The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self

by Martha Beck

Dropping into enlightenment Start by sitting with both hands outstretched, palms up. Get comfortable. By actually lifting your hands, you’re activating both hemispheres of your brain, so don’t skip this step or the exercise won’t work. Think of something you do regularly, even though you think you shouldn’t: obsessing about your ex, playing computer games at work, googling yourself. Call this the Forbidden Thing. Imagine that sitting in the palm of your left hand is a tiny version of a wild animal. This is the part of you that wants to do the Forbidden Thing. If you’re sleepy and irritable, it might be a napping tiger. If you’re nervous and pent-up, it might be a trembling bunny. See it looking at you from the palm of your hand, wary and wild. Call it the Creature. In your right hand, picture a three-inch-tall version of your most socially appropriate self—the one who believes the Forbidden Thing is wrong. This part of you is very well socialized. It would never stand by a buffet table eating all the shrimp or speak roughly to your mother or pick its nose. Call this version of yourself the Controller. Notice that the Controller is always trying to dictate what the Creature does. See how the Creature aches for freedom to just be itself. See how much effort the Controller is using to suppress the Creature. Remember the times your Controller seemed to be running things, only to have your Creature break loose and do all sorts of Forbidden Things.