Tag: addiction

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Identify with Love and you are safe.

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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In A Course In Miracles Workbook lesson #261 – God is my refuge and security, W.pg 426,  we are gently guided to see God aka LOVE as our security blanket in all situations.  Yes, you can even suck your thumb if needed!

My youngest son used to drag his security blanket, an old white one that I continually had to make smaller because of the ragged condition, until it finally became the size of a small towel.  He would hold the blanket under his arm with his thumb as his comfort.  Sometimes he would have “White-ie”, our white cat tucked under his other arm.

So like him we can use God as our security blanket or whatever we imagine God to be, placing Him in a safe spot to carry around during the day.

If you read in the Workbook pg. 425, What Is the Body?  Jesus tells us in the last paragraph:

“You will identify with what you think will make you safe  Whatever it may be, you will believe that it is one with you.  Your safety lies in truth, and not in lies.  Love is your safety.  Fear does not exist.  Identify with love, and you are safe.  Identify with love and you are home.  Identify with love, and find your Self.”

As you go throughout your day, driving, waiting in line, working, walking or exercising, project LOVE out at the world and everyone and everything.  Just look and with your powerful mind…..beam LOVE!  Love is our Security Blanket in all situations.

Beam LOE it at yourself in the morning mirror: at  your depression, addictions, loneliness, worries or any problems with yourself or anyone you are holding a grudge or grievance.  Give it up and Give it to Love!

Here is the link to Lesson 261:

Just click on it and then click on “hear” and close your eyes and listen:

https://acim.org/workbook/lesson-261/

You are LOVED!!

 

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Rest in Love, Rest in Truth

On By SallyIn A Course In MiraclesLeave a comment

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You are loved!  Most of us do not allow ourselves to feel it.  Why?  Don’t we believe we are lovable?  You ARE loved, warts, gifts and all!  Give yourself the gift of feeling it.  Really feel it.   Go to a silent place within, close your eyes and feel yourself being held, as if you were a small child again.  Feel yourself being rocked gently and a soft hand stroking your cheek and telling you that you are loved.  Feel the care and sweetness in your heart.  That is how God loves you.  Your spirit is love and as bright, as soft and innocent like this blossom.

I invite you to go to the A Course In Miracles website and listen to Lesson 109, I rest in God, being read to you as you close your eyes.

Here is the link to past in your browser:   https://acim.org/workbook/lesson-109/

The Course offers 365 lessons, one for each day of the year.  We being at lesson number 1 and  read a lesson per day and on the 109th day of the year we learn we can and DO rest in Love, in God and can be at Peace.   We just need to accept it.  At the end of the 365 lessons you will never be lonely again or feel unloved…….when you remember your true identity – God’s Holy Precious Son.

Happy New Year!

 

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January Peace of Mind

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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OK – So it is mid January!  You may have made some resolutions about things you want to happen or do this year.  How you doing?  The only part of your mind that would care or “seem to mind” is the ego.  The ego is the part of your mind that carries the judge’s gavel and seems to run you around like the cartoon road runner.

But what if you set your goal at the beginning of each day so that no matter what happened that day you would have peace?

A Couse In Miracles Lesson 34.  I could see peace instead of this.

“Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter.  It must begin with your own thoughts and then extend outward.  It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.”

Go to http://www.acim.org – click on lessons and then scroll to lesson 34.  You can even close your eyes and have it read aloud to you.

So – each morning, before you get out of bed lie there for a few restful minutes and ask yourself:  “What kind of a day do I want?  What do I want to have happen today? Run through all the events and circumstances that you think the day will hold.

Then looking at them all say:

“But above all, today I choose peace.  No matter what happens I want the peace of God.”

Then it won’t matter if you get the job interview; the check you’ve been expecting; the date or meeting you’ve been waiting for or the diagnosis you’re hoping for.  No matter what happens since your goal is PEACE, you will have it regardless of the outcome of any of the circumstances in your life.

