CHESTNUT BUD relates to the soul potentials of learning capacity and of materialization.

There is a balance between inner thought world and physical reality in the positive Chestnut Bud state. Trial and error may be used, yet they also observe and note the experiences of others in order to expand their awareness and learning. They know that for the best outcomes, they must remember their past experiences and integrate new information and then define a solution or direction by utilizing what is relevant for them.

Progress and development is made by reflecting on their past behaviours and attitudes and by observing where a fundamental change needs to occur. Being focused on what they want to improve and asking themselves how this can be achieved demonstrates the humility and openness of mind required if one is to find the most relevant solution, be it already in their awareness, or, requiring further exploration and experimentation.

By the use of reflection and a calm assessment of the relevant possibilities in every situation, the person in the positive Chestnut Bud state may prevent illness, arguments, and relationship failures from reoccurring. They are aware that their external environment influences their internal state of being and that they also can influence their surroundings.

Self responsibility and self directedness when confronted with challenges, be they health, family, relationships, etc. --- is typical of a person in the positive Chestnut Bud state. By being reflective and noting the connection between a periodic illness (i.e. migraine headache), an argument or a relationship failure and one's inner attitude and thoughts, they become aware of any repetitive attitude-behavior patterns.

Acknowledging their past errors and mistakes requires humility and a willfulness to improve. They are aware that the future will be a mirror of the past if they do not profit from the past. They are confident that by continually building stronger values and principles and using these to base their present decisions on, they will continually experience more positive outcomes. They know that they can influence their future through the choices they make in the present.

Involvement in the decision-making process is a given for persons in the positive Chestnut Bud state. They know that the best answers and the greatest degree of success for oneself can only come from personal involvement and discernment of the nature of the problem and the options. Relevancy of any result will depend greatly on their preferences, willingness to change, and availability of resources.

They are aware that others can contribute valuable information and often ask for different points of view and listen to the experiences of others. This taking awareness of one's own and other's experiences and integrating them into an ongoing reframing of knowledge affords them with the greatest relevancy and flexibility in their search for and use of solutions. With this strategy, they seldom repeat their mistakes/errors.

Being aware of one's real and potential involvement in the society around us places us in the positive Chestnut Bud state. This means that we accept that by way of our Basic Personality we have special gifts and attributes that fit us better for some activities than others and that other persons will also hold special skills which better fit them for some venues than us. Recognizing that the best answer in any decision is the one that takes into account the abilities and resources of the persons involved and weighs them against the risks and benefits to be gained by each of the options available, we sometimes gain the greatest success through assertiveness and involvement.

Giving respect to others and earning a respect for oneself is demanded if one is to develop a positive Chestnut Bud perspective. If one is too busy being active to lack the awareness of what one has accomplished --- a day of activities and achievements may be finished only to find the person lamenting how they have done nothing. Acknowledging oneself may require one to take the time to note each action, decision, and achievement they make throughout the day until such involvements are neither overlooked nor minimized.

Reflecting on the involvements of the day and critically determining what went well, what was learned from new involvements and outcomes, and what might go better with one or more changes in similar situations in the future -- assists in improving one's awareness, ability to listen, and ability to learn by focusing on the present. Until one can acknowledge the benefits and drawbacks earned from the decisions made and actions taken, such involvements hold no significance. This ability to value one's own involvement and appreciate the involvements of others contributes to a continuing translation of experience into knowledge and then to wisdom.

Negative Chestnut Bud patterns can develop from a Basic Personality being ignored, negated and penalized by parents and other significant sources of influence on a child between the ages of 1 and 4 years. The will of the abusive person is imposed on the infant and child such that only the authority of the domineering person is paid attention to. One's own and the experiences of others are ignored as less powerful than the proclamations made at an earlier time by the authority from whom acceptance is sought and/or further rejection or penalty is feared.

Feeling totally rejected, the Ego (Personal Values) of the child may experience the depression of despair and hopelessness and choose to exert itself in defiant individualism without concern or awareness of the identities of others. With the SuperEgo (Social Values) of the child stunted and traumatized to follow the aggressive and dominant authority in order to receive acceptance, the child may respond to that person or persons as gods who proclaim edicts neither to be disobeyed nor questioned.

This lack of opportunity to own one's experiences and to be allowed to learn from one's own mistakes and successes, as well as those of others, mandates that the person in the negative Chestnut Bud state will often seem to others to be awkward, naive, distracted, retarded, foolish.