“The only election that really matters? The one in your head. Do you vote for love or fear?”—A tweet I posted a couple weeks ago
On September 1992, just days after his dad died, Matthew McConaughey sat on his top bunk in the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and jotted down 10 life aspirations in a diary. At the time, he was waiting tables at Austin’s Catfish Station. So when he listed the lofty goal of winning an Oscar for Best Actor, there wasn’t a lot of evidence pointing in that direction.
The reason I tell you this story is not because McConaughey started spouting affirmations and pasting photos on a vision board. Fact is, he never looked at the list again…until he was digging through old journals and diaries to start his memoir, Greenlights.
I like these reminders that behind the scenes, even when I’m totally unaware of it, miracles and blessings are being orchestrated on my behalf. At the exact same time a psychotic parade of crazy thoughts screeches, “Eeks! Oh no!,” there’s a natural expansion taking place. Just like my heart continues to beat, my lungs continue to take in oxygen.
This Divine presence isn’t something I have to develop or create. It’s there, happening whether I’m paying attention or not. It’s who I am despite my thoughts that have a tendency to scream “FIRE!!”
Thoughts (which just keep marching by) are random and have no real substance unless I decide to log into them. Just like my Netflix screen shows 3 gazillion potential movies, I only see the ones I click. And like McConaughey proved, the best tact for making something happen in your life is “set it and forget it.”
I was being interviewed the other day by Light Watkins, a wonderful meditation teacher who posted an early video of the Einstein wands I wrote about in E-Squared. He asked if I ever go back and read my own words. Hmm.
And then, because the universe keeps spreading bread crumbs even when I’m not paying attention, I got a notice that Mrs. Kasha Davis, a drag queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race, was reading my book Thank and Grow Rich in her story time. And because the universe wasn’t taking any chances, I received a wonderful card (in the mail, no less) from a reader whose posse reads Thank and Grow Rich every November.
Okay, universe, I get the hint and the reminder from my own book that if I struggle (because I think nothing will change unless I do) or log into the parade of noise in my head, I erect roadblocks to the natural joy and expansion that’s doing its thing 24/7.
My sole assignment is to lighten up, to have fun, to play around in the quantum sandbox. So this Thanksgiving week, I hope you’ll join me in giving yourself a break, counting your blessings and getting on the frequency of joy and gratitude.
And if you feel like listening to the interview with Light (he also recently interviewed the incredible Ava DuVernay and wrote a fabulous book that I happily endorsed called Bliss More), click this link right here. Light is a GREAT interviewer.
Have a fabulous week, my friends. Who knows? I may even check in later this week with a few excerpts from my book on shameless gratitude and unabashed joy. #222 Forever
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).
41 Responses
Awesome post. I needed to hear this and especially your quote “Behind the scenes….” Blessings and love to you, Pam. Jane A.
Blessings and love to you, as well. Thanks!
Thank you thank you thank you for this… This is life saving for me today literally I was falling down the rabbit hole. I love Light Watkins also so this is a treat.
Isn’t Light the greatest?
You both are 🧡
I can’t believe how perfectly timed your post is for me today. Perfect!! (I CAN believe it but I always get stunned anew when the exact thing I need to read, receive, see etc comes at the exact right time. It’s like magic! 😁) Anyway, Thankyou Pam – your messages always remind me that everything IS ok, and that having joyful fun is the way to do everything. Amen.
Have a wonderful week yourself and may joyful blessings surround you throughout it. 💗🌷💜
PS I love the idea that we are here to “play around in the quantum sandbox.” That is fabulous! Thanks for that wonderful image – I’ll keep it in mind today for sure 😁👍🏻⭐️
Me, too, I love the “quantum sandbox”! 😀 <3
☺️☀️💛
… and I feel the same about what you said:
“I CAN believe it but I always get stunned anew when the exact thing I need to read, receive, see etc comes at the exact right time. It’s like magic!”
Yeah! It’s like “Unbelievable!” and then “No, believable!! Obvious!!!” May this feeling of magic and delight and exploration never end … And I guess it doesn’t, because there will always, always be more/new room for it, in new ways and new nuances … 😮 <3
Yes see you in the sandbox!