On my white board in the kitchen I’ve written:  Today I want the Peace of God.   You can put it on a note card you carry in your pocket.

In Chapter 17. of the Course, Section VI. Setting the Goal, p.4. (pg. 366)

The value of deciding in advance what you want to happen is simply that you will perceive the situation as means to make it happen.”

If we decide in advance what we want, then we will perceive it and even if we don’t, we will be upset and then remember “Oh, I could see peace instead of this.”

Even if you get what you want, how long will it make you happy?

No matter what happens in our crazy mixed up world, you can have peace!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Am I a Body or Spirit?

On By SallyIn Uncategorized1 Comment

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As students of A Course In Miracles we are asked to consider our True Identity.

We are born into a body, in a particular family of certain circumstances but seeking the answer to the age old question:  Who am I?  We learn (gradually) we are NOT who we THINK we are!

The Course tells us we are Spirit and little by little we come to understand that YES, that is true, our (eternal) spirit does reside in our body for now but the time will come when we will leave the body, thank it for its service and move on.  We are really caretakers (or not) of our soul that is currently inhabiting this body!

The more and more we REMEMBER we are in fact SPIRIT, the more peace we will have.  When the body has a problem, which it will, it is a chance to say:  NOPE – NOT ME!

Of course we take care and “fix” the body and do whatever we can to stay in the world and learn lessons that are sure to come.   A elderly friend became sick recently and the sickness was such that she decided NOT to “fix” her body!  That was courageous but I know the time will come when I will make that same decision.  I will know what’s right when that time comes and I will leave knowing I did the right thing.

Workbook lesson 199. I am not a body. I am free, is a wonderful lesson to explore the feelings of not being the body.  You can go to http://www.acim.org and click on lessons and then close your eyes and listen quietly to let it sink in.

Remember, you are a decision making Mind!  You have the power to choose!  You have two choices:  Love or Fear.  You can listen to the ego’s fear or listen to the Holy Spirit’s grace and faith.

Isn’t it great to know you have a CHOICE!  That is why you are not a victim.

http://www.facim.org – Lesson 199:  “I am not a body.  I am free.  I hear the Voice That God has given me, and it is only This my mind obeys.”

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Can we ever agree?

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
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Yes we can agree and it happens when we find common ground on SOMETHING!
The gift is in finding what that SOMETHING is that we can agree upon!
When we are in agreement there is peace.  Where is peace when we disagree?
Eventually when we master the Course In Miracles we will have PEACE even when “disagreement” is seemingly before us.
The Course says “See love or the call for love.”
As we learn to master the Course, little by little  the judgments are fewer.
They gradually become challenges to find shared values rather than separation.
I wanted to share the link below of Professor George Lakoff of the University
of California Berkley.  He explains why we disagree and has an example of how
we can learn to find common ground and become more agreeable!
It is 27 minutes  interview with Tavis Smiley of PBS  (if you cannot open it just google
Tavis Smiley)
 
Professor of Cognitive Science, George Lakoff, UC Berkeley:
 
“Teach only love, for that is what you are.”  ACIM T.6. I.13.

YOU ARE COMPLETE, HEALED AND WHOLE

On By SallyIn A Course In Miracles, forgivenessLeave a comment

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  • Note: You may not believe the statements below, you may not accept or welcome them but do not allow yourself (the ego mind) to question or judge them.  Merely find one that resonates with you and repeat over and over several times a day.   The purpose of repetition is that eventually you WILL believe.  Repeat it at night as you go to sleep, while driving the car, waiting in line at the grocery store or anytime you notice your mind  wandering to various thoughts. The ego will try to convince you this won’t work to keep you from ascending the ladder HOME and ultimately be free of it.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?  Practice, practice, practice!

FIND A  STATEMENT THAT “FEELS RIGHT.”  REPEAT IT OVER AND OVER SEVERAL TIMES A DAY , WHEN DEPRESSED OR UPSET.  PRINT OUT A COPY TO CARRY WITH YOU, TAPE IT TO YOUR BATHROOM MIRROR, DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.

