Day 59 - Lesson 58

Lesson 58 was a review of lessons 36 through 40.  These lessons were primarily about getting in touch with my own holiness.  Believing it must start somewhere and these practice sessions inspire a lot of thought and a great deal of hope.

I know without a doubt that this course and all of the additional studies I am doing is changing me.  I know I've mentioned this, but I'm truly fascinated by it, I am a much calmer person.  The underlying tension I've felt in my body for the majority of my life is mostly gone.  I think that thinking about God / Spirit / Source all day long is key to this calmness.

Day 58 - Lesson 57

Lesson 57 was a review of lessons 31 through 35.  These lessons involved ideas about not being a victim of the world I see, I have invented the world I see, there is another way of looking at the world, I could see peace instead of this, and my mind is part of God's - I am very holy.

As I went back and reviewed my posts and reflected upon these lessons, the one that resonated the most strongly was Lesson 34 - I could see peace instead of this.  This is so much about the peace that can be in my heart - if I so choose.  And I do choose peace. 

Day 57 - Lesson 56

Lesson 56 is a review of lessons 26 through 30.  These lessons reinforce the desire to see, to see differently, to see God in everything, and to recognize that God is in everything because God is in my mind.  I remember these lessons really well and recall how helpful it was to practice them.  I appreciate the structure.

"You cannot know the meaning of your life until you are connected to the power that created you." ~ Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

This quote is so fitting today - The day that is the Law of 'Dharma' or Purpose in Life.  The lessons combined with reflection of this law reinforce for me my ultimate intentions.  I cannot reach those intentions without being connected to the power that created me, without understanding fully that God is in my mind and everywhere.

Day 56 - Lesson 55

Lesson 55 continues the review and the lessons included this day are 21 through 25.  These lessons focused on seeing things from a different perspective, vengeance, attack thoughts, not perceiving things in our own best interest, and no knowing what anything is for.  Gosh, this synopsis makes it sound pretty dismal.  The lessons weren't dismal at all.  

Any lesson that helps me to better understand myself is worthwhile in the positive.  These lessons certainly correspond with and are reinforced in so much of the studying I am doing - from my studies in preparation for certification as a Perfect Health Instructor, to utilizing the Strengths Finder 2.0 and Strengths Based Leadership books and on-line guides and assessments. Something that both Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer talk about is once we start living in the present moment and acting as vessels of spirit, we begin to see connections and actions that support our awareness.  I have found this to be completely accurate.

This information has been instrumental in assisting me through a couple of difficult challenges recently.  Rather than feeling 'worked up' and tense and worried, I have been able to exercise some healthy detachment and release my fears about the 'uncertainty' of it all.  This doesn't mean that I don't care or have a diminished desire to see the challenges resolved - it just means that I am not being negative and judgemental about it.  I am also not obsessing about the challenges and feeling defeated by them.  This is huge progress on my part.

I read an excellent quote today - "Holding resentment is like eating poison and then waiting for the other person to keel over." ~ Anonymous

When we can offer compassion to those we feel resentment towards we free ourselves to move on.

Day 55 - Lesson 54

Lesson 54 was a review of lessons 16 through 20.  As I conducted my review, I was reminded of some emotional events that occurred that week.  It was a good lesson week.  I thought deeply about how our words and actions affect others and I did a lot of self-reflection.

Today is the Law of Intention and Desire.  During the goddess gathering this month, I selected Rhiannon - "You are a magical person who can manifest your clear intentions into reality."  On the drive home after the gathering, I talked with my friend about getting this particular card.  I explained that I had written out some intentions, but that they were very broad and I was nervous about making them more specific.  Every time I thought about getting specific, I just seemed to choke.  I was caught up in fear that I would intend the wrong thing or I wouldn't word it correctly and would end up with something less than I really wanted.  I finally realized this was very similar to thinking that the grass is always greener.... So, I thought long and hard about what my intentions are; I studied each line of the Law of Intention and Desire (in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success), and I asked God for guidance. 

I now have five intentions that I feel good about.  I review them each morning and each evening.  I hold them in my awareness, in my heart, during meditation.  I honor them through present moment awareness.

Day 54 - Lesson 53

Lesson 53 is a review of lessons 11 through 15.  I went back and read my posts from those lessons. 

