At a particularly difficult time in my life, my grad school mentor, Jane Stallings, sent me Love is Letting Go of Fear, by Jerry Jampolsky, the founder of Attitudinal Healing. I was in my third marriage and already found myself drinking and getting into trouble.
After skimming the book, I got the audio version and listened to it every day as I drove my green VW bug to and from work, hoping that something would help me escape my misery. I guess those ideas seeped in, because within a year I had quit drinking and begun my spiritual path. Amazing!
By applying the principles of Attitudinal Healing (plus taking the actions suggested in the Twelve Steps), I have to say, my life is nothing short of miraculous!
What is Attitudinal Healing?
“Attitudinal Healing is based on the principle that it is not other people or situations that cause us to be upset. Rather, it is our own thoughts and attitudes about those things that are responsible for our distress.
Healing results when we concentrate on changing our own attitudes rather than trying to change the attitudes of others. Thus, the goal of Attitudinal Healing is self-healing in the face of each life challenge.
Attitudinal Healing is not a religion, nor is it religious. People from many cultures, faiths, and denominations, as well as those who follow no faith at all are welcome to participate.” (Love Is Letting Go of Fear by Gerald Jampolsky, M.D.)
Many years after receiving this book, I joined my mentor, Jane, in California to become a facilitator for Attitudinal Healing groups. What a wonderful experience. Plus, I got to meet Jerry Jampolsky (now deceased).
You can easily find Attitudinal Healing groups by searching in your area. They are helpful for anyone who is struggling with any life situation.
The Twelve Principles of Attitudinal Healing
- The Essence Of Our Being Is Love
- Health Is Inner Peace, Healing Is Letting Go Of Fear
- We Can Let Go Of The Past And Of The Future
- Now Is The Only Time There Is And Each Instant Is For Giving
- We Can Learn To Love Ourselves And Others By Forgiving Rather Than Judging
- We Can Become Love Finders Rather Than Fault-Finders
- We Can Choose And Direct Ourselves To Be Peaceful Inside Regardless Of What Is Happening Outside
- We Are Students And Teachers To Each Other
- We Can Focus On The Whole Of Life Rather Than The Fragments
- Since Love Is Eternal, Death Need Not Be Viewed As Fearful
- We Can Always Perceive Others As Either Loving Or Fearful And Giving A Call Of Help For Love
These twelve spiritual principles lead us toward love and away from fear. We think of the application of these principles as “practical spirituality” that can be used in every aspect of our lives. There is not one area where they do not apply. As we learn to change our attitudes and change our minds, we change our lives.
Some of the Possible Benefits of Attitudinal Healing
- Experiencing ourselves as love.
- Believing we deserve happiness and inner peace.
- Becoming a love finder rather than a fault finder.
- Having an attitude of gratitude and always counting our blessings.
- Focusing on the essence of others rather than on their appearances.
- Walking through life more lightly.
- Laughing more through judging less.
- Living in a consciousness of giving rather than getting.
- Recognizing that there is something greater than ourselves.
- Successfully letting go of fear, judgments, guilt, being a victim, fear of death, unforgiving thoughts, pain, blame, fear of the past and future, being a fault finder, withholding love from anyone including ourselves, our need to assign guilt or innocence, complaining and listing our hurts, fear of intimacy, and especially the need to suffer.
If you’ve read any of my books, you’ll recognize the profound influence attitudinal healing has had on my life! I’ll be forever grateful for these lessons along with those from the Twelve Steps.
Gigi Langer has been sober 35 years, and holds a PhD in Psychological Studies in Education from Stanford University. Formerly crowned the “Queen of Worry,” Gigi resigned her post many years ago and now lives happily in Florida with her husband, Peter and her cat, Easter.
Gigi’s award-winning book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now, describes how to correct the faulty thinking leading to addiction, dysfunctional relationships, perfectionism, and worry about loved ones. Check out the practical directions, personal stories, and other helpful growth tools. Amazon: 4.8 stars (Buy Discounted, personally signed Paperback with free Workbook PDF HERE $8.95 free US shipping.
