self-approval

Self-Approval Clue Archive

1. What concrete claims did Seth make about this concept? How many times, in which books, and did the wording change over time?

• In The Way Toward Health, Seth asserted that "all living beings are born with a keen sense of self-approval; every creature is born proud of itself and loving itself," and that this sense of self-approval also exists in various forms in atoms, molecules, and all forms of matter [way-toward-health].

• In Dreams, Evolution and Value Fulfillment Vol 1, Session 891, Seth listed self-approval as the first rule of personal practice, asserting "I will approve of myself, my traits, my abilities, my likes and dislikes, my tendencies and non-tendencies, recognizing that they form my unique individuality," and emphasized the second rule "I will approve of and delight in my accomplishments" [dreams-evolution-1 §891].

• In the 1973 The Nature of Personal Reality, Session 674, although the term "self-approval" was not used directly, the term "Affirmation" was used, asserting that affirmation is accepting the miraculous complexity of oneself, and emphasizing that "true self-pride is a loving recognition of one's own integrity and value" [personal-reality §674].

• In the 1979 Dreams, Evolution and Value Fulfillment Vol 1, Session 891, the expression "approve of myself" was used as a practical directive [dreams-evolution-1 §891].

• In the 1984 The Way Toward Health, the term "self-approval" was used directly, described as an innate instinctual attribute shared by biology and matter alike [way-toward-health].

2. What mechanism did he provide?

Affirmation means accepting your own incredible complexity, saying "yes" to your own existence, and acknowledging your reality as spirit within flesh [personal-reality §674]. In the formation of personal reality, loving attention toward yourself leads you to trust your own direction and to accept that your present position is part of that direction [personal-reality §676].

When disapproval arises, the mechanism includes: writing out your views of yourself and being thoroughly honest; upon examination, recognizing that a set of beliefs is involved—believing "I am not good enough" is different from actually not being good enough [personal-reality §676]; listing your abilities and achievements, recording all talents and accomplishments as honestly as you would record the most minute "defects" [personal-reality §676].

When you affirm the basic grace of your existence, this automatically weakens beliefs to the contrary [personal-reality §677].

Specific directives are available: First, approve of yourself, your traits, abilities, and preferences, recognizing that they constitute unique individuality and exist for a reason; second, approve of and delight in your accomplishments, listing them as actively as you once recalled failures; third, remember the creative framework of existence, so that possibilities, potentials, and spontaneity open the door to a creative life in your mind; fourth, recognize that the future is probability, sown in the present through feelings and thoughts, so plant only the accomplishments you wish to appear in the future [dreams-evolution-1 §891].

At the bodily level, failure to approve of one's own relaxation has an inhibitory effect on the body, as in "he did not approve of his own relaxation and therefore put a brake on it" [dreams-evolution-1 §881].

3. Are there observable inferences or explicit predictions (including time, quantity, conditions)?

The material does not address this.

4. Where did he say science was wrong at the time, and in what direction should it look?

The fundamental error of the scientific framework is that it has been equated with "rational thinking" itself, so that any other approach is automatically regarded as irrational, and thought has become overly specialized, biased, and inflexible [magical-approach §?]. Science attempts to rely only on what it can prove, with the result that it constructs a worldview based only on certain specific materials, split into separate disciplines such as biology, psychology, physics, and mathematics, with no connections between them, and on the whole unable to offer any comprehensive conception of reality [magical-approach §?]. Rather than emphasizing nature's cooperative forces, science revels in distinction, subdivision, and classification, while remaining blind to the equally real forces of union [magical-approach §?]. The scientific framework excludes the role of intent, purpose, or desire in the picture of individual life, treating the individual as an isolated being driven by inherited endowments and indeterminate energies, who must struggle against an "indifferent" environment, genetic determinism, and even one's own body [magical-approach §?]. Science also insists on a mechanical model of the body, holding that the body wears out and deteriorates within certain age limits, a belief reinforced by the very forces that believe it [dreams-evolution-1 §898]. The scientific community on the whole still views genetic systems in mechanical, deterministic, reductionistic terms, with very little mention of the connection between consciousness and genetics [dreams-evolution-2 §910]. Views in which science has no interest include: exchanges occurring among genetic systems, the environment, and cultural events such as politics and economics; genetic systems responding to our thoughts and emotions; and even genetic planning directed toward future probabilities [dreams-evolution-2 §910].