I posted a statement on Facebook last night that I felt like I had won the lottery - I received six new books in the mail yesterday!  Two of the books are directly related to A Course in Miracles.  One is an introduction to the course and the other is A Return to Love - Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson.  One of the things I recognize, as I work through the daily lessons of A Course in Miracles, is that I'd really like to talk about it with others who are also working through it.  There is an on-line way of doing this, but I'd prefer to be in a face-to-face group. Ordering these additional books is about having them for support.  Sometimes the lessons are real head-scratchers for me.  Though having this blog helps me work through this stuff quite a lot.

This reminds me - today is the Law of Least Effort.  Out of all seven spiritual laws, I am convinced this one is the most practical for me.  There used to be someone in my life who would regularly encourage me not to make things more difficult than they needed to be.  I often could not see how to do that in the moment.  I am, however, learning to be better about it.  It has and does take practice - daily, active practice.

Lessons 11 through 15 focused a lot on thoughts and images conjured up in our heads - things we make more difficult than they need to be (because we are out of touch with God).  When I allow things to just be and I don't force solutions life becomes so much more peaceful and meaningful.  When I make decisions based in honoring love my life is much easier and less complicated.

Day 53 - Lesson 52

Lesson 52 is a review of lessons 6 through 10.  As I went back and reflected upon each of those lessons, I was reminded that this process is about clearing the darkness from my mind.  I think this is working....

I also really actively focused on the The Law of "Karma" or Cause and Effect (The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success).  This law begins with this statement:

Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind...what we sow is what we reap.  And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.

I made very conscious efforts to apply this law to every exchange I experienced today.  The great thing about this is that it provided a foundation of calm that I found myself saying to myself in my head, "Wow, this feels good.  You should practice this all the time!"  This may sound a little crazy, but this practice combined with present moment awareness allowed me to feel life in a new - more immediate- way.

Day 52 - Lesson 51

Lesson 51 begins a week of review.  This lesson reviews the first five lessons of the course.

I went back and reviewed my first five responses to the first five lessons.  This provided a good bit of reflection for me to consider my feelings and my progress.

One thing I appreciate about this course is the structure.  It is a good way to keep me on track.  I wake up each day and further develop my relationship with Source.

Here's the other thing I've noticed the past 52 days - even though there has been a great deal of activity, quite a bit of controversy in a couple of situations near to my heart, and a certain amount of stress, I have this blossoming sense of pure joy in my heart.  Sometimes I feel such an overwhelming sense of happiness that I want to sing out-loud; I want to dance a little jig; I want to hug everyone and tell them that everything is going to be okay.  I can't explain this joy other than to say it is because I am finding my true self through the divine.

Day 51 - Lesson 50

I am sustained by the Love of God.  This is the answer to every problem that will confront you, today and tomorrow and throughout time.

I had an amazing day today.  The activities and associations that filled my day were enriching and rewarding.  However, one thing came up abundantly clearly today that was not amazing, not enriching, and not rewarding. This one thing was in facing the fact that a very important relationship in my life has changed so significantly that it stunned me.

Life is not static and human beings are not static.  The one thing we can always count on is change.  Relationships with siblings often go from competitiveness to friendship, marriages can go from romance to roommates to divorce, parents and children reverse their relationship roles given enough time, and friendships can take myriad paths from talking every day to talking once a year.  While all of these relationships have changed regularly for me throughout the years, I (especially these days) have continued to love and believe in love as the changes occur.  I completely recognize that life is dynamic and nothing ever stays the same.  Adjusting to the change can be the tricky part.  I guess that's where I am at right now - adjusting.  For this reason, this lesson spoke directly to my heart today.  I am sustained by the love of God.  Thanks to this love, instead of dwelling on the adjustment and any potential negativity or obsession about the whys of it all, I was able to find joy in all of the tremendous associations and activities of this day.  Without this love speaking to my heart, I very likely would have missed out on such beauty.  I hold this person and the changing relationship in my heart and express to it only love.

This sustains me as well:

You are what your deep, driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.
~ Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5

For me this is all about love.

Day 50 - Lesson 49

God's voice speaks to me all through the day.  What I have come to realize is that it is very easy to hear God's, Love's, Spirit's voice through the day - that is when I let go of my ego.  When I let go of my ego and listen to my heart and ask myself, "What would love do?"  The answer is always forthcoming in short order.  I'm not suggesting that it is always easy-peasy, it's not - because, of course, the ego is a 'devilish' smart thing. 

