Center for Awakened Living

"An unquestioned mind is the world of suffering."
Byron Katie

A message from Billy:

The Work is a method of self-inquiry that becomes a way of being. The more you do The Work, the more The Work does you. Gradually you start to notice that events that use to cause you suffering no longer bother you. A sense of peace, freedom and spaciousness dawns in your mind and the usual stressful thoughts have nothing to hold on to.

How does The Work work? It is really very simple. First, you identify some of your stressful thoughts -- some of your judgments about self or other. Second, you meet each thought with understanding using the four questions. Third, you turn each thought around to see how true the opposites are. Fourth, you experience an inner shift -- from constriction to spaciousness, from fear-based to love-based thinking, from resentment to acceptance. Yes, it is that simple.

I started doing The Work in mid-2005 after reading Byron Katie's book Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life. I very quickly realized that I had stumbled upon something extraordinary. I was not new to the world of "self-help" and spirituality. You could say that I was (and still am to some extent) a "spirituality junkie." However, I knew that The Work was very unique. I have never come across such an easy to use and powerful technique.

Not only have I used The Work in my own personal life, but I have also used it in my professional life with my clients. I have used it in group sessions, in individual sessions and as a counselor-led activity with the whole client population at the in-patient facility where I work. My experience has been that The Work is a very effective method of gaining inner peace.

In Oct. of 2006 I attended the nine-day School for The Work. This was truly a life-changing experience. It was amazing getting to meet Katie (everyone calls her Katie). It was even more amazing getting to meet myself. The more I live The Work the less defensive and anxious I am and the more confident, open-hearted and peace-filled I become.

It is my goal to be able to share this amazing method with as many people as possible. Since returning from The School I have done public presentations on The Work and have conducted a day-long workshop called "Who Would You Be Without Defense?" I also use and teach The Work in my private sessions with individuals and groups (if they are open to it).

To learn more about The Work visit www.thework.com. There you will be able to download free copies of the "Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet" and the "One-Belief-At-A-Time Worksheet" as well as a booklet called "The Little Book" which is an excerpt of Loving What Is. I also recommend that you visit Katie's blog at www.byronkatie.com. For more in-depth instruction on doing The Work you can read Loving What Is.