I received a complementary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.
No matter what your age, chances are you have some emotional baggage from the past that can still bring up painful memories. Wouldn’t it be a relief to get rid of those thoughts? An aid to do that is John Benz’ new book Do The Clearing: A step-by-step guide to living a happy life and getting what you want. “By helping to free you from the negative thoughts and feelings from your past that are hindering your life today,” Benz writes, “the Clearing can create changes in a very short period of time.”
Do The Clearing is divided into two parts: Clearing Your Possessions and Clearing Your Residual Thoughts. I found Benz advice easier to follow in the “Clearing Your Possessions” part. “If you haven’t already, go ahead and look around your home. Pick out a possession. What memories come to you when you think about it? Who gave it to you? Where did you get it? … How do those memories and associations make you feel?” the author writes. So after reading this I take a glance around my study where I have various books, travel pictures, and sports memorabilia displayed. I see this:
It’s a seat cushion from the only Super Bowl I have attended in person – Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena, California. If you’ve read my blog in the past you know I’m a HUGE Denver Broncos fan, but my Broncos lost that day to the NY Giants. “What am I keeping this around for???” I asked myself after considering Benz’ words. Memories of that Super Bowl are not pleasant for me!
Benz “possession clearing” may cause you to get rid of things far more significant the sports memorabilia. Perhaps an old picture from a failed relationship, a piece of furniture that you had during a unhappy period of your life, or something else. I found Benz suggestions very practical. He suggests getting rid of unpleasant possessions so you never see them again. Giving them to a relative or friend, or selling them in a garage sale doesn’t count – if you do that you could still come across the dreaded item in somebody else’s house!
The second part of the book, on Clearing your residual thoughts, was tougher to read yet even more powerful. Is there a story you keeping repeating to yourself about some painful event in the past? “If you don’t like the ending , why don’t you come up with a new one?” Benz asks. “If you go back, continue the story, and give this event a new ending, then you will see who you really are. Those old thoughts won’t fit, and they will go away,” he writes. Benz leads the reader through a step by step process to clear those unpleasant memories:
1. Realize how brave you are
2. List events that ended badly
3. Prepare your new endings.
4. Repeat your three communications
5. Write your commitment statement
6. Begin, and go until you’re finished
7. Complete your closing ceremony
There’s guidance on confronting and forgiving, too, in the book’s 304 pages.
Do The Clearing is very well organized. Benz gives us his thoughts, backs it up with a bunch of real life “clearing” examples from his former clients, and includes a question and answer section for those who still may have doubts. “I feel bad confronting. I don’t want to hurt anyone. What should I do?” is an honest inquiry that Benz deals with in the q & a section.
“Never let any one person or thing blind you to the awesomeness you possess,” Benz writes in the book’s concluding pages. “and if some of the events in your life don’t turn out the way you planned, keep going, create new endings, and never stop making this the life you want.” I liked this positive recap. Do The Clearing motivated me to let go of some unpleasant things and thoughts from my past, and I think it will do the same for you, too.
