ACIM - Lesson 37

LESSON 37 

My holiness blesses the world.

This idea contains the first glimmerings of your true function in the world, or why you are here. Your purpose is to see the world through your own holiness. Thus are you and the world blessed together. No one loses; nothing is taken away from anyone; everyone gains through your holy vision. It signifies the end of sacrifice because it offers everyone his full due. And he is entitled to everything because it is his birthright as a Son of God.

There is no other way in which the idea of sacrifice can be removed from the world's thinking. Any other way of seeing will inevitably demand payment of someone or something. As a result, the perceiver will lose. Nor will he have any idea why he is losing. Yet is his wholeness restored to his awareness through your vision. Your holiness blesses him by asking nothing of him. Those who see themselves as whole make no demands.

Your holiness is the salvation of the world. It lets you teach the world that it is one with you, not by preaching to it, not by telling it anything, but merely by your quiet recognition that in your holiness are all things blessed along with you.

Today's four longer exercise periods, each to involve three to five minutes of practice, begin with the repetition of the idea for today, followed by a minute or so of looking about you as you apply the idea to whatever you see:

My holiness blesses this chair

My holiness blesses that window

My holiness blesses this body.

Then close your eyes and apply the idea to any person who occurs to you, using his name and saying:

My holiness blesses you, [name].

You may continue the practice period with your eyes closed; you may open your eyes again and apply the idea for today to your outer world if you so desire; you may alternate between applying the idea to what you see around you and to those who are in your thoughts; or you may use any combination of these two phases of application that you prefer. The practice period should conclude with a repetition of the idea with your eyes closed, and another, following immediately, with your eyes open.

The shorter exercises consist of repeating the idea as often as you can. It is particularly helpful to apply it silently to anyone you meet, using his name as you do so. It is essential to use the idea if anyone seems to cause an adverse reaction in you. Offer him the blessing of your holiness immediately, that you may learn to keep it in your own awareness.

ACIM - Lesson 36

LESSON 36 

My holiness envelops everything I see.

Today's idea extends the idea for yesterday from the perceiver to the perceived. You are holy because your mind is part of God's. And because you are holy, your sight must be holy as well. "Sinless" means without sin. You cannot be without sin a little. You are sinless or not. If your mind is part of God's you must be sinless, or a part of His Mind would be sinful. Your sight is related to His Holiness, not to your ego, and therefore not to your body.

Four three-to-five-minute practice periods are required for today. Try to distribute them fairly evenly, and make the shorter applications frequently, to protect your protection throughout the day. The longer practice periods should take this form:

First, close your eyes and repeat the idea for today several times, slowly. Then open your eyes and look quite slowly about you, applying the idea specifically to whatever you note in your casual survey. Say, for example:

My holiness envelops that rug.

My holiness envelops that wall.

My holiness envelops these fingers.

My holiness envelops that chair.

My holiness envelops that body.

My holiness envelops this pen.

Several times during these practice periods, close your eyes and repeat the idea to yourself. Then open your eyes, and continue as before.

For the shorter exercise periods, close your eyes and repeat the idea; look about you as you repeat it again; and conclude with one more repetition with your eyes closed. All applications should, of course, be made quite slowly, as effortlessly and unhurriedly as possible.

ACIM - Lesson 35

LESSON 35

My mind is part of God's. I am very holy.

Today's idea does not describe the way you see yourself now. It does, however, describe what vision will show you. It is difficult for anyone who thinks he is in this world to believe this of himself. Yet the reason he thinks he is in this world is because he does not believe it.

You will believe that you are part of where you think you are. That is because you surround yourself with the environment you want. And you want it to protect the image of yourself that you have made. The image is part of this environment. What you see while you believe you are in it is seen through the eyes of the image. This is not vision. Images cannot see.

The idea for today presents a very different view of yourself. By establishing your Source it establishes your Identity, and it describes you as you must really be in truth. We will use a somewhat different kind of application for today's idea because the emphasis for today is on the perceiver, rather than on what he perceives.

For each of the three five-minute practice periods today, begin by repeating today's idea to yourself, and then close your eyes and search your mind for the various kinds of descriptive terms in which you see yourself. Include all the ego-based attributes which you ascribe to yourself, positive or negative, desirable or undesirable, grandiose or debased. All of them are equally unreal, because you do not look upon yourself through the eyes of holiness.

In the earlier part of the mind-searching period, you will probably emphasize what you consider to be the more negative aspects of your perception of yourself. Toward the latter part of the exercise period, however, more self-inflating descriptive terms may well cross your mind. Try to recognize that the direction of your fantasies about yourself does not matter. Illusions have no direction in reality. They are merely not true.

