The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University

Change can move us toward a healthier, more desirable state, or toward aharmful, less desirable state. Because change can be so gradual, it is possible tomove significantly in an unhealthy direction for a long time, without being awareof doing so. Therefore, it is advisable to bring into our consciousness theawareness of how we are constantly changing. This consciousness then makes itpossible to insert our mind into the middle of the change process. We can thenexert some influence into the direction of change.One of the goals of the healthy management of reality is to test the limits ofwhat can be accomplished within the realm of conscious reflection and choice.There is no question that we are influenced by a multitude of factors, most ofwhich are clearly outside our control. We had no say on being born, on beingengendered by the two particular human beings who passed on to us the gift of life.Out of the immense number of possible combinations of genes that our parentscould have passed on to us, one set of 23 chromosomes from each joined togetherinto our unique biological master plan. The geographical and political reality intowhich we were born (or brought to as a child), and the particular year and historicalera into which we were born were all determined in some manner that is beyondthe known. Yet here we are. And, once we develop the ability to think aboutourselves, we must advance in some direction.This book was written to support the efforts of those who want to have a sayabout where they are headed; to increase the chances that each of them will find adirection leading toward what is good in life; and to increase the chances that theywill reach many of the objectives they glimpse in the distance.HMOR.July2005.Muñoz.doc 62