Sometimes something happens that is frustrating, irritating, or just plain awful. In the midst of crisis it can seem impossible to realize that everything happens for me, not to me. It's easier to look back and see the benefits once things are resolved. One of the first lessons in A Course in Miracles is “I can see peace instead of this.” I would rather find the turn arounds sooner than later, and save myself a lot of suffering.
For example, once I was expecting a big check in the mail. But alas! It was much smaller. I had plans to spend the money on a Hawaiian vacation, and now I'm disappointed, resentful, victimized and pissed off. Thoughts like “why me?” and “it isn't fair” looped through my mind. Instead of wallowing in those emotions, I got still. I asked myself, how is this “crisis” better for me? Here's what I came up with: 1. I can plan an inexpensive stay-cation. 2. I can explore many beautiful natural wonders around me. 3. I can treat myself with delicious healthy food and the company of loved ones. 4. I will grow in appreciation for what I have. Here, now. 5. I'm grateful for this opportunity to realize how everything happens for me, not to me. What a gift!
Acceptance is good, and loving what is-- is the ultimate peace.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BELIEVE STRESSFUL THOUGHTS?
I've come to realize that the source of suffering is the stressful thoughts that we believe. By questioning those thoughts, we find that they aren't true. Byron Katie came up with four simple questions: Is it true? Are you absolutely sure it's true? What happens when you believe that thought? Who would you be without that thought?
And the pardigm shifts come from the tunarounds: to the opposite, to myself, to the other. I find examples where I did the same thing to the other and to myself. And the opposite of what I've been believing may be just as true or truer. The Work is an exercise in stillness, letting the answers arise from within you.
This practice has brought clarity to my thinking and lightness to my heart. And I've watched it do the same for so many people. Anyone can learn it for free, and I'm available to facilitate you if you want.
JUST TWO
The Maga Christians are passing laws requiring public schools to post the 10 Commandments in their classrooms. (So much for separation of church and state.) And you'd think as Christians they would know that Jesus left us with just two commandments: 1. that we love God with all our hearts and souls and 2. that we love our neighbors as ourselves. I think of those more as promises—the more we evolve in self-realization, the more we will love Great Spirit and each other.
God is Love and so are we.
Thinking about forgiveness: the key to happiness, extremely important in our awakening process. A huge help to me is The Work of Byron Katie. As I fill out the Judge-Your-Neighbor worksheet about someone I think has hurt me, all my beliefs about that person pour out in six statements that I can work on. When I question those beliefs (ask 4 questions & turn it around) several truths surface to show me a kinder way.
I've also found it very helpful to contemplate what I might have done in past lives. Like, maybe I was male warrior who felt entitled to beat or rape women, maybe in front of their children. My soul knows what I need to experience in this life to balance, or to fully understand past karma. And forgiving a person in this lifetime means also forgiving that person I once was in a past life.
How do I know I'm arguing with reality? First I notice the feeling; if it's negative, like fear, anger, sorrow, etc. then I ask myself what am I thinking? Actually thoughts create the emotion, but the feeling is like an alarm clock that yells, “Wake up!” The thoughts that argue with reality are the “shoulds and shouldn'ts” like “He should___. She shouldn't___. They should___. I shouldn't.” See statement 3 on the worksheet. When I believe these thoughts, I cause my own unhappiness, and I may need to do a worksheet to get free from that.
I am reminded that “Is is, and all the rest is story.” There is one universal law—the law of cause and effect. If you believe in reincarnation, then you understand that karma is that same law at play in human lives. Rather than arguing with reality, and judging ourselves and others, we can balance our karma with forgiveness and love. Then, with a clear mind, we do what is ours to do to contribute toward a more just and peaceful world.
As Edgar Cayce in trance often counseled, “Do what your hands find to do today.”
This is a lot like the previous lesson (below.) I was so attached to the belief that I needed love and approval from someone else, it took me 3 years in a relationship with a guy who regularly found fault with me, to finish The Work that set me free. When I was critisized I cried, and then I did a worksheet. Each time I felt freer, and more aware of the low self-esteem I had lived with most of my life. I grew to love myself, to accept and approve of myself. That guy was there to teach me by pushing my buttons, which sent me into self-inquiry. I left him finally, with love in my heart.
ps: It wasn't long before I found myself with someone who never faults me, and we've lived together in harmony for 8 years so far. Smile.
I did a lot of worksheets before this lesson really sank in. It took a huge weight off my shoulders and allowed me to be more authentic in all my relationships. What you think of me is your business. What I think of you is my business. What I think of myself is my business. Also, there are 3 kinds of business: mine, yours, and God's. I try to stay in mine.
Lately I've been reading "Revelations", the last book of the Bible, and "Earth Changes", Edgar Cayce's explanations while in trance. Both books are helping me to understand what is happening in the world today. Some changes in the geography of the Earth are gradual, and natural, while others are caused by human disregard for our planet home. These are gathering strength and are obvious in weather extremes, famines, flooding, and disruptions among the animal and plant kingdoms. Also, there are greater extremes in politics, bad actors in power, confusion, fear, and destructive ideologies.
Everything boils down to cause and effect, the universal law. Along with all the "mess", there are enlightened causes, global determination to clean up the planet, wonderful advances toward humanitarian solutions and equality, etc. There was a song in the 60's, (can't remember who) that went "Last night I had the strangest dream, I ever dreamed before. I dreamed the world all agreed to put an end to war."
A reminder from the Christ to each of us to "Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself."
Who am I?
That is what I desperately wanted to know in 1972 as I was meditating on a sofa in a friend's home on Long Island, NY. Suddenly there was nothing but bright white light, everywhere, infinite. No "I", just the Light. Then I had a thought...and there was a "me" again. The thought was, "Do I have to come back?" But of course, with the thought I was back. But since then I've always known who I am (and who you are.) Still with plenty to learn and karma to balance out, but always knowing who we are.