Hi there,
So this is more directed, at those that were born with "schizophrenia" but it can apply to schizophrenic-ness that has been abused or maligned. The point is simply this, the Devil is the one that sets the standard of mental health at "completely normal" - but we must get angry and resist the Devil. The Devil cannot realistically keep us 'completely normal' but he says he will anyway, to test us and set if we are going to make more of a problem, or less. That is the reality, right there: the Devil does not actually believe in being 'completely normal'. If we can improve our mental health, in the end, the Devil is forced to admit, that we 'did what was best'.
Before you think to yourself "I am almost completely normal, I can give up" just remember that it can take a long time before your levels of mental health, reach acceptable levels. It is hard: you have to keep resisting the Devil and taking back territory that he tries to rule you out of. He is conceited, he thinks his own mental health won't be questioned, if he continues to make it "your" responsibility. There are ways to tell, if he is losing the battle: if you see things the way other people do, if your words agree with other words you say or speak, if you are not agitated about taking medication that helps you increase patience and tolerance and perceptiveness. All these things can be to your advantage, if you don't keep up!
But before you make this 'beating the Devil' your sole goal, remember, at some point you will have to help the Devil see things from a different perspective - not necessarily your perspective, but perhaps one a little closer to it than would give you room to just forget the Devil and the prospect of strength that he tends to bring. It won't mean that the Devil can't be defeated, but it will mean you will have to work, to maintain the approximation of complete normality that you are aiming for - just keeping the Devil out of it, won't help; the Devil needs to feel like you can be trusted that you won't make it hard for people who are roughly normal ('roughly' in the sense that they were born with some sanity, just not all of it) from getting on with the work of the Day - work which would be good, if you could help with.
This is not to say that 'working' is the only test of 'normality' in the end, but you have to realise, that having been 'crazy' you have been working less than really helps and in that sense, have been begging the question "how close to the fire, can I come and still survive?" - you really should avoid the idea that your generalized madness is somehow a surprise to normal people; people don't just work with rough normality, for the sake of getting on with the job, as if there is no wisdom in it, they realize that without work, they will lose the sanity they have only just got! Working helps you keep your sanity...
...what is important, is that you don't let the Devil do your work for you!
I hope this helps.
So this is more directed, at those that were born with "schizophrenia" but it can apply to schizophrenic-ness that has been abused or maligned. The point is simply this, the Devil is the one that sets the standard of mental health at "completely normal" - but we must get angry and resist the Devil. The Devil cannot realistically keep us 'completely normal' but he says he will anyway, to test us and set if we are going to make more of a problem, or less. That is the reality, right there: the Devil does not actually believe in being 'completely normal'. If we can improve our mental health, in the end, the Devil is forced to admit, that we 'did what was best'.
Before you think to yourself "I am almost completely normal, I can give up" just remember that it can take a long time before your levels of mental health, reach acceptable levels. It is hard: you have to keep resisting the Devil and taking back territory that he tries to rule you out of. He is conceited, he thinks his own mental health won't be questioned, if he continues to make it "your" responsibility. There are ways to tell, if he is losing the battle: if you see things the way other people do, if your words agree with other words you say or speak, if you are not agitated about taking medication that helps you increase patience and tolerance and perceptiveness. All these things can be to your advantage, if you don't keep up!
But before you make this 'beating the Devil' your sole goal, remember, at some point you will have to help the Devil see things from a different perspective - not necessarily your perspective, but perhaps one a little closer to it than would give you room to just forget the Devil and the prospect of strength that he tends to bring. It won't mean that the Devil can't be defeated, but it will mean you will have to work, to maintain the approximation of complete normality that you are aiming for - just keeping the Devil out of it, won't help; the Devil needs to feel like you can be trusted that you won't make it hard for people who are roughly normal ('roughly' in the sense that they were born with some sanity, just not all of it) from getting on with the work of the Day - work which would be good, if you could help with.
This is not to say that 'working' is the only test of 'normality' in the end, but you have to realise, that having been 'crazy' you have been working less than really helps and in that sense, have been begging the question "how close to the fire, can I come and still survive?" - you really should avoid the idea that your generalized madness is somehow a surprise to normal people; people don't just work with rough normality, for the sake of getting on with the job, as if there is no wisdom in it, they realize that without work, they will lose the sanity they have only just got! Working helps you keep your sanity...
...what is important, is that you don't let the Devil do your work for you!
I hope this helps.
- The Devil makes the bar for sanity too high
- Almost normal is a reasonable goal
- Helping have perspective and working on agreeable work are good goals
- Madness is not a surprise to normal people
- (Working together will eventually mean, everyone sees eye to eye)