5. What experiments or exercises did he suggest? What did Jane and Rob actually do and observe at the time?

Seth suggested that individuals, each morning upon waking or before sleep, perform a four-step self-approval exercise of a "wish" nature, with the specific content:

1. "One: I will approve of myself, my characteristics, my abilities, my likes and dislikes, my leanings and repulsions, and recognize that these form my unique individuality. They were given to me for a reason." [dreams-evolution-1 §891]
2. "Two: I will approve of and delight in my accomplishments, and I will list and strictly remember them as forcefully as I once remembered and listed my failures or lack of accomplishments." [dreams-evolution-1 §891]
3. "Three: I will remember the creative framework of existence in which I dwell. Therefore, the possibilities, potentials, apparent miracles, and joyful spontaneity of Framework 2 will reside in my mind, so that the door to a creative life remains open." [dreams-evolution-1 §891]
4. "Four: I will realize that the future is a probability. In terms of ordinary experience, nothing yet exists there. It is virgin ground sown by my present feelings and thoughts. Therefore, I will plant accomplishments and successes, by remembering that the future cannot possibly contain anything I do not want to be there." [dreams-evolution-1 §891]

In earlier material, Seth gave Tam a specific pre-sleep visualization exercise aimed at cultivating inner calm and control, which also constitutes a distinctive form of inner work:

• "Before going to bed, imagine your mind as an ocean upon which you can walk. All feelings are on the surface, and you are above them." [early-sessions-9 §454]
• "Then imagine that you walk upon the water, listening with your inner ears and seeing with your inner eyes. You should hear sounds and see a figure on the horizon... let the figure approach... do not run. Relax, and let the figure walk toward you. When the figure is closer, let him speak first." [early-sessions-9 §454]
• "When he speaks, you will understand. The figure is someone you know, who will help your cause... it will not appear before you are ready... When this meeting occurs, you will know how to proceed, and the figure is indeed three-dimensional in this mental image." [early-sessions-9 §454]
• "This is a symbolic exercise... but there is truth in symbolism. It will give you confidence and control. Carefully record the sights and sounds you see." [early-sessions-9 §454]
• Seth emphasized that this exercise must not be overdone: "You should not do any other (projection) exercises until you have attempted the water exercise at least 30 or 35 times." [early-sessions-9 §454] And "Seth never suggested this water exercise to anyone else." [early-sessions-9 §454]

In the early period, Jane and Rob did indeed conduct various experiments and recorded corresponding observations:

• Psychological time practice: Jane regularly practiced "psychological time" between 11:30 a.m. and noon, which was her fixed schedule [early-sessions-4 §156]. Seth once suggested to her "now if he wishes, he may do the psychological time exercise in the morning. I wanted that particular routine discontinued for a while, but now if it is more convenient, he may return to the old schedule; that is, at the same time each day, but twenty minutes should still be the maximum." [early-sessions-4 §156]
• "Ecstasy" experiments: Jane conducted "ecstasy" experiments and achieved ecstatic states several times [early-sessions-3 §100]. However, Seth warned her early on (Session 54) "to be careful of her 'ecstasy' experiments, because if unintentionally directed at others, they could produce undesirable effects." [early-sessions-3 §100] Following this warning, Jane stopped attempting to reach such states [early-sessions-3 §100].
• Psychic and visual experiments: Jane and Rob tried color-card experiments, but "there were no results" [early-sessions-1 §16]. They also conducted séances, during which, in semi-darkness, Jane entered a light trance state and a personality calling itself "Malba Bronson" spoke [early-sessions-1 §16]. Jane also attempted the closet experiment ("I placed myself in a dark closet while Rob examined outside for ectoplasm or aura") but it failed because "I did not believe it would work" [early-sessions-1 §16].

