New Year 2007 Poll: What was your greatest fear, concern, or conflict about fasting before your HPS Level 1?

[Jos-hua Medicine man]

Ok HPS cleansing friends,

This New Year 2007 POLL subject was suggested by Rick.

As a Master Faster himself, he knows firsthand how ones' attitudes to fasting change and develop as one walks the cleansing and rejuvenation path.

Please vote.

What I shall do is open a seperate poll at the HPS-ONLINE.COM website (already bought the flash software, now I need to figure out how to make it work :eek: ) with the exact same question and answers so that the general public can vote in it, and then there will be a link to this poll here so that they can see how HPS cleansers felt... and if they are alone or not in their perceptions, and what those perceptions mean as one advances along the cleansing, healing, renewal and rejuvenation path;

Therefore, whatever comments we make below, they can profit from. :D

As usual, you can vote only once.

Thanks for participating, thanks for trusting HPS-online, thanks for being here and practicing, thanks for being born and being here.

FOR THE PERSON TIRED OF FEELING SICK. BEING SICK. LOOKING ENERGETICALLY BLAND you can clean up and order here (http://www.hps-online.com/home/hps_orderform.htm) to start rejuvenating your life just as we all have done/ are doing. It's simple the HPS online guided way. Take your first step today. Order now. (http://www.hps-online.com/home/hps_orderform.htm)



:)

Have a happy, healthy, rich and rewarding New Year;;; may 2007 be your best!

[Jos-hua Medicine man]

As always I like to vote first in the new polls, and same here! :D (like a kid in a candy store :rolleyes: )

My greatest fear before cleansing this way was the thought that I couldn't do it, wouldn't be able to sustain the fasting for seven straight days (and therefore voted: fear of lacking the willpower, might screw it up), and as regards the home colonics, I thought it was weird to say the least. :eek:

I discovered from my first cleanse that I had too many fears and that I should work on them, primarily through cleansing first and not through any other methods because I thought "what is the sense in trying anything else, engaging myself, my time and effort and money, if I am still going to be full of all the shit in my gut, internal organs and bloodstream/other bodily fluids... just didn't make sense to me, so I jumped into cleansing knowing that I would be swept in unknown directions... but I knew also the space of helplessness, so I was open for the ride, open in my heart and mind (and pocket book:( , hahahhahahahahah:confused: .

And as regards those fears, what happened to them, with them?

Well what I learnt is that they are/ were baseless, like most of my other fears, (like most of everyone's fears :mad: ) and that started the process of what is called in spiritual circles - a fearless warrior.

Peace friends, enjoy this year...harder ones are on the horizon.
Make even more peace with your body and mind this coming year;;; build even more mutual respect. That will benefit everyone, not just yourself!

[Richard_D]

Hey Jos-hua, guess it's just the two of us so far. I voted the last category, the "what don't I know about now that I'll be expected to do later" question.

I guess there should be an "other" category too. I tried to think of as many things as I could but it was all off the top of my head one day. For instance, I think the colonemas by themselves are plenty enough to scare some people into putting off cleansing, and I'm sure there are a lot of categories that others could contribute.

But anyway I had some fasting experience when I signed up for HPS, so I knew I had the willpower, and I was reasonably confident that whatever requirements there were I could fulfill. I didn't have prior experience with a colema board, but in previous fasting I'd used a method where you basically give yourself an enema and then hold it forever while massaging your gut, and that wasn't terribly easy but I was able to do it. I had plenty of money at the time and was dying to take a week off work for any reason at all, hadn't had a vacation of any sort for quite a long time, so those weren't factors for me, either.

I was a little concerned about the group, not that I was worried about being able to get along or whatever, but I wasn't sure about what kind of people did this sort of thing as a normal part of their lives, guess I thought there might be a big hippy airy-fairy thing going on here, and while that doesn't bother me or strike me as wrong in any way, it's not how I like to spend my day, most days at least.

Also I'm a bit shy when it comes to being the new guy in an established group, even when I know there's nothing to worry about there's a big chunk of my habitual mind that instinctively tries to shield me from rejection or other negative social reactions, so there was a bit of a warning buzz there starting off.

And now that I come to revisit this topic after a break, I realize I felt in some degree intimidated by you yourself, Jos-hua, like, something along the lines of, "this guy's not going to take any crap, so I better be good and sure I'm ready to toe the line if I want to sign up here," or maybe even "what if I'm not good enough?" In my first cleanse or two I think a part of me was very much looking for approval and reassurance from you personally. That's why I feel the video you added to the website is so valuable; if I'd seen that when I was signing up, I would have known, Oh, well hell, this isn't some guru on top of a misty mountaintop (or worse, someone who thinks he is), niether is he some sort of drill sergeant pushing you despite yourself through a series of hoops and exercises...this is a really pleasant, down-to-earth happy guy that apparently can help me get some more of that into my own life, no big deal really...