As I was reading the Law of Dharma today, I was reminded that asking the question, "What's in it for me?" is internal dialogue from ego.  The question, "How can I help?" is the internal dialogue of spirit.  It's easy to get caught up in ego given the daily demands of life; however, why miss out on the helping of others? It is so much more rewarding.  This law also reminds me that I am a spiritual being having a human experience and not the other way around.  When I keep these things in focus I maneuver through life with better perspective and a better attitude.

Day 49 - Lesson 48

There is nothing to fear.  This lesson also says that the instant we are willing to remember God and let his strength take the place of our weakness, there is indeed nothing to fear.

I am far less fearful today than I was last week, or last year.  I experienced a lot of fears for the majority of my life.  In fact, it feels fairly miraculous that fear no longer penetrates me, it no longer paralyzes me, as it once did very effectively.  This is true because I'm finally reaching into my own divinity.  I am opening myself up to love.  I am communicating with God, with Spirit, with Source throughout the day - every day.

Day 48 - Lesson 47

God is the strength in which I trust.  This is something I have been working on for some time - so, I guess it was bound to come along in these lessons.  For a long time, I thought I had to trust in my own strength.  This only led to disappointment.  I simply could not be strong all the time or even for a very long period of time.  As I begin to let go of ego and to 'just be,' I find it much easier to sense the presence of God's, of Spirit's, of Source's strength. 

Tonight I had another fine opportunity to attend a Goddess Gathering.  Last month the main message from the Goddess I selected was 'quiet meditation.'  It was a great daily reminder and was very helpful in encouraging me to continue to meditate regularly.

Tonight the message I received was powerful and sort of scary - "You are a magical person who can manifest your clear intentions into reality."  I think it was Marianne Williamson who said that we aren't really afraid of what we can't do; what we're really afraid of is what we can do (I'm sure she said it much more beautifully ).  I know that this path I am on is right for me; it is exactly what I should be doing right now.  The intentions part has been challenging.  Not that I haven't set intentions - I certainly have.  They are fairly broad because every time I think about being more specific I get a little scared that I'm not asking for the right thing....my intention may not be right.  I think the message tonight is to trust in my intentions, that I do know what they are, and I need to stop being afraid of them.

I feel so very blessed to have shared an evening with six women all looking for inspiration, laughter, support, and camaraderie.  The divine was most assuredly present, the strength of that 'divineness' was palpable.  The stories of pain, of heartache, of injustice are all catalysts to comfort, and love, and justice.

While I couldn't see the near full moon tonight, I was comforted in knowing it was there....faith.

Day 47 - Lesson 46

God is the Love in which I forgive.  This lesson goes on to say, "Fear condemns and love forgives.  Forgiveness thus undoes what fear has produced, returning the mind to the awareness of God."  The lesson includes a session in which you think about the people in your life that you haven't forgiven or that you don't like, hold them in your mind, and say, "God is the Love in which I forgive you, [name]."  Of course, the very last person we include in this list is ourselves.  I really understand that forgiveness is more about healing me than it is healing 'you.'  When I hold on to grudges, to anger, to fear, to resentment, it is like poison in my soul and there just really isn't any reason for it.  Frankly, as I thought about the few people I had any resentments toward I couldn't, in every case, recall exactly why I didn't like them any longer or held such feelings.  There were a couple that I clearly remembered and struggled with forgiving, but as I reflected upon this throughout the day, letting go of those negative feelings made sense and made me feel better.  I made a statement awhile back that resolution isn't possible where love isn't present and I truly believe that.  When we push back, resent, try to 'one up' or any of those things, no matter how justified we think we are, it just continues and often escalates the cycle of fear. 

So, let love be your guide and allow forgiveness in your heart.

Day 46 - Lesson 45

God is the Mind with which I think.  I really thought about this today.  It is a difficult concept to grasp.  The lesson emphasizes that I share my thoughts with God and God shares his thoughts with me.  I notice that when I walk around all day thinking about God - really, truly, thinking about Source and Spirit, I actively try to be a better person.  This is such a good thing.

For a time this evening, I wasn't thinking about God and me sharing our thoughts.  I was thinking about something I need to get organized for within a certain deadline.  I was trying to find just the right idea, I was on-line, I was feeling stressed, and even gave myself a headache.  I just wasn't able to be the 'creative, find the perfect thing, person.'  After about an hour, I sat back and realized that even though there is a deadline, it won't hurt to let go and allow ideas to come to me.  There is no need for me to force the outcome.

Changing long-time patterns of behavior isn't easy.  It's great to be recognizing those patterns and letting them go.  That part is definitely due to divine intervention.