A suitable unselected list for applying the idea for today might be as follows:

I see myself as imposed on.

I see myself as depressed.

I see myself as failing.

I see myself as endangered.

I see myself as helpless.

I see myself as victorious.

I see myself as losing out.

I see myself as charitable.

I see myself as virtuous.

You should not think of these terms in an abstract way. They will occur to you as various situations, personalities and events in which you figure cross your mind. Pick up any specific situation that occurs to you, identify the descriptive term or terms you feel are applicable to your reactions to that situation, and use them in applying today's idea. After you have named each one, add:

But my mind is part of God's.

I am very holy.

During the longer exercise periods, there will probably be intervals in which nothing specific occurs to you. Do not strain to think up specific things to fill the interval, but merely relax and repeat today's idea slowly until something occurs to you. Although nothing that does occur should be omitted from the exercises, nothing should be "dug out" with effort. Neither force nor discrimination should be used.

As often as possible during the day, pick up a specific attribute or attributes you are ascribing to yourself at the time and apply the idea for today to them, adding the idea in the form stated above to each of them. If nothing particular occurs to you, merely repeat the idea to yourself, with closed eyes.

ACIM - Lesson 34

LESSON 34 

I could see peace instead of this.

The idea for today begins to describe the conditions that prevail in the other way of seeing. 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.

Three longer practice periods are required for today's exercises. One in the morning and one in the evening are advised, with an additional one to be undertaken at any time in between that seems most conducive to readiness. All applications should be done with your eyes closed. It is your inner world to which the applications of today's idea should be made.

Some five minutes of mind searching are required for each of the longer practice periods. Search your mind for fear thoughts, anxiety-provoking situations, "offending" personalities or events, or anything else about which you are harboring unloving thoughts. Note them all casually, repeating the idea for today slowly as you watch them arise in your mind, and let each one go, to be replaced by the next.

If you begin to experience difficulty in thinking of specific subjects, continue to repeat the idea to yourself in an unhurried manner, without applying it to anything in particular. Be sure, however, not to make any specific exclusions.

The shorter applications are to be frequent, and made whenever you feel your peace of mind is threatened in any way. The purpose is to protect yourself from temptation throughout the day. If a specific form of temptation arises in your awareness, the exercise should take this form:

I could see peace in this situation

instead of what I now see in it.

If the inroads on your peace of mind take the form of more generalized adverse emotions, such as depression, anxiety or worry, use the idea in its original form. If you find you need more than one application of today's idea to help you change your mind in any specific context, try to take several minutes and devote them to repeating the idea until you feel some sense of relief. It will help you if you tell yourself specifically:

I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety or worry

[or my thoughts about this situation, personality or event]

. . . with peace.

ACIM - Lesson 33

LESSON 33 

There is another way of looking at the world.

Today's idea is an attempt to recognize that you can shift your perception of the world in both its outer and inner aspects. A full five minutes should be devoted to the morning and evening applications. In these practice periods, the idea should be repeated as often as you find comfortable, though unhurried applications are essential. Alternate between surveying your outer and inner perceptions, but without an abrupt sense of shifting.

Merely glance casually around the world you perceive as outside yourself, then close your eyes and survey your inner thoughts with equal casualness. Try to remain equally uninvolved in both, and to maintain this detachment as you repeat the idea throughout the day.

The shorter exercise periods should be as frequent as possible. Specific applications of today's idea should also be made immediately, when any situation arises which tempts you to become disturbed. For these applications, say:

There is another way of looking at this.

Remember to apply today's idea the instant you are aware of distress. It may be necessary to take a minute or so to sit quietly and repeat the idea to yourself several times. Closing your eyes will probably help in this form of application.

ACIM - Lesson 32

LESSON 32 

I have invented the world I see.

Today we are continuing to develop the theme of cause and effect. You are not the victim of the world you see because you invented it. You can give it up as easily as you made it up. You will see it or not see it, as you wish. While you want it you will see it; when you no longer want it, it will not be there for you to see.

The idea for today, like the preceding ones, applies to your inner and outer worlds, which are actually the same. However, since you see them as different, the practice periods for today will again include two phases, one involving the world you see outside you, and the other the world you see in your mind. In today's exercises, try to introduce the thought that both are in your own imagination.

Again we will begin the practice periods for the morning and evening by repeating the idea for today two or three times while looking around at the world you see as outside yourself. Then close your eyes and look around your inner world. Try to treat them both as equally as possible. Repeat the idea for today unhurriedly as often as you wish, as you watch the images your imagination presents to your awareness.

For the two longer practice periods three to five minutes are recommended, with not less than three required. More than five can be utilized, if you find the exercise restful. To facilitate this, select a time when few distractions are anticipated, and when you yourself feel reasonably ready.