Mostly though I just wasn't sure what kind of obligations I might have once the program began. I was prepared to do stuff that I already associated with fasting, and I was ready to spend the money (that colema board ain't cheap) to get started; but the unknowns, like participating in the forum, as in how much of that I would be required to do (funny how I thought so much in terms of what was "mandatory" and "required" back then), how much to write, how much to read, that sort of thing...also would there be other social hoops for me to jump through, would I have to adopt a particular philosophy--I want to stress, I WASN'T worried about religious issues or anything like that--would I have to pretend to agree with stuff that I didn't, would I be expected to have enthusiasm for stuff that I didn't care for, that sort of thing. I was mostly worried about that.

But even then, I wasn't really very worried at all. I read a recommendation from a trusted user on another web forum, followed the link, poked around the site for a short period, and sent my email to order in probably a matter of a few hours. Whatever doubts I had weren't all that important to me, I've just tried to describe them as best I can, but I don't mean to emphasize them otherwise.

enjoy this year...harder ones are on the horizon.

Let's hope not! But just in case, the time to get started is NOW.

Thanks for this poll, it got me thinking again about some stuff I hadn't had on my radar in a while...interesting to pick a point like this to look back over the distance you've come, and see how much has changed since taking that first step.

Rick

[Aaron_S]

Hello Jos-hua and Richard, I make it 3 now!

I think this is a great poll, and I'm going to bring to the table a different point of view. Being somebody who signed up for this program last July and have been having scheduling problems ever since, I would have to go with the fear of not being able to get the time off. Trying to follow an enlightened path to inner cleanliness while employed by the US government is proving to be a daunting task (I'm tenatively shooting for starting my L1 on the 5th of January btw). Working in a place thats open 24 hours a day 365 days a year, and two people have to be on shift at the same time is diffucult. Especially when we're undermanned. Then you have everybody trying to take leave all at the same time. Then there are the unknowns that come along and get leave cancelled at the last moment.

I'm really excited about starting my L1, but I can't help but feel like I'm letting you all down by not being able to commit to a time and stick to it. I know you all care, and I don't take any offense to anything so its all good. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't worried about the financial aspect of it all, but talking to my uncle really put things in perspective to me. Like how much it would cost to get my gall bladder removed vs. how much 4 levels the HPS way would cost. As we say in the military...WHERE DO I SIGN UP??!!;)

I'm also wondering if anybody else is experiencing some of the anxiety that I am about my current living situation. I live with 2 other guys, neither of which are into the health thing (they eat McDonalds at least 8-10 times a week!!). We have 1 bathroom and its pretty close quarters with really thin walls. Then they're going to see me off loading 15-18 5 gallon jugs of water. I guess I'm just freaking myself out a little bit. I need to start thinking "Aaron, these guys don't know what you are doing, and if they ask you then tell them. But the fact of the matter is, I'm going to be more healthier then they will be...who can make fun of you for that?"

Ok, those were the things I need to get off my chest! I have a feeling 2007 is going to be the best year for me...spending a year at Diego Garcia is going to kick some serious ass, I will have to post some pictures for you all to see once I get there.

Take care everyone!

[Kevin_S]

Hey Aaron,

Don't stress, things will all fall into place for you when they're supposed to. I'm happy that you've set a date. Your positive attitude will make it all happen:)

uncle;)

[Karen_M]

I started off trying to check off several 'fears' after realizing I could vote for only 1, I chose the online group. What I read made it very clear that I would be interacting with all of these strangers.

Would they like me? Would I like them? What kind of person gets involved in this kind of thing? Would I need to change to be accepted? Did I want to change? What exactly is a Medicine Man? Why is his name hyphenated? ;) I don't know a lot of stuff. Will I feel stupid? Will they think I'm stupid? How enlightened am I already supposed to be? If I'm not comfortable, could I just keep a real low profile and do it alone? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

How goofy. ;)

It's hard now to imagine that those were my big fears, I have rarely, if ever, experienced the kind of acceptance and care that I have felt here.

My Plan B (I always have a Plan B :rolleyes: ) was knowing I could simply disappear. But I didn't want to. I really wanted this to be an answer. I have thrown so much time and money at the promises of miracles - I didn't want to have to add this to the pile. I was fairly confident that I could manage the logistics, but what if I did and nothing happened? What if it didn't work?

