This is taken (yep, federal offense, I know) from a book called... you guessed it, Shaving The Inside of Your Skull: crazy wisdom for discovering who you really are by a guy named Mel Ash. [0] The idea is this: "check" (mentally, or on your own copy) all that apply as true (or particularly false, if you like) as you read through the options. If you don't feel represented, add your own options in italics. Add whole new catagories if you want! Since this is meant to be an introspective survey, [1] feel no need to be politically correct or any kind of "correct," for that matter. Examine how you really feel and think. If you want to discuss afterwards, you can create new pages for your your thoughts and answers, to discuss the parts that are particularly meaningful to you. I'd also be curious to know how "valuable" you find this whole exercise in general. Mind blowing? Mildly interesting? All pretty obvious and boring? Anyhoo, let the games begin! {Beliefs about God} God exists. God does not exist. God is dead. God is utterly indifferent. (Kurt Vonnegut) God is dog spelled backwards. Dog is God spelled backwards. God? She?s black! (Gregory Corso) God is an insane space alien. I am God. God is Whatever shapes the mountains and opens the flowers We are all God. God is love God is out there in Heaven. God is in here in everything. God is a jealous and wrathful god. God is a forgiving and loving god. God is a concept by which we measure our pain. (Lennon) I can know about God. Others must tell me about God. My God can beat up your God. Any God will do. Haven?t considered it. Don?t know. God is unnameable God is spam God is Goddess is God is Goddess. Gods/Goddesses may exist in some realities, posably this one. but deffanently not in all of them. My god should meet your god My god is the only god, you just think yours is real God is mearly the existance of energy reather then void. [2] --pellik There ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk (Tom Waits) {Beliefs about Self} I am God. I am worthless. I am. I am not. The world owes me. I don?t deserve anything. I am a success. I am a failure. I am for real. I am a fake. I am evil. I am good. I can change my life. I am at the hands of fate. I love myself and my body. I hate myself and my body. I hate myself and love my body I love myself and hate my body I am who others tell me i am. I am a stranger. I am a circus perfomer I am a freak (same thing) I belive I am anyone I think I am, if I really belived I was Elvis, I would be the new Elvis /(or the _old_ elvis)/ I am nothing but vibrating energy (god). I will never know what I am. I will always know what I am. I would take a long time to cook {Beliefs about Others} Others are more important than me. I am better than others. I?m better then no one and no one?s better than me (Bob Dylan) Go along to get along. Be yourself. Follow the crowd. The majority is always right. Individuals make the difference. My self-image is reliant on my own self-realization. others are always right. others shouldn?t be upset by me. Others are a threat and a competition to me. Dog eat dog. Others complete me. Cooperation with others is the highest goal. Success is determined by others and exteriors. Success is within me. Theyre all a bunch of brainwashed drones. holy cow! I'm not alone!?!? Others are all the people who aren't in the news {Beliefs about Groups} My religion, country, politics, ethnic group...
is the best and the only right way.
My ... is one among many, a style of being.
My life is determined by the traditions of my group without question.
My life is determined by my group, but with lots of resistance.
My life is determined by myself, but with lots of guilt.
My life is determined by myself.
My life is Circus. Circus people are my life.
