LIMITED Vs UNLIMITED PROCEDURES

Peter Graham

26 June 1993

Some procedures are less limited than others in their application or scope. A viewing procedure is less limited than another procedure when it can be done beneficially for a longer period of time and/or when it can be done more than once (each time to a full end point). There is probably no such thing as a totally unlimited procedure, one that could be run endlessly and continue to be beneficial. Rather than classifying procedures as either limited or unlimited, procedures should be regarded as being more limited or less limited than others.

The fact that a particular procedure is somewhat limited does not mean that it has little power or value. It simply means that it can not be run successfully:

1. 	On a continuing longer-term basis, such as in a series of consecutive sessions, and/or
2. 	A number of times.

Whereas a very limited procedure can not usually be continued beyond the first good success, a less limited procedure may be able to be run for several sessions (ending each session on a good success). And, a relatively unlimited procedure can often be run for many hours and to many successes.

Some otherwise fairly limited procedures can be rendered less limited by:

(i) 	The interposition of one or more other procedures that address a complementary topic, or 
(ii) 	Through the use of balancing factors, such as addressing a different flow or doing a procedure that increases a viewer's capacity to "have" things.

As discussed in JOM Article No. 85 "Types of End Points", it is important to be able to estimate how relatively limited or unlimited a procedure is in order to release as much charge as possible in taking it to a full end point. Some of the principal factors that determine whether a procedure is more or less limited are the following:

a. 	General vs Specific: Repetitive procedures that are general in their application are less limited than versions that focus on more specific topics or areas. "What have you done?" is considerably less limited than "What have you done this week?" or "What have you done to Joe?" General procedures are broader in their scope and provide a wider field for things to be restimulated and resolved. A procedure that addresses a particular item (like "Joe") is relatively limited, however it may be relatively unlimited as a procedure. With such a procedure, it may be possible to use a variety of different items and so continue to use the same procedure beneficially for some time, so long as no one item is overrun. Also, a procedure that addresses an item becomes less limited if the item itself is in a more general form, such as "a husband" instead of "your husband".

b. 	Basic vs Minor: Some procedures are more important and more basic that others. The best and least limited procedures we have are procedures that effectively address fundamental case mechanisms that are common to all viewers (eg. a "solution" to a problem can result in a new problem) or procedures that effectively enhance important natural abilities (eg. the ability to communicate). An example is the general version of "What is the problem?" "How have you handled it?" As problems are resolved using this procedure, successive layers of underlying problems become exposed (sooner or later) which can then also be addressed. Added to that is the fact that what a person experiences and views as problems in life tends to change over time. Some procedures are more limited because they address factors that are not as fundamental or do not apply to all viewers.

c. 	Definite vs Indefinite Objective: Viewing procedures that have a clearly defined objective (such as to resolve a particular problem or to get rid of a negative feeling) are limited in that they stop naturally when the objective is attained. How long you can run such a procedure for depends on how long it takes to accomplish its objective. By comparison, some other procedures are less limited as they address topics that are more open-ended (such as love or responsibility) or seek to expand awareness or increase abilities that are capable of being indefinitely expanded or improved.

d. 	Charged vs Not Charged: The item or case elements being addressed by a procedure may have a limited amount of available charge at a particular point in time. A procedure is limited to handling the charge that is currently available and once that charge has been fully discharged or reduced, it cannot be continued successfully thereafter. The amount of accessible viewing material and its associated charge may not be known until one actually does the procedure. Available charge not only includes currently restimulated charge, but also potentially available charge that can be restimulated and discharged by running the procedure long enough to do so.

e. 	Relevant vs Irrelevant: The less relevant a procedure is at a certain point in time, the more limited it will be. Some procedures only apply to specific situations or circumstances. Others may only be appropriate at a certain stage, after the viewer has sufficient awareness, understanding or responsibility. Some other case factors may need to be addressed first and/or the viewer may not yet have much interest or reality on that topic. At some future point, the person may be ready and able to do such procedures more deeply. It may not be known when starting a procedure whether or not the viewer can do it thoroughly. A completely irrelevant procedure would be totally limited and, obviously, should not be run at all.

f. 	Causative vs Non-causative: A procedure that addresses a person as being knowingly causative is less limited than a similar procedure that addresses the person as being an unwilling effect or an unwilling cause and/or an unknowing effect or an unknowing cause. Thus, "What have you done to another?" is less limited than "What has another done to you?" and "What has another made you do?"

g. 	Negative vs Positive Gain: Many procedures can be classified as providing either positive or negative gain. Positive gain procedures seek to directly enhance ability, confidence or awareness, whereas negative gain procedures aim to delete things that are unwanted. Generally speaking, all negative gain procedures are somewhat limited, because they tend to focus on things that are wrong. Doing procedures of this type for a relatively long period can cease to be productive after a while, however, how long is "too long" is an individual thing (and can be anything from a few hours up to hundreds of hours). It is essential to balance these up from time to time by interspersing them with positive gain procedures that focus on enhancing things that are right or positive. One additional benefit of doing this is that it then enhances the viewer's capacity to face and resolve things that are wrong.

h. 	Negative vs Positive Experiences: Repetitive procedures that address positive experiences (eg. desirable events, states, actions, feelings, etc.) tend to be less limited than similar procedures that address negative experiences (eg. Iosses, failures, upsets, etc.). Thus, "Recall a time you liked someone?" is less limited than "Recall a time you disliked someone?" and "Recall a success?" would be less limited than "Recall a loss?" Procedures that address both positive and negative experiences are less limited than those that focus only on negative ones. In the case of TIR, however, handling a negative experience has a finite end point (a resolved and completed experience) whereas a pleasure experience is already a completed experience (except when it is destructive or the person is hung up in the success or excitement of it). Thus, doing the TIR procedure on positive experiences is more limited than with traumatic experiences.

i. 	Creative vs Non-creative: Procedures that involve creation, visualization or conceptualization (such as "Get the idea of_~" or "How could you _?" or "Invent a_?" or "Visualize a way to _?") can be rather limited with some viewers but not with others. Viewers who are generally unstable or over-restimulated or who have little reality on their own causation with respect to their own mind and responses may find such procedures difficult to do or may only be able to do them successfully for fairly short periods (such as to the first success). As a person advances case-wise and expands personally, such procedures tend to become less and less limited.

j. 	Primary vs Non-primary Flows: Where procedures involve flows, usually one flow (known as the "primary flow") is the most interesting and relevant one from the viewer's own perspective (such as the flow that addresses the viewer's own problems rather than another person's problems). This flow (usually the inflow) should always be done first, in order to more closely follow the viewer's interest. The other flows usually have a lesser potential for releasing charge and are thus more limited than the primary flow and tend to reach an end point more quickly. Also, a particular flow may only be able to be run for a limited time before it becomes necessary to address another flow. It may be necessary to take up another flow or flows before a full end point has been attained on the flow you started with, and then complete it after the other flow(s) have been run.

k. 	Objective vs Subjective Procedures: As a general type of approach, objective procedures are less limited than subjective procedures and are needed to extrovert attention and bring a person more and more into the here and now. The best objective procedures can each be done for up to dozens of hours (or sometimes more) and a number of them can also be done more than once. Some viewers can not do subjective procedures successfully or can only do them for short periods to start with and need a program of suitable objectives first. Also, too much looking inward for too long can be harmful and is therefore a limited activity (but just how much is "too much" will vary greatly from individual to individual). Facilitators and case planners should recognize the indicators (such as excessive introspection, lack of energy, less willing to let things go, etc.) and switch over when necessary. Subjective procedures should be balanced (interspersed with) appropriate objective procedures from time to time.