I went for a walk, as I often do, to find clarity of my thoughts. This course is a new way of thinking, understanding and accepting. It is a breath that we knew existed, but were not taught. Its one that offers the gift of presence, peace, love, and happiness, based on love.
As I was settling into my walk yesterday, I was reflecting on how difficult it is, at times, to be present when there are so many stressors the continue to weigh on my mind. I have been seeking change, wanting this, and at other times pleading for that; so what am I to learn? As I walked, I reminded myself , 'I am Here,' and as I did so, I glanced up at the sun, the clouds and the beautiful sky above and was instantly reminded to be grateful for the experience of this exact moment. I continued to look around at all I was experiencing and I gave thanks for all that I saw, the blessings and the beauty around me. Each time a thought wondered ahead or behind, I brought it back and gave thanks. When I arrived home, I gave thanks for the food that I was about to prepare; thankful that I had food to prepare. I worked in every moment to be present and grateful for that moment, feeling blessed.
There is lots that I do not have, lots that I could regret, lots that I wish I had, lots that I strive to have; but the greatest and most important awareness is, that I began to understood, is that I do HAVE and I am so very grateful for the gifts that I have received. We have been taught to look ahead and look behind, to compare and to compete. We have been taught through another's experience of a rise and fall, to match a perceived level of human growth and awareness. We have been taught to fear, to judge, to doubt and even in cases, to hate. Today, I reflected and chose to Step outside the Ego and the untruths that we so often tell ourselves. That which becomes our reality. I chose to be still in this moment to reflect, and to be present.
How do you feel, in this moment? What do you feel, in this moment? What are you grateful for? The time has come to rid the past and the future thoughts of the insecurity, blame, & doubt. This can only be done by embracing the present moment, fully. Leave the past teachings behind and begin a journey of love.
Collectively, we can make a difference.
A Course in Miracles~ Lesson 83~ I loose the world from all I thought it was.
What keeps the world in chains but your beliefs? And what can save the world except your Self? Belief is powerful indeed. The thoughts you hold are mighty, and illusions are as strong in their effects as is the truth. Each man thinks the world he sees is real, and does not doubt it; nor can he be swayed by questioning his thoughts' effects; until there is change. It is but when their source is raised to question that the hope of freedom comes at last.
Yet is freedom from the chains easily achieved, for anyone is free to change his mind, and all his thoughts change with it. With today's lesson, the source of thought begins its shift, for to change your mind means you have changed the source of all ideas you think or ever thought or yet will think. You free the past from what you thought before. You free the future from all ancient thoughts of seeking what you do not want to find.
The present now remains the only time. Here in the present is the world set free. For as you let the past be lifted and release the future from your ancient fears, you find escape and give it to the world. You have enslaved the world with all your fears, your doubts and miseries, your pain and tears, and all your sorrows press on it, and keep the world a prisoner to your beliefs.
The world is nothing in itself. Your mind must give it meaning. And what you behold upon it are your wishes, acted out so you can look on them and think them real. Perhaps you think you did not make the world, but came unwillingly to what was made already, hardly waiting for your thoughts to give it meaning. Yet in truth you found exactly what you looked for when you came.
There is no world apart from what you wish, and herein lies your ultimate release. Change but your mind on what you want to see, and all the world must change accordingly. Ideas leave not their source. This central theme is often stated in the text, and must be borne in mind if you would understand the lesson for today. It is not pride which tells you that you made the world you see, and that it changes as you change your mind.
But it is pride that argues you have come into a world quite separate from yourself, impervious to what you think, and quite apart from what you chance to think it is. Healing is the gift of those who are prepared to learn there is no world as we see and come to know it. And if it is indeed your own imagining, then you can loose it from all things you ever thought it was by merely changing all the thoughts that gave it these appearances.
A lesson earlier repeated once must now be stressed again, for it contains the firm foundation for today's idea. You are as God created you. To free the world from every kind of pain is but to change your mind about yourself. There is no world apart from your ideas because ideas leave not their source, and you maintain the world within your mind in thought. Yet if you are as God created you, you cannot think apart from Him. Timelessness and Love are inherent in all of us. It was His Thought by which you were created, so it is your thoughts which made it and must set it free, that you may know the Thoughts you share with God.
Today we seek to release the illusions. We loose the world on this day from every one of our illusions, so that we may be free. Begin the fifteen-minute periods in which we practice twice today with this:
'I who remain as God created me would loose the world from all I thought it was. I loose the world from all I thought it was and choose my own reality instead.'
Then merely rest, alert but with no strain, and let your mind in quietness be changed so that the world is freed, along with you. You need not realize that healing comes to many near and far, as you send out these thoughts to bless the world. You will sense your own release, although you may not fully understand as yet that you could never be released alone.
Throughout the day, increase the freedom sent through your ideas to all the world, and say whenever you are tempted to deny the power of your simple change of mind:
I loose the world from all I thought it was, and choose my own reality instead. I would know my own reality.
Blessings, in truth, love, & light, lori
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