Raw Food Explained: Life Science
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2. The Three Requisites For Change
There are, of course, many ways to induce individuals to undertake change in their lifestyles so that they may enjoy a higher degree of health but basically they can all be categorized into three groupings:
- Inspiration.
- Motivation.
- Knowledge of what to do and how to do it.
This last category implies the need for the client to have guidelines to follow, which are plainly marked, at least at the beginning of change.
In this lesson we will consider each category in sequence and see how we can employ it in our contacts with individual clients.
2.1 Inspiration
The “show-and-tell” technique is as old as history. Because it has proved to be an effective tool to inspire persons to increase performance in widely-diversified areas of interest and to induce change, among even the most reluctant, and has done so in all cultures throughout all of time, it merits our consideration in the context of this discussion.
The classic way for a Hygienic practitioner to use this very simple technique is by means of case histories.
To be most effective, the case histories should be of persons who have recovered from the kind of disease presently being experienced by the client who seeks your help. For example, if your client suffers from some rheumatic ailment, he will not be particularly moved or inspired to “go and do likewise” if you present him with a case study which relates how John Doe made a spectacular and complete recovery from asthma within a period of two days. He will not be motivated because he does not equate John Doe’s recovery from asthma with his own aches and pains.
But, on the other hand, if he learns that Mary Williams who lives down the street from him and who he knows used to have rheumatoid arthritis so severely that it prevented her from ever leaving her own house, is now able to play golf two or three times a week down at the public golf course where he used to play, he will, all other things being equal, be inspired to believe that he can do the same. Hope is aroused.
If he also knows, because Mary Williams told him so, that you are the practitioner who taught Mary Williams what she had to do, how she had to .change, so that this miracle might be accomplished then, in all likelihood, he will have faith in you, so much so that he will follow your directions implicitly and without question.
And, similarly, if Ava Smith has psoriasis so badly that she sheds a cloud when she walks, she will hardly be persuaded to do as you suggest simply because you tell her (in words alone) that K. Singh living in far off Malaysia is now able to control his psoriasis to the extent that he is completely free of lesions except when he reverts to his former unhealthy ways of living. Not knowing K. Singh, she will not be inspired to follow his example, even though it be a truthful account and well presented by you. K. Singh is an unconvincing figure.
However, if Ava Smith were given a printed case history, even if it is about the same K. Singh, and it is read aloud to her by you in her presence, the impact on her conscious mind will be fortified in two respects: by the sensation of sight and by the sensation of sound. This is a common technique which is more effective than using either one in isolation from the other. If it were possible also to present before and after photographs of K. Singh showing full recovery, this would, of course, provide further reinforcement of your contention that Ava Smith can also experience full recovery from this distressful condition.
Even more convincing, of course, would be if Ava Smith could talk face to face with Gertrude Jones who is a recovered psoriatic (former) client of yours.
Thus, using case histories can be a highly-effective tool which can be used as a means of inspiring clients to change their lifestyles to conform to systemic need. However, when using the case history method to inspire performance, at least two important things should be kept in mind in order to encourage positive follow-up performance:
- The case histories presented by you to the client should be applicable to him/her in as many particulars as possible, and
- The case histories should be reasonably verifiable. That is, they should come from a reliable source, from some person whom either you or the client knows, or from some writer in whom both you and the client have explicit faith. Also, the person represented in the case history should be real, visible if possible. Preferably, of course, he should be capable of being contacted by the client either in person or by mail. This, of course, is not always possible.
When case histories are well-presented and answer the above criteria, they usually prove both convincing and inspiring to all but the most skeptical.
2.2 Motivation
The majority of sick people who seek out a Hygienist lack deep motivation or much hope. They have usually “been the rounds” before they come to your office. They have listened to and followed the advice of many others who promised “cure” and failed to deliver. They often approach you with many reservations, and even perhaps with tremulous fear. Their motivation to do as you suggest maybe feeble.
The feeling of helplessness is widespread. Only a relative few will not accept defeat and come to you already armed with conviction, convinced that they will turn sickness into health!
Dr. Elizabeth McCarter was one of these. Suffering the severe pains of the arthritic, unable to walk without help, she remembered a saying of her mother often repeated in her presence when she was a little girl: “Elizabeth, if you ever have a problem that is seemingly unsolvable, there is usually a book out there somewhere, in some library, that will provide the answer. Your real problem is to find that book!”
