Breakthrough | Steve Beckow

By Steve Beckow, October 3, 2020

(Golden Age of Gaia)

I’m inspired by Linda Dillon’s recent Daybreak on breakthrough (1) and encouraged to organize my own thoughts on the subject.

At the same time, I’ve just had a breakthrough from hostility to harmony and that fits into this discussion.

I invite anyone further interested in the subject of breakthrough to read anything by or about Werner Erhard, but specifically his biography. (2)

Breakthrough is an action. We break through a persistent barrier – physical, mental and/or emotional. It implies a push of extraordinary lengths designed to overcome what has until now been insurmountable.

In my view, it occurs as the result of several actions.

The first is the arrival at a settled will around the contemplated action or situation.

The second is the arrival of a full (100%) commitment to the action.

The third is the issuing of the command to move forward on our commitment.

The fourth is proceeding with all actions needed and all resources available to achieve the result.

I’ve often called the process “changing our vote.” We can change it from a non-tea drinker to a tea drinker, but that would only be a very minor breakthrough, if one at all.

Linda points out that the word “breakthrough” is usually associated with urgent and important situations – something important that needs to be done and done now. When and how to engage in a major battle. Whether to fight back when attacked on the street. How to lift the car off my child. Etc.

We’re either going to break through our hesitation, risk all, and do what we contemplate or not do it, continue to play safe, and hope for the best.

When suddenly we do it, we say we’ve had a breakthrough.

Well, when you look at the list, if one has not had the breakthrough one would like, it has to be for a reason either on the list or not contemplated yet.

Is ours a settled will on the matter? Or do we hope for rewards from not acting?

Is ours a full commitment? Or is part of us hanging back? A house divided against itself cannot break through. It requires our full commitment.

Have we issued the command to act? If not, what are we waiting for?

Are we going full out with all the resources we have whatever the predictions?

Looking for the roadblock in these areas doesn’t guarantee success, but it increases our chances of it.

I’m undergoing a personal revolution as a consequence of a breakthrough. I switched my vote from hostility to harmony. (3) I now have a settled will on acting so as to encourage harmony. This is like walking into a new world.

In each everyday situation I have the choice to continue being hostile or begin to be harmonious.

I’m 100% committed to harmony and taking actions that demonstrate that commitment.

The breakthrough was switching my vote from hostility to harmony. My not going with my “normal” grumpy responses is something that falls out of that breakthrough – a consequence.

I’m sure there will be others. One can’t walk a new road, which breakthrough makes available, and not see changes everywhere.

Footnotes

(1) Linda Dillon, “Daybreak – Breaking Through to Breakthrough,” at Sept. 28, 2020, at https://counciloflove.com/2020/09/daybreak-breaking-through-to-breakthrough/

(2) William Warren Bartley, Werner Erhard: The Transformation of a Man, The Founding of est.San Francisco: Clarkson Potter, 1978.

Werner is able to make an authoritative statement on the subject; I’m not. I haven’t had that moment of realization on it and so I’m still piecing it together, a prerequisite I think to its advent.

(3) “From Hostility to Harmony,” October 2, 2020, at https://goldenageofgaia.com/?p=313728