Baseless fears, I find they usually are.;) Having experienced a taste of what is offered here, I am excited to continue, and I know I am blessed to be able to continue.:) :)

(And actually, I found the idea of colenemas - goin' in and gettin' it - kind of cool.:cool: )

Peace,
Karen

[Adrian_S]

I really didn't have big issues, but I guess the "online group" fear was the biggest of them - I have my issues with social interactions.

Probably an "other" option would be helpful, though.

Aaron, if there is one thing you (and I :)) need to learn is to ignore others' opinion and trust own intuition. Seriously. I guess that is not very compatible with military, but is more important than every job or career.

[Aaron_S]

I totally agree with you Adrian. I'm going to forge on with it anyway because I believe in the benefits, but that thing in the back of my head wondering what everybody else is thinking is always there, although I'm trying to condition myself into thinking "I don't care what they think". Its hard sometimes though. I guess I will find out hopefully on January 5th!

[Alan_A]

my fears were all money based. due to my state of health prior to joining hps i had no qualms with willpower or talking to other people about it because, besides the money part of the program, i was overall jazzed about it, really inspired by the possibilities.

of all the people i've talked about the program with extensively, nearly all shy away from the price...the others are resistant to such a commitment, skeptical about benefits, and skeptical about the need for a community of cleansers.

peace

[Tracy_M]

My greatest fear was 'afraid of what might be expected of me that I don't know about yet'.

The group helped a lot to alleviate a lot of these fears. Also, it kind of reminded me of an Oprah episode called "The Challenge". This is where high school students and teachers have to interact with each other saying "You didn't know that.... This is where the person answers with a personal experience such as I have cancer or my mother has cancer or I cry myself to sleep everynight PLUS everyone sends love back in a form of a hand sign.

Also, other exercises are followed such as step across the line to the other side if you had been teased, bullied, abused, etc. Doing that they would face the other people who haven't experiences these things and they would send their LOVE (in a form of a hand sign) to those who received the abuse.

This forum does the same thing....it allows ALL of us to reconnect with LOVE. Letting us know we are NOT alone in this healing journey...if we just hold each others hand and say things that connect us such as "I love you" or "just say kind words that comforts a person that is suffering". This forum makes this world a much better place to live in...from all of us Jos-hua thanks for making our worlds a better place.

Malama pono ia kakou,
Tracy

[Donna_T]

Hi guys

I voted in the the 'no willpower, might screw it up' category which in fact served me well through my first fast. I was genuinely worried that if I deviated in any way I would get ill, so I stuck to the discipline set by Jos-hua and the fear got me through. I think if I had been more relaxed about it, I might have given up and missed the greatest opportunity of my life - to have control of my health. This really was the best thing I could ever have done for my body and I'm so looking forward to the next cleanse.

Happy Healthy New Year
Donna x

[Jai_N]

Hello peoples,

Interesting poll guys everyone seems to have a different fear related to their Cleanse sign up. I guess it does ring true everyone is different and living in a different situation. Which is good for the group dynamics of this forum, everybody brings something different to the table.

I am someone who has only recently joined and started to devour the encyclopaedia of information available on cleansing and the healthy path to living.

My biggest fear wasn't actually the financial side of it or being part of a forum, I have been a member of a few forums in the past although none of them even come close to the support u receive from this one.

The fear which I carried was actually trying to fit a cleanse into my schedule and get my hands on the right information on time and products delivered while progressing in my job, doing studies and socialising.

Somedays I would think can I do it? can I really fit it in? then I would not order and put it off for another couple of days while reading through some more information and seeing what other committments came up in the meantime.

Then this one particular day I remember feeling so rundown, so fatigued, so low that I went 'what am I doing?', the tools to get me into good health and vitality are right in front of me. I don't have to feel the way I'm feeling, I'm feeling this way because I have chosen to. Do I have no respect for my body or what, log onto that website buy a HPS cleanse and move forward in your life!
Simple

While I havn't cleansed yet the information I have received so far has already made me feel better by providing me the knowledge to change my life.

If anyone is reading this poll who hasn't bought a cleanse yet and thinking well should I or shouldn't I, can I afford it?

You can't afford not to do it!

You owe it to your body after all the work it does for u day in day out 24/7!


Peace


Jai

[Mia_L]

Hi everyone-this poll is great! :)

I voted ''what don't I know about now that I'll be expected to do later" question. I'm one of these peolpe who need to view/deliberate/cover all angles before I dive into the unknown...