These exercises are also to be continued during the day, as often as possible. The shorter applications consist of repeating the idea slowly, as you survey either your inner or outer world. It does not matter which you choose.

The idea for today should also be applied immediately to any situation that may distress you. Apply the idea by telling yourself:

I have invented this situation as I see it.

ACIM - Lesson 31

LESSON 31 

I am not the victim of the world I see.

Today's idea is the introduction to your declaration of release. Again, the idea should be applied to both the world you see without and the world you see within. In applying the idea, we will use a form of practice which will be used more and more, with changes as indicated. Generally speaking, the form includes two aspects, one in which you apply the idea on a more sustained basis, and the other consisting of frequent applications of the idea throughout the day.

Two longer periods of practice with the idea for today are needed, one in the morning and one at night. Three to five minutes for each of these are recommended. During that time, look about you slowly while repeating the idea two or three times. Then close your eyes, and apply the same idea to your inner world. You will escape from both together, for the inner is the cause of the outer.

As you survey your inner world, merely let whatever thoughts cross your mind come into your awareness, each to be considered for a moment, and then replaced by the next. Try not to establish any kind of hierarchy among them. Watch them come and go as dispassionately as possible. Do not dwell on any one in particular, but try to let the stream move on evenly and calmly, without any special investment on your part. As you sit and quietly watch your thoughts, repeat today's idea to yourself as often as you care to, but with no sense of hurry.

In addition, repeat the idea for today as often as possible during the day. Remind yourself that you are making a declaration of independence in the name of your own freedom. And in your freedom lies the freedom of the world.

The idea for today is also a particularly useful one to use as a response to any form of temptation that may arise. It is a declaration that you will not yield to it, and put yourself in bondage.

GTC - Lesson 4

How many people truly change their life in a meaningful way in 60 days or less?

Honestly... not many.

Sure Aaron Ralston changed his life in 127 hours. But he had to spend five days with his arm trapped under a boulder, alone in the wilderness, dehydrated, until he finally amputated his arm to set himself free.

I don't know about you... but I'd rather stick to small incremental steps on the path of personal development. Applying one insight at a time over the course of the next day, week or month until it bears fruit.

Sure we all want instant results but that's not how our Universe was designed...

Rain will remain rain at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). 

At 41 degrees it's still rain. 35 degrees, 33 degrees... it's still rain. Cold rain. But still rain.

But once the temperature drops to 32 degrees Fahrenheit it suddenly becomes snow.

It's not like the rain starts looking a little more snow-like. It just suddenly shifts once the temperature has dropped enough.

As we slowly change our "internal temperature" we may not notice any change until enough effort has been made.

I started on the path of personal transformation in 2006 – after four years of effort, I had already seen tremendous progress. I was happier, more playful, and I felt more inner freedom to just be me, authentically, with no regrets or apologies about who I was.

Fast-forward to today. I can say with all honesty that my life has changed in every way possible.

Four years. That's really nothing.

Sure, I wish I could tell you those big changes happened in four minutes... but that would probably require that I amputate an arm or become a cast away on some deserted island.

Why wait for drastic and painful challenges to force us to catch up with life?

Let's let our personal development unfold like a beautiful piece of music that plays in the background of our life – not a series of ear-splitting crashes that makes us fearful of change.

If you're ready to take the next step in your personal journey, click here and join my Liberate Your Life program.

It'll help you take small, strategic, easy-to-follow steps towards living your best life ever.

Even better? I guarantee you can afford it. Scout's Honor. :)

With Love,

Chris

GTC - Lesson 3

Do you remember this scene from the movie "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back"?

Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is about to fly into an asteroid field to evade capture by Darth Vadar and company.

"The possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field," warns the fretting android, C3P0, "is approximately 3,720 to 1."

"Never tell me the odds," replies Han Solo.

After surviving the asteroid field Han Solo points his little spaceship in the direction of Darth Vadar's really, really big spaceship.

"The odds of successfully surviving an attack on an Imperial Star Destroyer are approximately..." ventures C3P0 until Princess Lea tells him to shut up.

Finally, CP30 pleads: "I really don't see how that is going to help! Surrender is a perfectly acceptable alternative in extreme circumstances!" At which point Lea shuts the robot off.

We are all born with a C3P0 of an Inner Critic babbling away in our head -- constantly telling us how the odds are against us and we should just give up.

In order to get anything done you need to bind and gag your Inner Critic. Once it's out of the way you can start the journey – whether it's one of self-discovery, of changing old habits, a new career or learning a new language.

But as long as you have a neurotic voice in your head telling you why you can't do something then you won't make as much progress as you are truly capable of.

