1. It is surely obvious that if you can be attacked you are not invulnerable. \u00b2You see attack as a real threat. \u00b3That is because you believe that you can really attack. \u2074And what would have effects through you must also have effects on you. \u2075It is this law that will ultimately save you, but you are misusing it now. \u2076You must therefore learn how it can be used for your own best interests, rather than against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Because your attack thoughts will be projected, you will fear attack. \u00b2And if you fear attack, you must believe that you are not invulnerable. \u00b3Attack thoughts therefore make you vulnerable in your own mind, which is where the attack thoughts are. \u2074Attack thoughts and invulnerability cannot be accepted together. \u2075They contradict each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. The idea for today introduces the thought that you always attack yourself first. \u00b2If attack thoughts must entail the belief that you are vulnerable, their effect is to weaken you in your own eyes. \u00b3Thus they have attacked your perception of yourself. \u2074And because you believe in them, you can no longer believe in yourself. \u2075A false image of yourself has come to take the place of what you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Practice with today\u2019s idea will help you to understand that vulnerability or invulnerability is the result of your own thoughts. \u00b2Nothing except your thoughts can attack you. \u00b3Nothing except your thoughts can make you think you are vulnerable. \u2074And nothing except your thoughts can prove to you this is not so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Six practice periods are required in applying today\u2019s idea. \u00b2A full two minutes should be attempted for each of them, although the time may be reduced to a minute if the discomfort is too great. \u00b3Do not reduce it further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. The practice period should begin with repeating the idea for today, then closing your eyes and reviewing the unresolved questions whose outcomes are causing you concern. \u00b2The concern may take the form of depression, worry, anger, a sense of imposition, fear, foreboding or preoccupation. \u00b3Any problem as yet unsettled that tends to recur in your thoughts during the day is a suitable subject. \u2074You will not be able to use very many for any one practice period, because a longer time than usual should be spent with each one. \u2075Today\u2019s idea should be applied as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. First, name the situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2<\/sup>I am concerned about _________.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3<\/sup>Then go over every possible outcome that has occurred to you in that connection and which has caused you concern, referring to each one quite specifically, saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4<\/sup>I am afraid _________ will happen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. If you are doing the exercises properly, you should have some five or six distressing possibilities available for each situation you use, and quite possibly more. \u00b2It is much more helpful to cover a few situations thoroughly than to touch on a larger number. \u00b3As the list of anticipated outcomes for each situation continues, you will probably find some of them, especially those that occur to you toward the end, less acceptable to you. \u2074Try, however, to treat them all alike to whatever extent you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. After you have named each outcome of which you are afraid, tell yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/sup>That thought is an attack upon myself.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3<\/sup>Conclude each practice period by repeating today\u2019s idea to yourself once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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