What I know for sure: Either you are transformed entirely or not at all.
There is still a tendency to believe that transformation involves process and time. It’s not true.
You will change entirely (born again, brand new, completely transformed) or you’re not changing at all. There is no such thing as process.
I’ll use the example of dieting. Some people believe that when you diet you are transforming slowly (but surely), losing 1-2 pounds a week. It seems like there is a process involved.
But it’s not true. In the moment you changed your mind and made a decision to lose weight, get in shape and change your habits, you were entirely transformed in that moment. The 1-2 weight loss that follows is the inevitable result of your total transformation … before the actual diet even started!
You changed your mind first, then you changed your habits, and then you begin witnessing the results of your change of mind.
Usually when someone realizes they need to lose weight, it almost always comes with the realization that changes must be made. These changes can be either big or small but it’s common logic that you must change something. Either to cut out sugar or processed food, or eat fewer calories or exercise more.
At the most fundamental basic level everyone knows that if you keep doing what you’ve always done, your life will be as it has always been.
The reason most diets fail is because the initial change (of being born again, of being brand new) was not a change at all. Rather, it was a hope in future transformation.
I pray you can see the difference.
This will fail every time.
A lot of people say “Act as if the thing you want is already yours” and that is great advice. If you want to be a thin/healthy person, then start eating/acting like one. If you want to be a happy and generous person, then be it today. Don’t wait to become that person. BE IT TODAY.
Let the total transformation occur in you today.
Be it. Just do it.
There is no process involved. The idea of process will keep you trapped in trying to find a solution.
I got some great letters from someone who has been depressed her entire life, in therapy since 1991, and who has been “practicing” A Course in Miracles with no success.
This is a case of a person who believed in process. I invited her to wash her past clean and start over, brand new. Look what happened:
This is her first letter to me a week ago:
Dear Lisa, I am having serious depression problems since my ex husband passed away in November. I don’t want to go on anti depressants, yet my moods are going from bad to worse-even while I am attempting to do the workbook lessons daily. Nothing is working for me.
I am seeing a doctor on Tues. to see if there is some medical issue I am having. It is so difficult studying ACIM and having depressing fearful thoughts which I know I am creating but can’t seem to stop.
I have been reading blogs from Gary Renard’s site, and find it very interesting. That is not changing my depression though. There are so many days it is a struggle to do anything. Yet here I am clinging on, trying to remember that I am happiness. My ego seems to be having a big struggle with me. I don’t think I have ever been this depressed before. It almost consumes me.
Linda
Here is her 2nd letter a few days later:
Dear Lisa, Thank you for your daily blog. I read lesson 49 today, even though I should be on 106. There is nothing to fear! That made up my mind to read the blogs you have from the beginning of the year and start with the group with today’s lesson.
I must not be doing lessons properly because my fear has not decreased. I think i just read the words but did still believe in illusions. i take medication (xanax) for anxiety attacks. I have been seeing a doctor for this problem since 1991.
I recognized that I am a fearful person. How can that be when I am not a body-but my mind says i am typing this note to you using the fingers from this body that does not compute.
i don’t know how to flip that switch. I need help.
I wrote down todays lesson so that I would remember to say it often. How do I convince my mind that all this is true and I have nothing to fear? How to I really believe I have no body?
is it just a matter of saying the lesson over and over-although I have already done that and obviously it did not work?
If you have advice on what I can do to reap the benefits of these lessons I will be very grateful. On my own I am not doing such a good job. My switch is stuck.
Linda
Here is her 3rd letter:
Hi Lisa, I was applying lesson 49 today. Since I have decided that I needed to start over where you are at this point on your membership blog because yesterday’s lesson made a huge impact on me.
Well I told you I have had fear all my life-consuming, irrational fear.
