“Let me trust that all of my own needs are always met in amazing ways and it is safe to give freely as my heart guides me.”—Tosha Silver
Unlike most of the world, I’m in no hurry to return to “normal.”
“Normal,” as prescribed by the existing culture, doesn’t always serve our best interests.
“Normal” focuses on the rational sliver of our minds that insists there is one way to solve things, one way to “do life.” It ignores this other body of possibility that, once we open up to, is a gazillion times more life-giving, optimistic and, quite frankly, closer to True Reality.
“Normal” limits what we’re allowed to expect. I’ll give you a couple examples.
“Normal” expects us to find all our answers in science, in history, in books. Those things are all worthy, but hardly a complete list of what we’re entitled to when we open up to the “non-normal” realms of magic and miracles.
Answers often come from nature (George Washington Carver, although a professor and degreed scientist, admitted that the hundreds of inventions he’s credited with were “given” to him by trees and plants on early morning walks) and from dreams (Larry Page first “dreamed” Google).
“Normal” expects us to “make a living” with a job. But I know lots of people (including myself) who make a much better living once they let go of their job. Or their job lets go of them.
I discovered that when I “give freely as my heart guides me,” as the above quote suggests, all my needs are met in truly amazing ways.
Soon after the 2008 recession when the internet more or less murdered traditional publishing, I was tempted to get on board with “normal.” Nobody was buying books—or at least not the books I was offering. Magazines were shrinking, laying off staff.
I even pondered getting one of those things (the three letter word that begins with “J”) that most people think is the only route to security. I decided to stick it out, to expect that I would be taken care of. After all, I was holding up my end of the bargain–pursuing, as Joseph Campbell called it, my bliss.
Soon enough, AAA called, asked to pay me to give a teleseminar on volunteer vacations. They had seen my National Geographic book on the topic and wanted to offer their members a glimpse into overseas volunteering.
And then an author from California, a guy I had never heard of, contacted me “out of the blue.” He practically begged to pay me large sums of money for reading and editing his manuscript on Kansas.
Magic? A miracle? All I know is my book, “Kansas Curiosities,” that he had somehow discovered, is not typically sold in California bookstores.
Something was looking out for me. Something that wants to look out for all of us. IF we let it. If we defy “normal” and EXPECT it to.
So today, as we gaze out upon the new world that’s being created right before our eyes, I suggest we ban “normal.”
Let’s instead:
- Expect answers to all questions we might have. Expect these answers to be readily available, easy to access and incredibly loving, tender and gentle for all parties concerned.
- Expect perfect, loving solutions for all challenges that might come up.
- Expect all our needs to be met.
- Expect that the prolific, abundant universe will show us how to thrive in this new world.
“Normal” tells us these things are difficult, impossible.
But “normal,” you are now free to officially kiss my keister.
Pam Grout is the author of 20 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, The Course in Miracles Experiment: A Starter Kit for Rewiring Your Mind (And Therefore Your World).
40 Responses
Tried “normal” once. Most boring afternoon of my life.
Thank YOU PAM & TAZ!!! Oscar
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NORMAL…YOU CAN KISS THIS KEISTER TOO!!!!!
WOOHOO…BYE BYE NORMAL:)
LOVE YA PAM🥰
The timing on your blog posts is always surreal… I just applied for two jobs and then saw this. I’m usually eternally optimistic but… I’m struggling these days. Thank you for reminding me to look for the magic.
I say we line up in a conga line to have our keisters kissed as “normal” makes its way to the door. Thanks, Pam. Your perspective on this issue is always so refreshing and uplifting. You are loved!
Wonderful and timely post. Thank you Pam!
Ever since I moved in to an ashram, to live and serve here, I have had zero ‘money issues.’ The ‘old me’ might have assumed living in an ashram or monestary would be creating red in my checkbook. It has literally done the opposite. I feel so very, very blessed. When I feel this level of contentment, I do not run out to buy something just to fill a perceived ’emptiness.’ So blessed. So blessed.