I can relate to many of the views mentioned above especially Rick (we voted the same) and Karen, although if I were to choose a second reason it would have been finacial concerns :confused:

I had questions in my head simililar to what Karen thought like, would they like me? Would I like them? What kind of person gets involved in this kind of thing? Would I need to change to be accepted? Why is his name hyphenated? I don't know a lot of stuff. Will they think I'm stupid? How enlightened do you have to be? Along with a presumption that everyone throughout the forums would be like highly spiritual beings-as Rick said sitting on a cloud or two :) But one thing that stuck for me was that I knew I wanted a change and that passion encouraged me to finally find the money and take the plunge. Possibly fear producing procrastination-who knows?

All I know now is that it's one of the best things that has happened to me, and I have a long long way to go, but I would not and could not go back to the 'me' before HPS, I'm still me but just better. I love you all, I love being here and I love learning. Thank you for helping me friends. :D

Aaron-I think you will need to be ready for your friends questions and possible ribbing/rejections. Some of my own family have been into alternative thinking/practices before but they find it difficult to fully understand/accept this type of health path. I have read throughout the forums of friends (mine included) who would make fun at what we do here. If we can be strong enough to see it through, to learn as much as we can about ourselves and our bodies, the results will speak for themselves-you will feel it, know it and be it. And hey your friends will soon find something else to take their attention ;) , hopefully by then you would have got past it.

Welcome Jai

Merry Christmas all

Mia x

[Judy_I]

Hi everyone!

It's been a while since I did the level 1 cleanse but when I looked into it, I read a lot of positive impact to so many peoples lives I just couldn't wait to get started!!! When I ordered it and got all the tools and "ingredients" for the complete cleanse...it was intimidating. I had to look through everything, read and re-read the bottles, labels, and the instructions. Finally, I decided to write a schedule of events on a recipe card and check marked my way down to the end of the week. It kept me on track and worked out pretty good!

Happy New Year everybody!!!

Love,


Judy_I

[Jai_N]

Hello Mia,

Happy New Year to you! You're lucky to have parents who are relatively open minded. My mother wanted to see a particular movie the other day so I invited her up to my apartment to see it with me and she wants me to see a psychologist regarding my new road to optimum health. lol

I must forgive her, her thinking is primitive. Im so glad Im not.
She will question when she sees an improvement in my vitality.

Peace

Jai

[Dorothea_L]

Hi,

I'm new and not familiar with programs like this so when I answered the poll question, it told me that I had already done that. I was at the screen before and read the options, but didn't select an answer at that time. Hope I'm not screwing things up!

Anyway, I selected the last option because I don't have fears about fasting, I'm just not very good at maintaining any kind of schedule. I hope my connections with future friends on this site will help me in that area. My nature is to encourage and help where ever I can, so when I learn how to navigate this program, I'll be there.

I used to fast regularly a few years ago (pray and fast) and would only drink water when I did. The longest fast I ever did was eight days.

I've been pretty stupid in the past, or maybe I shoud be nicer to myself and say I've been extreme. I spent over two years (2002 to 2002) fasting three days a week and before you think that was anything good, I'll tell you that as soon as the fast was over I would go and eat anything I wanted.

I didn't come up with that system of fasting on my own, I was following an example. That's me; if someone who knows their stuff is leading me, I will follow like a puppy. (This person didn't necessarily know about fasting, but he did know about prayer, and that was enough for me.)

I wasn't a total junk food eater back then, because I was always weight conscious, but fasting 3 days a week allowed me to indulge in things like hamburgers and fries and ice cream - once a week - because I lost weight during the fast that I could afford to gain back.

Because of health issues (due to mercury poisoning I like to think), and all my present dietary restrictions, I am SO ready to dive into this project!

What will I be saying after I'm in over my head, I wonder?

[Jai_N]

Good Luck to you Dorothea not that I think that you'll need it with the people guiding you here, your health is in safe hands now and you can learn from the worlds best in regards to the fasting game.

wishing you the best on your journey.

[Roberto_D]

Hello everyone,

Poll was definitely a great idea. I voted for "afraid of what might be expected of me that I don't know about yet".

I guess because of my job structure I tend not to like surprises. I need to know my obligations before rather than during or after. This makes me feel more in control of the situations and allows me to relax alot more and therefore enjoy the process.

Interesting to read everyone's comments. Great idea Joshua.

Roberto,
Get busy living or get busy dying.

[Sky_V]

The reason I chose this, "not having the willpower, might screw it up" is not that I haven't been able to make major changes in my life before...but more that I've always had a problem with "finishing what I start".