The material mentions that Seth pointed out the close connection between the "self-approval" exercise and the development of personal abilities. A specific example is that Seth noted how Jane's mother, Stella Butts, reconstructed her "memory" of her husband for the better, and although this was not a conscious exercise, it demonstrated how beliefs and perceptions influence experience [dreams-evolution-1 §891].

6. Supplements or contradictions from other concepts in the corpus related to this concept?

Affirmation is the core pathway to achieving self-approval. Affirmation means accepting your own unique individuality and saying "yes" to your own existence [personal-reality §672]. Affirmation is built upon the recognition that no other consciousness is identical to yours and that your abilities are uniquely yours; it is a psychic and physiological necessity, representing your appreciation of your extraordinary integrity [personal-reality §672].

Genuine self-pride belongs to the same category of quality as self-approval—genuine self-pride is a loving recognition of your own integrity and value, while true humility is built upon this profound self-respect [personal-reality §674]. Conversely, regarding humility as a sacred virtue and self-respect as sin makes genuine self-affirmation impossible [personal-reality §674].

"Love yourself as you love your neighbor" is an interpretation of self-approval—you often see goodness in others while overlooking your own, and therefore should reverse "love your neighbor as yourself" into "love yourself as your neighbor" [personal-reality §674].

Loving respect for yourself leads to trusting your own direction, accepting your present position, and automatically helping others [personal-reality §676]. Being yourself and trusting your own integrity is the precondition for helping others [personal-reality §676].

You must be honest with your own emotions. If you repeat the suggestion "I am a valuable person" while despising your so-called negative emotions, it is ineffective—you cannot love yourself while hating the emotions flowing through you, because in hating your emotions you are hating yourself [personal-reality §676].

The belief that you must be perfect to be "good" hinders self-approval—"perfection" presupposes a state of completion and immutability, while the psyche is forever in a state of flux and soft incompletion [personal-reality §633]. Denying your imperfect thoughts and emotions in pursuit of perfection may invite great disaster [personal-reality §633].

Comparison with others is an obstacle to self-approval—within your own uniqueness, comparing yourself with others is futile; doing so attempts to imitate qualities belonging to others, and to that extent denies your own miraculous existence [personal-reality §676].

When you find yourself feeling worthless, do not simply paste a "more positive belief" on top of it; instead, find the reasons for the first belief, write down your feelings about yourself with complete honesty, and examine the belief system involved [personal-reality §676]. Then list your abilities and achievements, recording them as honestly and meticulously as you record your faults, thereby discovering that you are a person of value [personal-reality §676].

Working with beliefs is key to practicing self-approval. Even if you find yourself in a negative state of mind, do not panic; ask yourself constructively why you feel this way, let the emotions flow as they are, and the sense of worthlessness will transform and disappear on its own [personal-reality §676].

Affirming your legitimacy in the universe will automatically and easily bring cooperation with others, regarding it as part of your nature; once you recognize your own uniqueness, you need neither dominate others nor cower before them [personal-reality §677]. If you refuse to trust yourself, you will forever rely on others to confirm your worth and will never be satisfied [personal-reality §677].

Affirmative effects on cells and organs—when you affirm the legitimacy of physical existence, you help the cells and organs of your body; distrust of the bodily nature radiates distrust to the cells, and can even turn antibodies against you [personal-reality §672]. An affirmative attitude also treats body tissues kindly, even unintentionally [personal-reality §672].

"Self-approval" is connected to affirmation of the future self—your acceptance of your own soundness can change your past and future at any moment in the present [personal-reality §675]. Affirmation of your earlier self, projected into the future, enables the future self to return to the past and encourage the present [personal-reality §675].

Your value system is built from accumulated beliefs about reality, and these beliefs cannot be separated from bodily conditions—they can help you achieve health or bring disease, bringing success or failure into experience [personal-reality §633]. Positive and negative thoughts are both part of the natural flow; accepting present reality does not mean solidifying temporary phenomena into beliefs, and denying the existence of certain thoughts diminishes your reality [personal-reality §633].