Day 45 - Lesson 44

God is the light in which I see.  I did the practice periods and repeated this to myself, over and over again, throughout the day.  I was in a big hurry after work this evening.  My grandsons were coming over for Valentine's Day while their parents went out to eat.  I had a very short time to get the beagle out for a walk.  It was the first day in four that the weather was conducive to walking.  In my hurry, my mind racing, this idea somehow pushed through the thousands of thoughts clogging my head.  At that moment, I slowed down and looked all around me - the calm, clear bay, the snow-draped mountains, the crystal blue sky with fluffy white clouds, the ravens and eagles, the scent of ice and ocean, the crispness that turns bone-chilling, numbing, unless you keep walking.  It was in these few moments that I saw and felt this idea.  For the remainder of my walk my mind was still, my heart was calm, and all was right in the world.

Day 44 - Lesson 43

God is my Source.  I cannot see apart from Him.  I wasn't all that great at practicing this lesson today.  I'm not sure why.  I woke up feeling refreshed.  I enjoyed a leisurely morning of reading and studying.  It was blissfully quiet.  As I was studying last night, the wind hammered the siding like thunderclaps and I prayed I would sleep.  And I did.  I did a lot of thinking today, a lot of reflecting.  Though I felt distracted.  I've had difficulty concentrating today. 

Deepak Chopra recommends finding your goddess / god archetype.  I did that today.  I found this quiz designed by someone with a PhD in all things ancient - maybe not all things, but those things that pertain to gods and goddesses.  I was skeptical of the whole thing.  I figured it would be broad enough that it could 'be me' or just about anyone given the right circumstances.  Well, so, my goddess archetype is Isis.  As I read the profile, I chuckled several times because it does fit me - rather perfectly.  While much of it is complimentary, the quirky, messed up, weak parts of me are patterns that have existed in my life for eternity.  And, yes, of course, when I recognize them, when I see they are at play, I have every opportunity to turn those weaknesses into strengths - or at least minimize their negative impact in my life.  This was a fun exercise and caused me to appreciate myself in a way I have been ignoring.

What does this have to do with the lesson?  Everything.  Pure potential was assisting me in seeing my archetype and thereby looking at myself with the eyes and heart of love.

Day 43 - Lesson 42

God is my strength.  Vision is His gift. 

More and more I am coming to believe that we are provided the information, the inspiration, the meaning of things as we are intended to receive them from a higher universal power.  The thing is, we need to be awake and paying attention.  I've spent much of life on cruise control - not that it was easy, sometimes I didn't brake soon enough to kick it off, sometimes I breezed through areas of life without stopping to enjoy the scenery or smell the flowers, sometimes I ran over people without considering their feelings.

In my studies today, I was reminded of an Albert Einstein quote: I want to know God's thoughts....the rest are details.  I am ready to stop being preoccupied with the details.  As Wayne Dyer says, "We all eventually get it."  I just want to 'get it' before taking my dying breath.

In Deepak Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws, today is the the Law of "Dharma" or Purpose in Life.  This law addresses the steps to take to ensure we are living our purpose:  Discovering our true self, to express our unique talents, and to use our talents to serve our fellow human beings.

May God's vision show me my true self and my unique talent (this is my daily prayer) - I am most happy to serve my fellow human beings.

Day 42 - Lesson 41

God goes wherever I go.  This lesson starts by saying: Today's idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and abandonment all the separated ones experience.

As I have been reflecting upon my day, I find that it is so easy to recognize the places I went with God today.  I didn't, until very recently, make much of a habit of recognizing God in any way - in fact, I avoided it.  Now I am delighted and amazed and thankful to see and feel God in very real ways.  I am taking the time now to see the miracles of life in an every day, moment by moment way.  I do feel a greater sense of connectedness. 

I had a wonderful 'people' day.  Each in-person contact, email contact, phone contact was in some way special.  Every encounter was friendly and fruitful - in that I felt gifted by each person in some way - maybe I'm just paying better attention.  I hope so. 

The other idea I actively incorporated into my day is the Law of Detachment.  One of Deepak Chopra's lines in the introduction of this law is: And in our willingness to step into the unknown, the field of all possibilities, we surrender ourselves to the creative mind that orchestrates the dance of the universe.  I love that and I love swaying to the beat of that.