That's a lot of money to invest, if I don't even end up seeing it through.

It's only been two days since I went ahead and made the choice to join...and so far what I am finding is that because I am "actively" involved with other people's cleanses (through forums) I am also feeling very confident that I will see this through.

The best results I've had in finishing what I start have always come from when I was with a group...it seems that I have good willpower for "not letting the group down", where as I've had weak willpower when it came to just "not letting myself down".

I truly think that cleansing and regaining health will also help with these little emotional/psychological blurps I have too! Very glad I made this choice!

[Dorothea_L]

Hi Joshua,

When I go to this thread, it tells me I have already voted, but I have not. I'm not really sure how to go about voting...

But my answer is that I was so desperate for help that I jumped in with blind faith, not caring what it was that I had to do. Fasting? Been there, and (incorrectly) done that.

It was only after I found out exactly what was involved that I became apprehensive about it being too involved and complicated, and,
Could I do everything that was expected of me? and yes also,
When I got to the forum, I wondered, would I be accepted or ridiculed?

But hey, it's all good now. The first day of my formal cleanse was pretty easy and is done and I feel terrific!! I am soooooo glad I'm here now, and everyone at the forum has been so gracious and kind to me.

love,
Dorothea

[John_M]

070815

The program really caught my attention and seemed to fit me and my situation well. But it was on line and a person in need can be easily scammed on line. Well I obviously decided it was worth taking a chance. As it turned out it was very worthwhile and truly value received.

There is a wealth of knowledge here at HPS and a community that is willing to share and support others. The knowledge if you heed it keeps you safe and produces results and the support gives you comfort in knowing you are not alone.

I am really convinced that Jos-hua and the program are coming from a point of knowledge and the closer you can follow their guide lines the better the benefits. This is not smoke and mirrors and the program has been very beneficial to me.

John_M

[Jenny_W]

I really thought that I could never afford to do this level of cleansing, but the past year and the Universe has rearranged my entire life. After a change in my housing situation, having to place all my pets into new homes, new health challenges, relocating next to work (no gasoline required) and reshuffling my priorities, I now see just how possible it is to do this type of cleansing. In fact, I cannot afford to NOT do this type of cleansing, juicing, food combining, etc. etc.

I am embarking on a whole new life and I'm very excited to see the positive changes that will result from my "extreme life makeover". I see all of this as "self-love" instead of something I "should" or "need" to do. This is how I will love, cherish and honor my body, heart and soul.

I can't wait! And I'm so happy and excited to have such amazing mentors all around me to help me do this successfully! In the past, I've been very independent in my accomplishments (i.e. trial and error and more error). I'm really looking forward to relying on the knowledge and experience of others to guide me as I take these bold steps! :)

I can't wait to get to know you all!
Jenny

[Jamie_K]

Is it too late to vote in a 2007 poll? If not, I vote "intimidated by the online group." I mean seriously, regular BM's is not a subject I've felt comfortable discussing with even my closest relations. I don't remember ever discussing it with a physician. Strange... So actually I was intimidated by the subject matter.
But after tip-toeing in and out of the forums over the past 2 years, I have been so impressed with the group here and their honesty, warmth, and encouragement. Such a brilliant idea, I am learning so much, and I am so grateful to have had the courage to follow my promptings and address this potentially life-threatening issue before it was too late.
Aloha,
Jamie

[Dorothea_L]

Hi Jamie, good to hear from you!


... regular BM's is not a subject I've felt comfortable discussing with even my closest relations. I don't remember ever discussing it with a physician. Strange... So actually I was intimidated by the subject matter.


That's one of the main benefits of the forum - talking about bms - NO ONE ELSE out there wants to talk about it - not family, not friends, not even doctors. This topic needs to be addressed and discussed; it is SO important to our health and life.

As I've been saying lately, when it comes to following the hps program... "Never wonder, just do!"

Hope to see you in the "boardroom" soon!

love,
Dorothea

[Jos-hua Medicine man]

....Hope to see you in the "boardroom" soon!

love,
Dorothea


yea, me too.

Talking is nice, but in my books, its pretty useless if there aren'ta heap of actions behind it...

The sooner you sort out your scehdule Jamie and start your 7DW cleansing, trust me, the much better off you are going to be, and into your post-cleansing you'll be asking yourself, "why did I not start my formal right away, why was, why did I, why do I allow my life to be ruled by fear... why aren't I just doing what I'm doing now in my post-cleansing, it's so easy, that being forging my own reality?"
:eek:

peace,