  • I AM COMPLETE, HEALED AND WHOLE.
  •  I  AM SPIRIT, A HOLY SON OF GOD.
  • I AM ONE WITH GOD.GOD IS LOVE AND THEREFORE SO AM I.
  • GOD GOES WITH ME WHEREVER I GO. GOD IS IN MY MIND.
  • GOD PUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MY MIND TO ANSWER PROBLEMS.
  • RECOGNIZING I HAVE A SPLIT MIND, IN THIS DUALISTIC WORLD, I CHOOSE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MY RIGHT MIND, NOT THE EGO.
  • IN QUIET I ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR HELP – NOT MY EGO.
  • WHEN I GIVE LOVE TO EVERYONE I FEEL THE LOVE THAT I AM.
  • I AM LOVED, I AM A MIND, I MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE BELIEVING IN THE STRENGTH OF MY SPIRIT AND GOODNESS.
  • I AM NOT GUILTY OR A VICTIM THE EGO WOULD HAVE ME BE.
  • I AM A DECISION MAKING MIND, AN INNOCENT HOLY SON OF GOD WITH POWER TO CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT THE WORLD.
  • INNER PEACE IS IN MY MIND – I CHOOSE PEACE NOW.
  • FORGIVENESS IS: RECOGNIZING PAINFUL THOUGHTS AND GLADLY BRING THEM TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND LET HIM HEAL EVERY LITTLE THOUGHT OF HURT.
  • IN MY DEFENSELESSNESS MY SAFETY LIES.
  • I CAN BE HURT BY NOTHING BUT MY THOUGHTS. I THEREFORE CHANGE MY THOUGHTS AND CHOOSE PEACE.
  • I EXCLUDE NO ONE FROM MY LOVE.
  • I AM ALWAYS HELPFUL AND HARMLESS IN ALL THINGS.
  • YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE IN GOD, BUT GOD BELIEVES IN YOU AND LOVES YOU
  • The above inspirations from the Spiritual/Metaphysical book: A Course In Miracles Visit THESE WEBSITES
  • http://www.facim.org
  • http://www.acim.orgwww.miraclecenter.org
  • NOW IS THE TIME TO TRAIN YOUR MIND…..PLACE YOURSELF UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE LOVE WITHIN YOUR MIND AND YOU WILL HAVE PEACE.

Where is inner peace these days?

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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When we look out at the world, the problems, the Presidential Election, no matter which one you like or dislike…..and we wonder……where is the PEACE?

Peace cannot be found in the world.  Well you say, what about the quiet stream and the birds singing and the flowers and the walk in the woods.

Yes, some remnants of peace can be found in the world BUT…..for how long?  Snippets at a time.

Then what about your thoughts as you sit by the steam?  What are you thinking about?  When you took the kids fishing and OH….and that son is now dead.  Where is the peace?

Peace can only be found when we FORGIVE EVERYTHING and FORGIVE OURSELVES from thinking I am a separate little EGO and instead remember:

“I could choose peace instead of this”  Then the thought doesn’t matter.  Yes that son is now dead but A Corse In Miracles says there is no death in this world.  This world is not REAL.

Yes, this world has betrayal, upsets, fun, danger, competition and strife but the only way to BE in the WORLD but NOT of IT is to remember with the help of that tiny small voice found only inside:

RISE above the BATTLEGROUND……this is NOT ALL THERE IS.

PEACE is within and what is found within is that still small voice that reminds you there is TRUTH and it is not here. This is not real.  God IS

Peace can be found in a Spiritual Path….that is where GOD IS.