Thanks again Pam for your wisdom!!
(and obviously, most of my family and childhood friends would NOT think of ashram living as ‘normal.’ It feels fabulous to me!)
Dearest Pam,
Like many people around the world, I love you with all my heart! Today’s the day to step right up & tell you so…because your post found me & touched my heart. Again!
Thank you for this post—the timing & the content. Although I am 80 days into your ACIM Experiment & I know that “my problems are illusions” that I’m a one-person-band, like Prince’s first album… AND…I’ve been working through one of those illusional problems for the better part of today—until I collided with your fabulous post. And POOF! “Problem Dissolved”.
Thank you for knocking on the window of my heart & letting the Light in. Always!
Sending you & your very much Love & Light & a Great Big HUG, Maia
Maia Beatty, CPC, BCC, ELI-MP Chief Inspirator Certified Leadership Coach Chief Reinvention Officer
Maia Beatty & Associates We help good leaders become extraordinary http://www.maiabeatty.com 330-573-0526
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Love it! I so needed to read this today and I thank you very much. Do you ever do coaching? Or should I say reminding Coaching? Ha ha I would definitely sign up
Normal has always been overrated and I think a lot of the world is starting to catch up on that notion. If not yet, very soon! Thank you for all the inspiration you have provided us, for years! I am re-reading E3, for the 2nd or 3rd time, while also reading a passage of The Course Experiment each day, after meditation. Your books, your blogs, and YOU never cease to raise the frequency! Love you and all the Abby-normal fans of yours.
I FREAKIN LOVE YOU!
Always a pleasure to read your brilliant, funny posts…
thank you! I agree……….I am so enjoying the slower pace of life. so many blessings.
I have long felt we have needed a massive shift from ‘normal’ and this seems like a perfect opportunity for that to happen in amazing loving ways. I definitely don’t want to go back to ‘normal’ but move into a new way of being that is good for everyone.
Thank you for the message I needed to read today to give fear the flick. Bless you Pam.
You know it wasn’t but 3 months ago, I asked the world to stop and let me off….. I guess the universe listened. I am having the time to listen over and over again to Pam’s book The course in Miracles Experiments. It is making me realize my life is but a big mirror effect and the simple fact my life itself is a Miracle. Thank you for helping me listen to the universe.
P.S. The universe says thank you also.
Love Dawn Taylor
Ah Pam, you are a spectacular embodiment of magic! Thankyou for your delightful, inspiring and uplifting message today. I, too, have no desire whatsoever to go “back to normal” and I feel that this tragedy of Covid-19 is definitely going to end up being a blessing in disguise for the whole world and all of humanity. For some of us it is a blessing already.
Thankyou for sharing your story of magically being taken care of by that “something” that wants to take care of all of us, even when it appears impossible to our limited vision and understanding. And I think I will write out your four “expectations” and put them around my house as reminders of what truly IS true and possible.
Love ya Pam! Have a blessed and beautiful day 😁
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I totally agree with you, Pam! I am hopeful that everyone will realize how connected we all are and be open to exploring new concepts for the good of all, not the few. Please keep sharing all your wonderful words with us. Bountiful Blessings 💝
Hi Pam, I’m a big fan of your philosophy and your writing. I loved reading about your new, magical way of existing in the world.
Thanks for all you do.
Cheers,
Connie Carney
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I seriously love that you are not ‘normal’ Pam!
Thanks again for being you.
With love, Linda x
I am seriously copying this. I am looking forward to seeing all the good “stuff” that is coming.
I love this Pam, I totally agree, I’m in no hurry at all and I may never go back to “normal” anyway!
Thank you so much for your constant support and upliftment to all of us.
With loads of LOVE and GRATITUDE!
