ne	achieving negative goals

How may we change unwanted feelings and behaviour patterns, both positive and negative, either individually or collectively?

We have identified twenty-three basic stratagems for achieving negative goals. Some (reframing and replacing) may involve conversion of negative goals into positive goals, so that positive thinking can be applied. Others (removal, refining and recollecting) do not require conversion.

Change may involve concerted action, including intervention by a consultant, therapist or spiritual director.

negative thinking > achieving negative goals > stratagems

renewal make new again, constantly renovate, refresh and cleanse	restart go back to zero and rebuild from scratch	repeat if at first you don't succeed, try try again	recollect reduce the power of something by becoming more aware of it
renunciation make a gesture or policy of withdrawal	removal eliminate or escape the system altogether	retreat withdraw for a while	retaliate hit back in anger
replacing eliminate a desire or fear by superimposing a stronger desire or fear	repair eliminate separation or fracture, by integrating the fragments (back) into a whole	rearranging move the pieces so that unwanted patterns vanish	reflection think back in peace
refining strip out the accidental, in order to focus on the essential	reducing ration what is good, in order to keep below acceptable limits	relaxing avoid reacting when your response just makes things worse	return go back to a past state
left blank for your contribution - please email suggestions and experiences	redirect convert something from the domain of the feared to the domain of the useful	reframe alter the meaning or value of something, by altering its context or description	rewriting history alter the stories we tell about ourselves
redemption rely on greater powers to take away the problems	reversal eliminate something by seizing it; obtain something by giving it away	reductio ad absurdum escape logic by paradox or contradiction	remaining silent escape logic by escaping language

Page last updated on February 19th, 2001 Copyright © 2000, 2001, Richard Veryard