Day 41 - Lesson 40

I am blessed as a son of God.  The lessons for this idea included repeating this all day long (I inserted daughter - I hope that wasn't a rule violation).  In addition, it was advised to repeat this and then add several attributes associated with this idea - I am happy, peaceful, loving, and contented.  I am calm, quiet, assured, and confident.

I sang this in my head throughout the day.  It made me think of that childhood song - This Little Light of Mine (I'm going to let it shine).  I couldn't remember the rest of the words to the song, but it tinkled along in my head and gave me a feel good happy mood.

So, you'd think I would have felt pretty good by the end of the day.  My whole day went well overall.  It was busy and I was tired after 11 hours.  I walked outside to come home and it was cold and breezy.  I thought about the things I needed to do at home.  One of them was to take the beagle for a walk.  I really did not want to.  I got all bundled up - which takes quite a bit of time, then it's difficult to move around with ease, then I got frustrated with my earphones under my face mask head covering thing, and then I just got growly (a deep throat sound). 

I felt better after playing davidji in my head for awhile. I couldn't help but feel better the more I walked.  Even though it was cold and snarly outside, davidji took me to the sweet spot of the universe.  I was able to return home a much nicer person. 

I am indeed blessed!

Day 40 - Lesson 39

My holiness is my salvation.  My favorite line in this lesson is: "Your holiness is the answer to every question that was ever asked, is being asked now, or will be asked in the future."  I'm sure my attraction to it is because I agree with it.  I didn't think about it or begin to develop a serious spiritual practice until the past few years.  As a much younger person I thought about this, but in a less open and fluid way.  My views were wrapped up in rules and restrictions which made it difficult for me to appreciate the real messages of holiness, love, and salvation.  I feel this terrific sense of freedom in finally being open to all of the possibilities of my holiness. 

Day 39 - Lesson 38

There is nothing my holiness cannot do.  I would like nothing more than to believe this is true.  I would like to be in that enlightened place where I feel this. 

I practiced this and kept wondering throughout the day why I felt impatient.  Maybe I'm just trying too hard.  I sort of feel like I'm in an in-between place of before and after, but not quite present either.  I'm farther along on my spiritual path of understanding but still questioning whether or not I'm actually making spiritual progress.  I know that doesn't make much sense....maybe.

I know from all of my studies and lessons that the key is not worrying about tomorrow and not regretting yesterday.  I know what I'm meant to know in this moment.  I guess this is the tough part.  The part where I need to let go of the future and the past and believe in the present - live in this present moment. 

I would like to find a spiritual advisor - a spiritual mentor.  Who would that person be?  Since I'm not of any particular religion - without a Deepak Chopra or a Wayne Dyer or a Marianne Williamson and not that I could just pick up the phone and call one of them....Living so remotely makes this particularly challenging.

Well, I will keep up my studies.  I will strive to believe in and to see my holiness.

Day 38 - Lesson 37

Yes, I moved on instead of doing Lesson 36 over again.  I gave it a lot of thought.  I walked and thought.  I meditated and thought.  I prayed and thought.  I decided that the best course of action was to take what I had learned and move on.  So I did. 

My holiness blesses the world.  "Your purpose is to see the world through your own holiness."  "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."

I had mixed feelings about this lesson.  Part of me felt a little tickled practicing this - the lesson included saying in your head with each person you met throughout the day, "My holiness blesses you, ______."  I enjoyed doing that, but it felt strange because I struggle with seeing myself as holy (really truly holy).  I also wrestle a bit with the ego stuff around how 'being holy' can be misinterpreted as being 'better than.'  These ingrained auto emotions can be tough to deal with (I guess yesterday's response is a good recent reminder of that).  It does come right down to ego and how it can so effectively edge God out.

This idea and lesson did fit in nicely with it being Monday and also the Law of Giving and Receiving (based on Deepak Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws of Success).  According to this law, we are to give everyone we meet a gift - whether it be a prayer, a flower, assistance, time - anything.

This combination of lessons helped me get through a difficult and challenging day with kindness in my heart and a 'gift' for each person I met.  If this means my holiness blessed the world today I am totally good with that.

Day 37 - Lesson 36

My holiness envelopes everything I see.  So, I'm just going to say - right up front - that I feel like a complete failure in this lesson today.  I'm seriously thinking that I need to practice this lesson again tomorrow.  Maybe I didn't practice it enough.  Maybe I didn't pay enough attention as I was practicing.  Maybe both of those things are true.