Thus, when she was forced with this very real problem, she determined for herself that she could solve her problem, that she would find the way to restore herself to health, that she would overcome this pain, this suffering. It took her well over five years of searching to find the book, five years during which she travelled the world and looked in many libraries, but finally she did find the book. She and I found it right here at home, in the U.S., in a little health food store in Solana Beach, California. What was the name of the book? Why, of course! It was Dr. Shelton’s masterpiece, Orthotrophy, Volume II of THE HYGIENIC SYSTEM.
To the scientific mind this book has the impact of a thousand candles upon the darkness of night. It has served to motivate hundreds of thousands of people, both the sick and the well, to desert the herd and seek after the ways of health. Elizabeth is but one of many who were thus motivated and followed through to a successful conclusion, witnessing and participating in a lifestyle change into a high status of health.
Strangers now marvel that, at 82, Elizabeth has the vitality to do all that she does. One reporter even commented quite recently that she has “the grace of a ballet dancer.” It is sometimes difficult for us even to remember the “once that was.”
Motivation is difficult to define, methods differing as individual clients differ. Some clients have psychosomatic disorders brought about by introspective experiences for which there are few, if any, observable correlates.
For example, the feeling of helplessness that so many clients have, may, in part, be rooted in childhood experiences which led to their feeling of having been caught in a trap from which they could not escape. Some develop this feeling because of recent unsettling events or perhaps from continued and exhausting stress which drained their fund of nerve energy.
Sheep that were given tasks to solve but could not soon became neurotic, highly nervous, “unglued,” as we say. P.O.W.s, to their credit, often felt trapped and helpless, but maintained some semblance of poise throughout their ordeal. Some became depressed and developed neuroses of one kind or another or various physical disorders. Some actively sought to solve their dilemma and got out of the trap. Jack B. Story, the celebrated Marine hero of the infamous Shanghai prison escape of World War II, is a classic example of motivation followed by action. When properly motivated, people seek after solutions, and when they find a solution adaptable to their peculiar problem, they usually try with all their might to follow through to a successful conclusion; not always, but usually.
Sometimes peoples’ minds are so cluttered with toxins, they never do find their way. The Hygienist should understand that, as Dr. Alexis Carrel, M.D., so well stated in Man, The Unknown, “Mind and organism commune in man, like form and marble in a statue.” As practitioners we must, understand that with clients whose physical ailments are psychosomatic in origin, the concept of capability, just replace helplessness before meaningful progress can be expected, this whether the immediate trouble is simple or complex and, even, perhaps when the ailments are purely and demonstrably physical, although usually there is a close and often undefinable relationship between diseases of emotional origin and diseases which are more physical. Rarely can they be precisely defined. Regardless of kind, location pr type, they all have a common origin: a toxin-saturated body or toxicosis.
Just this morning a woman, approaching her 50th year, sat in our office recalling the immensity of the restraints placed upon her by her powerfully-built, beer-drinking husband, a man seemingly possessed by an obsession to dominate the very thought processes of his wife.
For over 20 years, during which time she had endured a veritable parade of illnesses, she had meekly submitted to this man, following his every command without question. She became almost a mindless being.
But, one day (and we know not, nor do we care, what caused her to change), her mind suddenly became aware, aware that life had more to offer than this. She determined to improve her health and to get out of her rut before all of life had passed her by.
So it was that four years ago she came to us. She began to learn about Natural Hygiene. She became our private student. She took her physical inheritance and fasted for 14 days on two separate occasions, once at Dr. Shelton’s and again with Dr. Vetrano. She made amazing progress physically. The mental changes were slower in coming but they came.
She is taking assertiveness classes now at the local college. She attends Al-Anon. The metamorphosis, the change, has been wondrous to watch.
This morning we discussed the I CAN concept of living with her. The need is to change an attitude of helplessness to one of “I can,” to watch over our own conduct and cease being critical of others, the need to develop a commitment to the improvement of self. This is not the first time we had spoken in this vein to her but one of many. We pointed out to her that it is now time for her to establish a new goal, to select one all-important goal and to direct her thoughts toward it. It is also time perhaps for her to remove herself finally from her restraints, to cast them all aside.
Our client has changed, she has grown. Her husband, unfortunately, has remained just as he was, in a box of his own making. He is sick, but she is now well. She has proved herself because she was willing and even eager to make changes in her lifestyle. He has remained in his box because, stubbornly, he refused to change. His box is made of inferior materials: of beer, steaks, frog legs and wine. She is committed to adventure, determined to explore life and to understand its full meaning.
