When we have restraint, we do not breathe deeply. We breathe in a shallow way, and we do not use our lungs to their full capacity. Thus, we do not oxygenate the blood as well as we can and the nutrients don't get into the cells in an optimal way. The result is that what goes with restraint are aches and pains. When we have aches and pains, we have an excuse not to do what needs to get done.




What is it that restrains us? Often it's other people's opinions or our thoughts that we won't have enough money to do what we want and, as we've seen, our fear of making a mistake. This leads to our not following through, which in turn leads to our not trusting ourselves. Not trusting ourselves leads to our not being able to make up our minds and proceed with purpose.



Can you now understand how restraint can be a disease? It's not a disease in the medical or pathological sense; it's a disease of consciousness.



- John-Roger