There are thousands….and they all say “The Son of God is innocent”

One path to Peace is: A Course In Miracles  –

http://www.facim.org  (Ken Wapnick books and tapes found here)

http://www.acim.org

http://www.miraclecenter.org   (You can find a list of world wide study groups on this website)

 

 

 

The Gift of an Addiction

On By SallyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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It may seem strange to look at our problems or addictions as gifts but they are life lessons so let’s consider them gifts and learn something on the journey.
Who runs your life? We live in a dualistic world and have a dualistic or split mind. It contains both aspects: “good” and “bad.” Remember the cartoon of Donald Duck with an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other? He was conflicted over which one to listen to. We know which voice speaks for Truth or love; and we know which one speaks of condemnation and hate. And there is no “good” or “bad” either, it is just if we choose peace we listen to the voice for peace. We have the power to choose between these two very different voices and thought systems: spirit and love or fear and hate.

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All fear/hate/condemnation thoughts are of the ego and as you have probably figured out by now, it runs the world. The DNA of the ego is attack, judgment, separation, jealousy and manipulation. The proof is the ceaseless wars since the beginning of existence. We are not civilized. We attack others and declare war. We attack ourselves through addictions. The result is always guilt and anger which begets more guilt and anger and on an on.

We learn gradually on our life journey that the ego is not our friend. It is not our identity or our Truth either. Its only power is given to it when we listen to it and follow it or believe it. By taking charge of the Mind, we gradually un-do the ego and it is side lined. This is the wisdom of many psychological and spiritual practices, Buddhism, A Course In Miracles or non-dual practices.

The ego cannot change or affect the peace of love within you unless you let it. For example, the ego mind tells us we have done something wrong, we over indulged; smoked a cigarette; snapped at a friend, or ______(fill in the blank.) We feel guilty. Guilt is the trap. We go around smiling but deep down we feel terrible thinking -“if they only knew.” Feeling guilty is the ego’s ace in the hole! “Trapped, trapped like rats” said the cowardly Lion in the movie the Wizard of OZ.

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Here is a check list the next time you feel trapped and want to STOP the guilt.
1. Go to the Stately Calm Within. As soon as you realize you are suffering and your mind is going around in a maze STOP. Focus on your breath, feel your center and stop thinking thoughts just…breathe.

2. Imagine holding the hand of Love. Unconditional, all-knowing eternal LOVE, whatever that represents for you; Presence; God; Jesus; Allah; Buddha, Spirit or a person who represents Love for you. You can hold “Love” in your mind no matter what you are doing.

3. Tell LOVE what is in your heart: “Love, I really wanted that chocolate cake or _____.” Tell LOVE everything and be honest, “I was depressed because I didn’t get that job or I had a drink, or he hurt my feelings, or_______.”

4. You have looked squarely into your Beautiful Mind and given its contents over to LOVE within. The ego is sitting in the corner sucking its thumb. It will come up with plenty of negative chatter. The ego always speaks first! That is important to know because you will recognize ego as the detractor it is. Thoughts that come from love will always speak of peace. A thought of blame or guilt about yourself or anyone is the ego speaking and it causes more guilt. Let the ego judgment go. It is not True and you are still LOVE.

5. Remember this world is an illusion. It is not real since God did not create it. So relax because nothing has really happened! So smile… laugh, “heh, hah, ha, hah, ho, ho” and soon you will really be laughing. This takes the seriousness out of the ego’s sails.

6. If the ego thoughts come back, and they will, look at them, don’t believe them and remember to laugh and repeat the above steps.

Looking honestly in this manner is practicing forgiveness. * “Forgiveness is still and does nothing. It merely looks and waits and judges not.” You are looking at the ego’s disruption and withholding judgment…and waiting…for inner peace to come….and it will.

You are in charge and You are training your Mind. That is why an addiction is a gift. You get your Mind back. We all have addictions or problems in this world. It is a life long process and you are worth it!

You are in charge when you remember LOVE is who you are. Case Dismissed. You are healed, whole and innocent!

This article, in part, appeared in the Ashland Daily Tidings August 2012.

* A Course In Miracles Workbook – What is Forgiveness? pg. 401.

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