What did this woman require of us to help her to get out of her box? It took knowledge, it took empathy toward her very real problems, to her pain and suffering; it took repetition time and time again of concepts and principles. It took encouraging words, reminding her of the possibilities. At times, it even took scolding. But, most of all, it required improved health.
The days of whining and wondering are almost over. Our client has set her new goal and we believe she will attain her desire: to be so healthy that no challenge will be too great. Perhaps she will never have it all, but we know she’ll give it a good try! And, we think, too, that life will know that this woman passed by and achieved something worthy while she lived.
George S. Weger in his book, The Genesis and Control of Disease, gives us another classic example of how the mind can sometimes control us and even create disease. A young man of 33, happily married, a father, mentally keen, extraverted type, with no vicious habits, and successful in business began to fail in health. He had a nervous breakdown and suffered digestive disturbances, jaundice and became highly emaciated. Like so many others he endured many examinations and much drugging. He became emotionally disturbed.
Dr. Weger also fasted his patient as we did our woman for a period of two weeks and, in the following six months, the man showed remarkable, recovery. Dr. Weger uncovered some amazing psychic aspects which had previously been entirely overlooked by other practitioners.
2.3 Health and the Psyche
As quoted from Weger: “The psychic aspects of the case were as follows: During early childhood an elder brother took particular delight in threatening his younger brothers and sisters with bodily injury, even menacing them with knives and declaring that he would kill them. The patient developed a fear-complex which became more assertive as he grew to maturity. As his health became impaired, he developed an obsession which he tried desperately to repress. He became the victim of an almost unconquerable urge to kill his wife and children. These obsessive inclinations left him in a cold sweat, trembling, weeping, and aghast at the enormity of his weakness. When he learned how this complex had originated in the subconscious and what a momentous effect the repression had on his physical well-being as well as on his mental morale, his complex became sublimated. He was an apt student and soon understood how it was possible for his mental repression to exert a like influence on his physical organism, overstimulating certain endocrines (such as the suprarenal and thyroid) and depressing other glands (such as the pancreas and liver), and how this included also all the functions of digestion and elimination. Understanding in this case was the equivalent of cure.”
In the case of our woman client, she was motivated to change by the desire to remove herself from the restraints imposed on her by her thoughtless husband. In Weger’s case, understanding that the cause of the psychic aspects of his physical ailments lay in his childhood experiences, motivated him to control his thoughts, to redirect them in more positive channels. In both cases, correction resulted when they became aware that they could be in charge of their own lives. They replaced Helplessness with Capability, the changes in lifestyle then followed, the toxic condition was alleviated by fasting and both moved on to new and more rewarding lives.
Once a client understands that whatever ails him/her is capable of solution and that you, the Hygienic practitioner, have both the understanding of cause and the knowledge of how to solve the client’s problem, and that it is possible to change sick ways into health-promoting ways, simply by making certain changes in lifestyle, the client will be more favorably disposed to make whatever ‘changes’ you propose; at least to take the initial, hesitant first steps.
Sometimes the mere revelation of the source of psychic disturbances, talking them out with a willing listener, will assist the recovery process. It seems that cleaning out the cobwebs that clutter the mind often opens up unknown depths of long-unused thought, and makes one more receptive to change.
A case study we have previously written about comes to mind. This woman, as a child, had been subjected to much physical and mental abuse from her father, a prominent politician. Incest had been only one of many frightening experiences. As a teenager, there had been two attempted rapes. When she came to us, she was in her middle sixties and, up to this time, had never revealed any of these sordid details to another single soul, not even to her husband or children. The story came out in a torrent, the tears poured down her cheeks as she opened wide her soul and revealed how ravaged and unclean she had felt throughout her lifetime.
It was like washing the windows to reveal the day. From then on it was comparatively clear sailing. She was highly motivated to go the distance, to clean out every corner of her physical body just as she had cleaned out the poisons from her mind. She now understood that it had been this mental poison that had gradually taken away her health.
Motivation must always precede recovery. The recovery, of course, will necessarily have a dynamic basis and must be conceived in force, desire, goal or drive. The individuals must devoutly and fervently want health. Indeed, they must be imbued with an inner drive to reach a goal of superior health because it is now a very personal goal.