That's why we have to silence the self-sabotaging Inner Critic first. Then we can pursue a real path of self-discovery.

Click Here To Silence Your Inner Critic

When the Inner Critic is out of your life (or at least silenced) you are able to fully engage with whatever program, book or teacher you are studying.

I bet you have a stack of personal development programs sitting on the bookshelf...

So when are you going to do them?

You're going to do them after you have liberated your mind from that voice in your head that is stopping you from using whatever personal development strategies you know will help you.

Right now your Inner Critic is telling you that you can never learn __________ or that you can never practice ________ every day. Your Inner Critic doesn't really care what "blank" is – it tries to tell you that you can't do it.

"Photo-reading? Mind power? Italian? Martial arts? You can't learn that!" says your Inner Critic. "Who are you kidding? Or even if you did make some progress it wouldn't produce any real results. You could have spent that time enjoying yourself -- watching TV and hanging out with your friends on Facebook."

Sure, your subconscious may not come out and say things this clearly. Usually your Inner Critic is FAR more stealthy than that. But some subconscious or conscious variation of this is true for everyone who isn't able to move forward in life.

As we've already talked about... your Inner Critic doesn't want you to change your life. It only wants to keep you "comfortable."

If you have enough food in the fridge for the next three days, your Inner Critic is happy. If you paid the rent or mortgage this month, things are good.

Like a baby it's mainly concerned about eating, sleeping, pooping, peeing... Or much like our caveman ancestors who did not know how to stop food from rotting or to farm – the kill of the day was all that mattered.

But we are neither children nor caveman. We want so much more from life. And the distractions that 80% of the population embraces – celebrities, sports, beer – just aren't fulfilling enough for people like you and me who want, and deserve, to live up to our greatest potential.

You want to move forward. You want to discover what your purpose is here on earth and what you are capable of.

But your Inner Critic won't let you.

Your Inner Critic has to go.

Click Here If You're Finally Ready To Oust Your Inner Critic

With Love,

Chris

P.S. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to to shut off the self-sabotaging negative chatter of your Inner "C3P0" Critic?

To lead a mental rebellion against the dark empire of negative thinking?

To feel the force inside that is calling you to great things?

Now You Can.

(and for much much less than you probably think)

GTC - Lesson 2

As I mentioned in your previous lesson – people will often cut short positive actions – like meditation or learning an instrument -- because they just don't "feel in the flow" that day. They further argue that setting boundaries by committing to a set amount of practice or study time each day is "unnatural."

Boy isn't our Divided Mind cunning... It picked a term like "unnatural" to stop us from committing to consistent actions that would make us happier, healthier and wealthier.

After all, being all-natural, green and organic is the way to go.

But if someone has smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for the last thirty years – I can guarantee you they are going to find that it feels very "unnatural" to stop smoking.

But smoking certainly isn't natural. We didn't come out of the womb smoking cigarettes. Sure, in Indonesia you can see videos of kids smoking as early as two-years old.

One toddler on the island of Sumatra -- who has become world famous – "would go crazy, slamming his head on the floor and even got sick if he doesn't have his two packs a day." The video was horrifying.

You only have to look at the somewhat "freaky" video of that overweight toddler smoking 40 cigarettes a day to realize that it may be "uncomfortable" for him to quit – but it certainly wasn't natural for him to continue.

Likewise, whenever we set new boundaries on our life (either to avoid a bad habit or create a good one) it may be uncomfortable at first. But if it is going to make our life better then it's certainly not unnatural.

You know what's really unnatural? Not being able to stick to something if we know it's going to improve our lives. That's unnatural!

And it's certainly not "living in the flow." That is living in fear of taking action.

Not taking action may be "comfortable." Especially if that's what someone has been doing all their life. But it sure isn't natural.

We humans give way too much importance to emotional likes and dislikes. "I love this. I hate this." We'd be far happier if we focused on what we WANT instead of what we "like."

To start going after what you really want in life, building incredible amounts of will power and determination, stay tuned for your next lesson.

With Love, 

Chris

P.S. One of the things that makes my approach so different is that I focus more on stories rather than thoughts and beliefs.

Most teachers try to help you change negative thoughts, feelings and beliefs into positive ones. But what if we could get to the root of all thoughts, feelings and beliefs?

What if we could literally re-write the stories being retold inside of our subconscious?

Every experience you've had, every book you've read, every TV program you've seen has all been recorded as stories in your subconscious. Those stories are guiding your life.

You need to decide which stories you want directing your thoughts and actions and which need to go.

Stay tuned for my next email...

Because I'm going to give you a quantum leap towards doing exactly that. :)