time, this lesson is reinforced again and again, clouding the child's perceptions and behavior into adulthood.

Our perception often becomes skewed, especially if we weren't privy to all the information surrounding the original experiences. As time goes by, we may even repress the experiences because of the associated trauma, never realizing that these experiences greatly influenced who we became. As a result, we may have overlooked valuable life lessons and hidden gifts. People who always fall short of accomplishing their goals may be suffering from skewed perceptions triggered by events that are long past and long forgotten. This is where the perception modification process can help.

The perception modification process consists of Seven Steps:

1. Where Are You Today?

2....