When you get down to it, and really look at any group from the under-side,
it just looks like another cult
{Beliefs about Suffering} Life is a drag. Life is joyful. I cause my own suffering. Others (people, places, and things) cause my suffering. Suffering is inescapable. Suffering can be transcended. Suffering is punishment. Suffering is a gift for growth. Suffering is the result of attachments. No pain, no gain. Grin and bear it. That?s life. (Sinatra) Only ?bad? people suffer. Bad things can happen to good people. (rabbi Kushner) No! they'll never find me! Allways look on the sunny side of death (Monty Pithon) Build-up indurance, but avoid real suffering at all costs {Beliefs about Sex} Sex is spiritual. Sex is evil and dirty. Sex is a weapon. Sex is a gift and communication. Sex is a mere biological function, like itching or sneezing. Sex is a necessary evil. Sex is a three-letter word. Sex is frightening. Sex is an invitation. There is proper and moral sexuality. There are as many sexualities as there are people. Sex is a commodity. Sex is a possession. Sex should be free and easy. Sex is part of a complete human life. Celibacy and abstinence lead to god. Sexual activity is one of god?s dances. Sex is fun Unprotected sex between members of the oposet sex is just people doing the reproduction thing.But we alredy have horrible over population problems, so unprotected sex between members of the oposet sex is therefore evil. Anything else is just goofing around {Beliefs about Money} Money is the measure of personal worth. money is the root of all evil. I don?t like to talk about money. I do my work for the money. I do my work because it fulfills me. I am proud of money. I am ashamed of money. Money is a symbol of energy. Money is power. Money = freedom. Money is slavery and oppression. I hate the concept of money, but I want alot of it. Money makes me very happy. The loss of the traid system, means that rich buisness-men can sit on they'er big fat fannys doing nothing at all, and still make lodes of money Money makes the world go 'round {Beliefs about Power} I have the power to change my life. I am powerless. Power is hereditary. Power can be attained. Power is corruption. Power can be used for good. I am subject to the powers that be. I have all power within myself. All power is handed out by the little green men as they see fit Power is good to have. Power is control. To much power is more danjorous to the holder then anyone around him/her {Beliefs about Emotions} It is a sign of weakness to show emotion. It is a sign of strength to show emotion. I repress bad emotions. I repress good emotions. I repress all emotions. Emotions are not real. Emotions are more real than thoughts. You don't need emotions if your a freak Emotions are a hand-hold for people who want to use you {Beliefs about Thoughts} My thinking reflects reality. My thinking creates reality. My thinking distorts reality. My thinking is an electrical and biochemical process. My thoughts digest experience. My thoughts are like a computer program. My thoughts are always right. My thoughts are shameful and unworthy. Our brains are too big for their britches. Thinking makes it so. Thinking is a waste of time. Other people don?t think like me. Everyone has these thoughts. I think a lot about what others think of me. I feel trapped by my thinking. My thinking frees me. I must not think bad thoughts. I must consider every possibility. Thinking about sin is as good as committing the sin. God knows my thoughts. Others can tell what I am thinking. Nobody will ever really know what I really think. I think..... I like cheese Thinking doesn't make things so, but it's a step in the right direction {Beliefs about Love} I am unlovable. I am incapable of loving. I am full of love. Love is all you need (Beatles) Love stinks (J. Geils) Love is the highest spiritual attainment. Love is a sign of weakness. Love is only for my family or group. Love is the flip side of hate. Love is only in the movies. Unconditional love is possible. Love is not possible. Love means never having to say you?re sorry. Love is sappy. Love is slavery. Love is freedom. Love is for others. True love is reeeally hard to come by, but it's also really cool. Love is lovely, but not if you rush it. {Beliefs about Beliefs} Beliefs are accurate measures of reality. Beliefs are harmless. Beliefs are hurtful. One cannot live without beliefs There is only one right way to believe...