When the goal becomes a personal thing, even if obstacles arise, as, for example, a temporary healing crisis, they will not be defeated or even diverted from pursuing the goal. The individuals understand that they must cope with any problems confronted because they want to solve them; i.e., they desire to improve health so much that they will do whatever is required, make whatever changes are necessary to attain health, even if it means deserting the herd.
2.4 To Change, We Must Desert the Herd
Individual clients must be motivated to desert the herd. As a child we are all biologically dependent on others. As adults we are expected to take command of our own selves. We must remove ourselves from all cultural dependence, from media dependence; otherwise, we devalue Self. Appreciation of Self is important to recovery from sickness. Furthermore, if we don’t, we soon lose control of Self.
As Hygienists we equate sickness with the herd mentality. Statistics prove the point for, as a group, the herd is sick. When clients understand this, they become better motivated to withdraw themselves from the herd and adapt more readily to the concept that change is vital.
Sometimes accepting divorcement from the herd and the need to change gives rise to temporary conflict. A conflict, however, which when satisfactorily addressed, serves in the end to motivate a person to remove him or herself even more from the masses, even to the extent that an individual will completely reverse his/her attitude toward life and what is required to achieve the goal of attaining superb health.
But, when sufficient motivation is lacking, failure will surely come. Fortunately for humankind, where sufficient motivation already exists and it is accompanied by an inner urge, desire, force, or drive, success is almost always assured.
It is the happy duty of the Hygienic practitioner to devise ways and means to motivate clients. An emotionally or psychologically healthy person is one who has learned to cope successfully with him or herself and his/her environment. We must motivate our clients to become more poised, to direct them skillfully in such a way that they will attain the superb health which may presently be but a vague dream or hope having no substance.
Motivation is a melding together of want, wish, desire and purpose. Certainly sick clients want to improve their health, they wish they were healthier than they now are, they have a certain amount of desire to cooperate with you and we should encourage this and, also, we must supply them with knowledge so that they will pursue the purpose which brought them to you.
2.5 The Hygienist’s Knowledge
The Hygienist who is well-versed in the principles of Natural Hygiene—Life Science—has sufficient knowledge to change the world.
If the world understood and practiced the principles that you are learning in this course and had full understanding of the scientific truth of toxemia being the basis for all diseased states, and lived accordingly, all ailments, diseases, pain and suffering would be no more. The members of the world population would soon forego their whining, warring and worrying in favor of enjoying the fruits of healthful living. There would be ample food to feed the world because soil culture would replace what appears to be deliberate sickness culture. Productivity in presently unknown areas of human endeavor would be stimulated as euphoria replaced depression. The hours now spent in laboring would be dramatically reduced and used instead for the full enjoyment of life.
Yes! Natural Hygiene is capable of causing changes which could rock the world. And, the Hygienic practitioner who is well informed can be a full participant in the Grand Event. When you have completed this course, if you have been diligent in your studies, you will be fully prepared to do your part.
And, you can do your part as you meet every day on a one-to-one basis with the individual clients who seek your help. You can impart to your clients the knowledge of health-promoting practices which, if followed as circumstances permit, will restore them to the vibrant health that is our natural heritage.
At first meeting, however, unless proven otherwise, you must assume that your client has little or no knowledge of Life Science. Obviously, you cannot impart full understanding in one easy lesson.
Clients can often be turned off and become discouraged if we expect too much, too soon. Clients can also be disenchanted by any display of arrogance, the “know-it-all” attitude, on the part of the practitioner.
We will shortly take up some preferred and proven ways to direct clients in their education more effectively so that new practitioners can develop more confidence in their practice, perhaps more patience with their clients, and become leaders in their field.
Perhaps the knowledge learned in this lesson will induce some of our more experienced students to take courage and learn from their failures and in so doing improve their own human-client relationships to the mutual advantage of all.
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Three Requisites For Change
- 3. Practical Methodology
- 4. Questions & Answers
- Article #1: Faith
- Article #2: Desire Plus the Doing
- Article #3: A House Divided
- Article #4: The Several Doors to Your Personality
- Article #5: Excerpt from “Man, The Unknown” by Alexis Carrel, M.D., Nobel Prize Recipient.
- Article #6: Excerpt from “In Tune with the Infinite” by Ralph Waldo Trine
Raw Food Explained: Life Science
Today only $37 (discounted from $197)