The Program is whatever you make it.
You take away what you put in.
You take away what you put in.
"The Program" is practice of simple self-work goals for people wishing to reclaim their willpower back from potentially toxic coping mechanisms. It is simple, and it is free.
The founding model of the Program has been developed from both pre-colonial cultural traditions as well as contemporary therapy practices; designed to foster inner and outer strength and independence. The program encourages real inner and outer work, without relying on anybody to hold your hand along the way.
It is called "Self-Work", because really, nobody else is able to do the work for you. Its about progress, not perfection. The program helps those who help themselves.
The founding model of the Program has been developed from both pre-colonial cultural traditions as well as contemporary therapy practices; designed to foster inner and outer strength and independence. The program encourages real inner and outer work, without relying on anybody to hold your hand along the way.
It is called "Self-Work", because really, nobody else is able to do the work for you. Its about progress, not perfection. The program helps those who help themselves.
Program Principles:
1) ACCOUNTABILITY JOURNAL. Start Writing. Even badly. Begin a journal to record workouts, training, meditation, poetry, reflections, and other creative plans.
2) THINK STRAIGHT. Strive for Sober Consciousness. Abstain from recreational intoxicant use. Establish a psychological operation baseline. Examine unnecessary pharmaceutical dependence. A sober mind can more easily navigate hostile terrain while keeping the consequences of our choices firmly in sight. Learn how to face challenge while not under the influence of mind altering chemicals
3) MOVE YOURSELF. Get stronger, inside and out. Practice exercising physically at least three times weekly. Working towards pulling, lifting, squatting, and pushing your own body weight as an initial goal. Get those lungs and heart back in quality operational mode. (Also, even though the gym is great, consider working outside in nature, developing functional skill sets: start hiking, cross country skiing, trail biking, chopping wood, free running, or tree climbing for a change of pace!)
4) DIET. Eat cleaner. Hydrate. Emphasize the importance of real, quality, food in your diet. Not Junk. Practice discipline in both quality and quantity of what you eat. Reduce/avoid processed and refined foods. Refine this principle as necessary for your inner and outer growth. (Run your vehicle on high octane fuel. Don't dump sugar in your gas tank.)
5) RELATIONSHIP. Partake only in healthy expressions of mutually beneficial consensual sexual behaviour. (Basically, don't seek intimacy with anyone who is unwilling/unable to give informed consent, with anyone that your relationship parameters do not allow, or with anyone who is in a monogamous relationship with someone other than you. Do not engage in physically or emotionally harmful relationships, or addictive sexual behaviour. Do not risk your health or future for temporary physical ecstasy.)
6) HONESTY. Speak truthfully, considerately, and thoughtfully. (Don't be a liar, loudmouth, braggard, or con artist. Consider the consequences of your words. Listen, communicate, and don't just wait for your chance to speak.)
7) INTEGRITY. Only accept things that are freely given through mutual agreement. (Don't extort, steal, rip off, or manipulate people to get ahead.)
8) DECOMPRESS YOURSELF. Learn a mindful breathing/meditation form to practice at least a few times weekly. Increase and adapt length and style of sessions as necessary. (Sit down, shut up, put your ego on a "time out" in the corner. Try to practice mindful breathing in fresh outdoor air where possible.)
9) CHALLENGE YOURSELF. Begin training in an ego-challenging discipline. The comfort zone is where dreams go to die. Stagnation leads to rot. From martial arts, to public speaking, to being vulnerable around your peers, to fasting, learn to be a white belt. (Become comfortable in being challenged physically, emotionally, or psychologically. Let yourself fail. Bruise your ego. Say "no" to yourself. Establish healthy boundaries. Build confidence. Learn to take a hit. Condition yourself to fall down and get back up.)
10) KNOW YOURSELF. Begin to work with any contemporary or traditional self-work community dedicated to discovering your real personality, beyond any artificial "identity" that may have been dumped on top. (This may include traditional cultural ceremony, meditation groups, temple, sweat lodges, yoga, 12 step discussion groups, therapy, etc.) Use this self work program to seek who you really are without the influence of addiction, toxicity, ego, or automatic emotional responses. Examine your reaction to challenging situations, and analyze the consequences of those reactions.
Establish an ideal healthy self image, and map out a concrete plan to reach it.
2) THINK STRAIGHT. Strive for Sober Consciousness. Abstain from recreational intoxicant use. Establish a psychological operation baseline. Examine unnecessary pharmaceutical dependence. A sober mind can more easily navigate hostile terrain while keeping the consequences of our choices firmly in sight. Learn how to face challenge while not under the influence of mind altering chemicals
3) MOVE YOURSELF. Get stronger, inside and out. Practice exercising physically at least three times weekly. Working towards pulling, lifting, squatting, and pushing your own body weight as an initial goal. Get those lungs and heart back in quality operational mode. (Also, even though the gym is great, consider working outside in nature, developing functional skill sets: start hiking, cross country skiing, trail biking, chopping wood, free running, or tree climbing for a change of pace!)
4) DIET. Eat cleaner. Hydrate. Emphasize the importance of real, quality, food in your diet. Not Junk. Practice discipline in both quality and quantity of what you eat. Reduce/avoid processed and refined foods. Refine this principle as necessary for your inner and outer growth. (Run your vehicle on high octane fuel. Don't dump sugar in your gas tank.)
5) RELATIONSHIP. Partake only in healthy expressions of mutually beneficial consensual sexual behaviour. (Basically, don't seek intimacy with anyone who is unwilling/unable to give informed consent, with anyone that your relationship parameters do not allow, or with anyone who is in a monogamous relationship with someone other than you. Do not engage in physically or emotionally harmful relationships, or addictive sexual behaviour. Do not risk your health or future for temporary physical ecstasy.)
6) HONESTY. Speak truthfully, considerately, and thoughtfully. (Don't be a liar, loudmouth, braggard, or con artist. Consider the consequences of your words. Listen, communicate, and don't just wait for your chance to speak.)
7) INTEGRITY. Only accept things that are freely given through mutual agreement. (Don't extort, steal, rip off, or manipulate people to get ahead.)
8) DECOMPRESS YOURSELF. Learn a mindful breathing/meditation form to practice at least a few times weekly. Increase and adapt length and style of sessions as necessary. (Sit down, shut up, put your ego on a "time out" in the corner. Try to practice mindful breathing in fresh outdoor air where possible.)
9) CHALLENGE YOURSELF. Begin training in an ego-challenging discipline. The comfort zone is where dreams go to die. Stagnation leads to rot. From martial arts, to public speaking, to being vulnerable around your peers, to fasting, learn to be a white belt. (Become comfortable in being challenged physically, emotionally, or psychologically. Let yourself fail. Bruise your ego. Say "no" to yourself. Establish healthy boundaries. Build confidence. Learn to take a hit. Condition yourself to fall down and get back up.)
10) KNOW YOURSELF. Begin to work with any contemporary or traditional self-work community dedicated to discovering your real personality, beyond any artificial "identity" that may have been dumped on top. (This may include traditional cultural ceremony, meditation groups, temple, sweat lodges, yoga, 12 step discussion groups, therapy, etc.) Use this self work program to seek who you really are without the influence of addiction, toxicity, ego, or automatic emotional responses. Examine your reaction to challenging situations, and analyze the consequences of those reactions.
Establish an ideal healthy self image, and map out a concrete plan to reach it.
A Discipline. A Path. A Code. A Practice.