Loved this, loved reading the other comments, love you, Pam (& Taz & also Tosha), and I am also loving this ever-evolving alternative lifestyle. However, even though time is meaningless, I feel like it’s too soon for the next “normal” ~ or the gazillion other possible normals ~ to arrive. It’s more like the world is experiencing some false labor pains and it will still be awhile before Baby “Normal 2.0” arrives. Or maybe we’re peeling a giant onion, layer by layer, which is bound to cause some tears for those who would rather keep it intact.
Thank you for continuing to shine light on the process and remind us that we’re all on a Magical Mystery Tour. ❤️💛💚💙💜 🌈 🌞 🌱 🌸
Thanks Pam, your Post today is spot on. I also welcome the ânew normalâ or whatever that might be.
Best wishes
Michael Cordes
agripres@mweb.co.za
073 637 6105
Big thanks for a column that’s right on the mark re “normal.” I like to believe that more and more people are coming to the realization that in the future our world will be different than it was or has been. And that’s a good thing. Expecting magic and miracles, letting go of outcomes and leaving the details to the Creator makes life so much easier, so much less stressful and so much more fun! The fact that you can cite your own experiences as to how all this works makes belief so much more possible. You’re doing terrific work in the world, Pam!
JOB Just Over Broke. That’s normal and not a lot of fun. Who decides what’s normal anyway?? I’m with you on this. Love it!
I am with Jenny Louise. I copied your four expectations as a daily reminder 💞 Thank you for walking this life journey with me.
THis has always worked for me, though perhaps at times a bit more suffering was experienced before I got there. But I was suffering by the age of 6 with fears of death, so, it was just the way it was. When my husband left me with two young babies, a dog, a house with out heat and took the car as his half of the deal, I desperately wanted him back, at first. Once I accepted where I was, and started thinking on the brighter side, I saw an ad in the paper –Enthusastic was the main requirement I didn’t know much about myself, after years in a bad marriage, but I KNEW that was true. I wrote a letter, inspired by a crazy Idea that popped into my head to write as thought I already had the job. My future boss thought that was ingenious, she told me later – got me to the top of the pile. The job made me “walking editor” to millions of people and me, the agoraphobic, got to travel to places around the coutnry and Switzerland and Austria, hiking and walking some of the best trails there are out there.I was ALWAYS grateful. 🙂 THis year, at 67 I directed a musical I wrote (Not the music but I got to choose my favorites) The writing was easy it came all in one afternoon mostly. The directing I cringed from at first, but then went for it. What a ball –and the show? Standing room only for 4 nights and incredible flow of love back to me—who could ask for more. (I was “paid “100 dollars) But I received more joy than I every anticipated! 🙂 Maggie Spilner Brotzman easton pa
Maggie Spilner-Brotzman
walkforallseasons@gmail.com
Hi Pam,
This is exactly what I needed Pam!
Thank you so much! Love your perspectives.
Are you working on a book at the moment?
I am yet to read E Cubed! Ordering it for my birthday coming up! YAY!
Warm regards, Jackie j ackiegith93@gmail.com 0405 966 848
Yes I read this. Loved it
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Always a good reminder. Grateful for your sharing, and consistent positive action.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Thx. For the post.
This post is absolutly amazing. It gives me so much hope. I read it more than ten times. Life wants to take care of me. Perfect.
Thank you Pam for all the good you are doing and to be part of my journey. Many blessings to you and beautiful Taz.
I love this and it came at the perfect time this morning, just as I was contemplating a new J** to replace the continued pursuit of my bliss. Thanks for setting me straight. Again. 🙂
Perfect timing as I just opened it today after some frustration and uncertainty concerning my J**!
Thank you Pam!
Commet
This is Jaquith, leaving a reply to Jay. Jay is me, my old name when people couldn’t pronouce Jaquith. I love this article. It is so timely. Expect the best. I am going to copy those words on a sticky note and put them on my computer where I can see them every morning. Thanks Pam. You are so inspiring.