7. Questions not yet asked

1. Based on Seth's claim that 'self-approval is an instinctual attribute shared by biology and matter,' an experiment could be designed: measuring growth differences in plants under affirmatively toned verbal or vibrational stimuli of varying frequencies, to test whether non-conscious self-approval responses exist, with sound frequency and intensity controlled.
2. Seth proposed that the self-approval exercise can alter belief systems; a longitudinal randomized controlled trial could be designed: in an anxious population, performing the four-step self-approval exercise daily, comparing with a cognitive behavioral therapy group, measuring prefrontal cortex activity (fMRI) and self-report scales, observing neuroplastic changes after 12 weeks.
3. Literature could be consulted: exploring neurophysiological differences between self-approval and self-esteem, for example comparing the effects of self-approval practice versus classic self-esteem enhancement interventions on amygdala and striatal activation patterns, using functional magnetic resonance imaging in a crossover design.
4. Based on Seth's view that 'failure to approve of one's own relaxation has an inhibitory effect on the body,' a physiological experiment could be designed: monitoring heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance responses in subjects during self-critical versus self-approving tasks, comparing autonomic nervous system differences.
5. Seth claimed that self-approval influences future probabilities, which could be translated into an experiment on future-positive expectancy behavior: introducing a self-approval intervention in employment counseling, measuring changes in job seekers' self-efficacy and the number of job offers actually received, compared with a control group, controlling for socioeconomic variables.

Appendix: Claim List (for Phase C)

id	claim	type	source
self-approval-1	All living beings are born with a keen sense of self-approval, and this sense of approval also exists in atoms, molecules, and all forms of matter.	ontological assertion	way-toward-health
self-approval-2	Self-approval is the first rule of personal practice; one should approve of one's own traits, abilities, preferences, and tendencies, recognizing that they constitute unique individuality.	methodological recommendation	dreams-evolution-1 §891
self-approval-3	Affirmation is accepting one's own miraculous complexity, saying "yes" to one's own existence, and acknowledging one's reality as spirit within flesh.	mechanism description	personal-reality §674
self-approval-4	When disapproval arises, one should write out one's views of oneself and examine them with complete honesty, recognizing that beliefs are involved, then list a catalog of abilities and achievements.	methodological recommendation	personal-reality §676
self-approval-5	Affirming the basic grace of one's existence automatically weakens beliefs to the contrary.	mechanism description	personal-reality §677
self-approval-6	Each morning upon waking or before sleep, one may perform a four-step self-approval exercise: approve of oneself, approve of and delight in accomplishments, remember the creative framework of existence, and recognize the future as probability, sowing only the accomplishments one wishes to appear.	methodological recommendation	dreams-evolution-1 §891
self-approval-7	Failure to approve of one's own relaxation produces an inhibitory effect on the body, like putting a brake on relaxation.	mechanism description	dreams-evolution-1 §881
self-approval-8	The scientific community views genetic systems in mechanical, deterministic, reductionistic terms, neglecting the connection between consciousness and genetics; it should shift toward recognizing genetic systems' responses to thoughts and emotions, and genetic planning directed toward future probabilities.	methodological recommendation	dreams-evolution-2 §910
self-approval-9	Before sleep, one may imagine the mind as an ocean and walk upon it, listening with inner ears and seeing with inner eyes; this symbolic exercise cultivates confidence and control and requires at least 30 or 35 attempts.	methodological recommendation	early-sessions-9 §454
self-approval-10	Ecstasy experiments, if unintentionally directed at others, may produce undesirable effects and therefore must be handled with care.	mechanism description	early-sessions-3 §100
self-approval-11	Genuine self-pride is a loving recognition of one's own integrity and value; true humility is built upon this profound self-respect.	ontological assertion	personal-reality §674
self-approval-12	Within one's own uniqueness, comparing oneself with others is futile, and doing so denies one's own miraculous existence.	ontological assertion	personal-reality §676