Comparing Ourselves to Others: The Art of Joylessness

Using Our Will to Control Our Thoughts

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Topic references:

MOTIONLESS SITTING

control of restlessness and agitation through determined motionless sitting
Mental Health Through Will Training, chapter 41, page 327 in the 3rd edition
For a detailed description see Manage Your Fears, Manage Your Anger, lecture 56, pages 352-353

COMPARISON

Clearly, Loraine viewed herself as something that could not engross her interest, as something that bored her, as something devoid of fascination and stimulation, perhaps as something odious, repelling and loathsome. Beholding that Self which she thought of as detestable and hateful she became "tense and restless and thoroughly disgusted.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Chapter 24, Partial Views and Total Viewpoint, page 209 in the 1997 edition

WILL

A human being has the power to choose what to believe and what not to believe. The power to chose is called the Will.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Chapter 12, Will, Beliefs and Muscles, page 141 in the 1997 edition

Two inner experiences only are subject to control: thoughts and impulses. I shall add that one factor only is capable of controlling them: the Will. The inference is that when Claire put a check to her total experience of insecurity, the feat was accomplished through the intervention of her Will. It was her Will which exercised control over her thoughts, perhaps also over her impulses, perhaps over both.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Chapter 11, Will, Beliefs and Muscles, page 136 in the 1997 edition

The Will has one function only: It rejects or accepts ideas, and stops or releases impulses.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Chapter 11, Will, Beliefs and Muscles, page 136 in the 1997 edition