There is one perfect truth. There are many true things, and many false things. Everything is as true as it is false. I believe in beliefs. I believe in myself. I believe beliefs are tools. I believe beliefs are rules. I believe I can change my beliefs. I am stuck with my beliefs; it?s too late to change. I stand up for my beliefs. I change my beliefs to suit my peers and situation. A person with beliefs is morally and spiritually bankrupt. A person without beliefs is a secure person. Beliefs are a map. Beliefs are the destination. Believing makes it so. Believing is an art form. Beliefs are limits to be transcended. (John Lilly) Beliefs are our way of interpreting the world in symbols. Beliefs cause suffering. Beliefs can cause freedom. Believe it or not! I believe that if you don't believe anything at all, you turn into a lump of putty People belive want they want to belive, and what they read in the news-paper (the princess Ceribo) {Beliefs about Authority} Authority is always right. Authority is always wrong. Authority is earned. Question authority. Authority is granted by others. Authority is a privilege, not a right. Authority is a divine right, and infallible. Authority will take responsibility for my actions. I am responsible for my actions even if so instructed by an authority. Authority derives from below. Authority is granted from above. Don't touch my authority! My authority is higher then your authority! {Beliefs about Status} I care what others think of me. I don?t give a hoot. I care when appropriate. I only feel ?real? when I stand out from the crowd. Keep up with the Joneses. Status means material goods, money and position. Status is self-granted, and based on values. I fear ridicule of my peers most of all. I invite ridicule as confirmation of my ?uniqueness.? Current cultural fashions of thought and behavior are important There are eternal standards of human value, not just temporal. I am sensitive to the approval of those I don?t even know or respect. freaks don't need status, they need goverment backing. what is this status thing people keep talking about? {Beliefs about Family} Like father, like son. The apple doesn?t fall far from the tree. If you want to see your spouse in twenty years, look at their parent. One must never betray the family secrets or skeletons. Parents are always right. Children should be seen and not heard. Families are partnerships. Families are prisons. The sins of the parents are visited upon the children. It is possible to break the generational pattern of families. One can outgrow the ?inner parent? or critic. Parents are biological. Parent figures can be found outside the home. Our behavior patterns and responses are conditioned by early family. Our behaviors are solely our own decisions. Genetics determine one?s fate. Genetics can contribute. Genetics can be transcended and self-transformed, to a degree. You hear your parents voice coming from your own mouth. You hear your parents voice as yours. I would have chosen another family. I like my family. I hate my upbringing, but wouldn?t trade it, nonetheless. The child is father to the ?man,? mother to the woman. I have to live up to my given name. My given name is irrelevant and doesn?t affect who I am. My grandperents are anoying, my perents are nice, my sister is... um, not all there I hae a messed-up family {Beliefs about Intimacy} Honesty is the best policy. They're so confusing. You can?t trust anyone. You can never ever know another person really. Honesty hurts, but is movement towards growth. I find it hard to say ?I love you? I say I love you but don?t feel it. Physical touch is repulsive. Physicality is wordless communication. If I?m honest and share, I?m surrendering power to another. Intimacy is weakness. Bring it on. I am unable to do real intimacy {Beliefs about Substances} Eat to live. Live to eat. You are what you eat. Addictions = no will power. Addictions are a disease. Addictions are caused by rigid beliefs. Anything can become an addiction. Beliefs are addictions. Substances can enhance life. Substances lessen the quality of life. Substances are a substitute for life. Life itself is a substance we are addicted to. Chocolate is a fun addiction Substances are needed for living, even for the most huble monk. After all, we can even pin down air. {Beliefs about Mortality} Death is like sleep.
Death is a passage.
Death is merely irrevocable extinction of consciousness.
Death is rebirth.
He not busy being born is busy dying. (Dylan).
When you die, you go to heaven.
We are already dead and in hell.
We are already dead and in heaven.
Heaven and hell, life and death all exist simultaneously
and right here and now.
I don?t like to think about it.
Other people die.
I always think about it.
It?s important to leave something behind to make a
difference and to be remembered by.
Personal ?fame? after death doesn?t matter.
Don?t consider death much, accept is as part of a natural process.
Would accept immortality if offered.
Would refuse.
Suicide is an option.
Not an option.
Death doesn?t seem real to me somehow.
Already dead, so not able to answer these questions.
Death is compleatly normal, like breathing and farting
Death comes after life, what comes after that is intirely your choice.
{Beliefs about Work} All work and no play makes Jane a dull girl. Idle hands are the Devil?s playground. Play is as important as work. Play is frivolous and nonproductive. Self-image is derived from working. Work is morally correct. Some forms of work are more ?important? than others. Play should be equivalent to work. I feel guilty and frivolous when playing. You should work at what you love. Self-improvement is important work. Time to get to work on this book. My work /is/ my play (yay circus!) Work at what your good at. Work at what you love. [0] But I don't feel guilty, because I highly reccomend the book for all it's cool mind games and exercises, so, hey, maybe you'll buy it. [1] No handy personality type for ya' at the end. Sorry. [2] i am really interested to see who wrote that ~erin stuppoted to be at the bottom. it's shaving the heat of your skulls. he won't tiii. sorry i can't tpye batye. NBTSWikiWiki | Recent Changes Edited 37 times, last edited on February 16, 2002 by 142.165.115.223. © 2000 NBTSC Webmasters |