After listening to your radio show, I remembered where you said that certain words evoke higher frequencies. I have a problem with racing thoughts. My insane mind would keep me up all night. Yesterday while I was practicing THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR, I started to sing various Christmas Carols. I realized that when I sing, even silently, my chaotic thoughts disappear and I am left with peace. I even sang, while walking my dogs, I am the light of the world. I felt so calm when just before my singing I felt the usual heart gripping fear.
Today I was at the dentist having 6 teeth crowned (a very painful procedure). Things were going wrong, the lidocaine kept wearing off, my teeth were sensitive, and I was gripping the handles on the chair. As I was about to freak out, i practiced today’s lesson about listening for the voice of God. I took slow deep breaths, closed my eyes, and listened for God’s voice. What i heard in my mind was YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.
My dental chair time was over two hours of a not so pleasant time. I had at least 10 shots of lidocaine during that time besides all the other painful things going on. Yet suddenly I realized I am God’s son and I have nothing to fear. It was like my mind told me to breath deep and slow, listen for God’s voice, and know that I have nothing to fear.
That was amazing because it got me through the rest of the procedure with little discomfort.
I seem to spend all day forgiving, because my mind likes chaos. Now all I have to do is apply the lesson and sing Christmas Carols and I am at peace.
I wanted to share that with you so you would know I am serious about ACIM, and also so you would know how grateful I am for you in my life. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Linda
And here is the 4th letter, written yesterday:
I am applying today’s lesson I AM SUSTAINED BY THE LOVE OF GOD, I felt my stomach tense up. The old fear of well what about my housing situation, or my health isn’t so great. I am now trying to implement using the lesson of the day along with there is no fear, to remember I need not fear since I am not a body. It is not easy, it is a conscious effort to remember. i pray for the day it becomes my nature to realize I am the son of God and there is nothing to fear.
I’m not sure why, but when the fear won’t seem to let go, I start singing the Christmas Carols and my ego thoughts are gone temporarily. Until the next fear event! I don’t know if there is a better way to apply these lessons, but this is what Holy Spirit directed me to do.
Thanks again for your blogs and daily commitment. And thanks for your patience with newcomers to the course, trying to find our way back to remembrance that there is no fear because we never left God.
God Bless,
Linda
Thank you Linda! Beautiful. The reason I love these letters so much is to show THE SPEED which you are transformed if you have the commitment and a little willingness to change.
Jesus makes all things new, in this very day.
Facebook comments:
Hi lisa,
I can’t believe I wrote those things! I actually started to cry while reading them on your blog. To think that in my illusion I chose fear all this time when all I had to do was choose happiness, love, joy, and peace.
I loved what you said today about this not being a process-but a mind change. I needed to hear that. I feel like a weight has been lifted from me and it is my choice!
I was worried with five lessons to work on today that I wouldn’t remember them. Now I find that whether I am walking my dogs or talking on the phone, it is becoming easier to apply the lessons to the situation. A MIRACLE has truly happened. I am not sure why I am crying, but know that I am ever grateful for your help.
Many years ago I was in a convent to be a nun. The convent was called HOLY SPIRIT MISSIONARY SISTERS. I mention this only because now I know why I have this strong connection to the Holy Spirit. HS is truly my advocate, helper, and the love I need to remember I am the light of the world.
God Bless,
Linda
Dear Lisa,
WOW! I am so joyful for Linda. I, too have been experiencing moments where I am definitely with God in Heaven. I listened to your radio show, too and now I remember that when “my hair is on fire” just allow the bucket of God’s Love to put it out! My experiences are this incredible light, joy and peace. I simply change my mind. I feel a connection to the clouds for some reason, because when I meditate on a lesson, I see dark clouds being swallowed by light (clouds?). My husband is a pilot. One day we were driving and there were literally streaks of light coming through the clouds. I asked him about it and he said that pilots call those “Jesus Rays!” Now when I see them I remember God and the Truth. I guess what I feel is a real huge amount of gratitude. Thank you for being there for me.
Love,
Carol
Thanks so much for creating and sharing these videos, they?re fantastic.