I felt a great deal of impatience today.  I felt overwhelmed with the long list of things I need to do.  There was enjoyment in my day, too.  I spent time with loved ones and enjoyed some beautiful and unseasonably warm February weather.  The beagle and I had a good walk.  I was, apparently, just prime for being reactionary when a 'hot button' got pushed - and, of course, now I feel bad and I feel frustrated because this is exactly an area on which I am working so hard.  I made a phone call and the customer service was terrible.  However, instead of being patient and kind I raised my voice, told the individual to "FORGET IT," and I hung up.  You know that icky feeling in the pit of my stomach I've talked about?  Yep, there it is.  Just sloshing around there.  Oh, and I also used a couple of swear words when I hung up.  Another something I've really been working on not doing.  More ickyness in there sloshing around.  Not much by way of enveloping holiness going on - somehow my ego snuck in and stayed.

Yes, I can hear Deepak Chopra's voice in my head telling me to observe my feelings without judgment and to continue to love myself and to be present in the moment.

I think I'll go take another walk. 

Day 36 - Lesson 35

My mind is part of God's.  I am very holy.  So, I can tell you that I cringed just a little bit inside when I read this lesson today.  Part of that response was just because I had spent so many years really being irreverent about anything associated with a traditional view of God or the word "holy."  As I embrace this path of God and the mystery associated with what that means in my life, I am beginning to recognize that as a being of the divine - I am indeed holy.  While I don't associate the term "holy" with "me" in a regular, every day, sort of way - I feel it in those miracle moments in the gap between thoughts.

Day 35 - Lesson 34

I could see peace instead of this.  This was such a helpful 'mantra' today.  I repeated it over and over - sometimes looking externally and other times internally.  At one point today, I was tempted to 'see red.'  Thanks to this reminder, I didn't.  When I began to feel that old sensation of tension, that rising flare of anger, that temptation to lash out - I didn't.  I closed my eyes for a few brief seconds and said, "I could see peace instead of this."  While the situation continued to be disappointing, it no longer owned me, I wasn't defined by it, it wasn't a reflection of me.  A deep sense of comfort washed over me.  I chose to see peace and I chose to respond in loving-kindness.  This is progress.

Day 34 - Lesson 33

There is another way of looking at the world.  This lesson also suggests that during the practice sessions, if a situation arises that causes any distress to repeat: "There is another way of looking at this."  

I recently dealt with a situation in which a group of people believed that based on what they saw and heard there was only one possible conclusion.  My job was to investigate the situation to determine what really happened - to the best of my ability and based on all of the evidence available to me.  This wasn't a particularly complicated investigation - what was complicated was trying to convince the group of people that there was another way to look at the situation.  Once we have an idea, picture, or belief in our head it can be nearly impossible to believe that it isn't accurate - even when we are given objective, factual information that clearly shows our idea, picture, or belief is simply not accurate.

Part of the importance of this lesson is to be actively open to all possibilities.

Day 33 - Lesson 32

I have invented the world I see.  The lesson also says: "You can give it up as easily as you made it up.  You will see it or not see it, as you wish."  Sometimes I totally get this....and sometimes I don't.  I don't believe that I can give it up as easily as I've made it up.  Maybe by the end of this course I will have done that - that's kind of the point actually.  I am practicing and working diligently at living life in a way that honors love.  I am making progress.  I certainly feel less fear and anger.  I am more calm.  I am able to detach more easily.  I am more open and less critical.


In my studies this evening, I read about informal meditation. The concept of informal meditation is the ability to be mindful - the practice of mindfulness - at any time of the day or in any activity.  An example of our impatience and even downright anger over life's delays, like heavy traffic causing us to be late or waiting in a long line.  It's at those very times that it's important to take the opportunity to be mindful, to be present in the moment, to remember that this is our life - this very moment of waiting or delay is our life and we serve ourselves so much better by not wasting it on anger, frustration, and impatience.  Instead we can choose to focus on our breath - celebrate the fact that we are breathing, list those things in our minds for which we are grateful, smile.  Smiling always makes us feel better.  Smiling, in fact, is an instant way to feel better.  Practice smiling not just from your lips, smile with your eyes, feel your smile lighten your body from your eyebrows all the way to your toes. 


The world I've invented looks so much brighter when I smile.

Day 32 - Lesson 31

I am not the victim of the world I see.  I love that this lesson says, "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."  I practiced this lesson with ease today.  Each time I would feel tension in my body, I would remind myself to repeat this idea.  I don't feel like a victim for the most part  - but it's a good reminder nonetheless.