I am here to affirm that Pam Grout and Light Watkins are two of my favorite mentors, and their union on that podcast interview was MARVELOUSLY MAGNIFICENT!
Have a glorious week!
Marvelously magnificent indeed!
Yeah, it’s “doing its thing 24/7” – how could it possibly be not!? And the “FIRE!!” thoughts and rabbit holes are “it” as well, from a more non-dual perspective. But sure, it just seems natural not to dwell on them. I love the picture in Matthew McConaughey’s book with the three green lights! Basically, there are only greenlights! 🙂 <3 “It’s also a guide to catching more greenlights—and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.”
That’s so important to remember, about the yellows and reds eventually turning green.
Thank you for the “living in love” reminder, Pam. It came right when I needed it. Getting lost in others’ pain is living in fear and doesn’t serve ANY of us. I choose LOVE and FAITH and I am SO grateful I found a different way to live.
You once told me that I would find the perfect spiritual guide, that it’s there once we remove the blocks…..I keep meeting more guides and more blocks keep evaporating. It’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing the magic.
Love and gratitude and real hugs flowing your way.
Thank you, I receive it. I like getting up and asking, “What would a being of light do today?”
Joining you dear Pam in joy and gratitude. Thanksgiving blessings to you. Looking forward to listening to the interview and snippets of your book this week.
A warm hug,
Linda
Enjoy!
Thank you for always writing words to speak to us in such powerful ways!
Thank YOU!! for appreciating it.
wow! you just made my week!!!! Thank you!!!! 🙂
Thanks Pam. Very much needed to hear this today.
Hope you are well.
Love Matt (currently in Oman by way of London- I wrote that book you liked)
Of course, I remember–how’s the new book coming?
Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings of gratitude to you Pam for the love you share and gifts you impart. ❤️ Cindy
Yes, may all our Thanksgivings be merry and bright!
Yes, indeed Pam!!!!!
❤️🤗
Thank you, Pam! I LOVE the Netflix analogy! That is so helpful— you’re right, just because the thought is there doesn’t mean we have to click on it and spend 8 hours engaging with its content. We can just keep scrolling until we find a better thought to support us. It’s always good to be reminded that even though we “know” the deal, sometimes we need a little nudge back to our own work.
I so appreciate your work. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yes, we all need nudges. Today, I click only on stories that nourish me.
I Am determined to remain happy in this life time
I am 70
Thank-you Pam for reminding us it is up to us and the mystery. Aka god, God, harry Susan etc.
Love the new God names. Thanks!
It’s taken me two years to get semi-good at not controlling the details of my life and low and behold out of “nowhere” a job I had been hoping for (I try not to use the word ‘want’) for four years came available last month and I was hired. Yes, it really does work! The time spent in meditation and re-training my brain to “be still and listen/connect” with the Creator is paying off and I couldn’t be more thankful this Thanksgiving for the wake up call I received in January 2019 that pushed me onto a more connected path. (Thank And Grow Rich was my first book on that new path!)
So happy to hear from you!!!
Pam, I look forward to your blogs and I have read most of your books – they are stacked on the table next to my comfy brown chair where I start each day surrounded by a field of inspiration and coffee, of course. I started “Living Big” today. Thank you for sharing your life and writing gift with the world.
Today, Matthew M’s story was a good reminder that I don’t have to re-manifest “it” everyday:-)
I hope you have a wonderful, blessed, Thanksgiving.
Warmly,
Mulidkey
Same to you, my friend!
And yet you always manage to take cheap shots at conservatives. In your books, in your writing. Never changes. ________________________________
Do I? Not my intention at all. We are all one.
Dr. Orman,
I think Pam does a good job of not getting political, or taking cheap shots at conservatives. But if that is what you are looking for, you are likely to find that. May you be happy, healthy, and well. Happy Thanksgiving.
That is a great “by the book” memorized reply. If you actually read the books, she repeatedly takes shots. I was shocked to find it, particularly since I was NOT anticipating nor looking for anything of the sort.
I just had a spiritual or energetic tantrum! It is as if this Blog was written for me.😂
“I like these reminders that behind the scenes, even when I’m totally unaware of it, miracles and blessings are being orchestrated on my behalf. At the exact same time a psychotic parade of crazy thoughts screeches, “Eeks! Oh no!,” there’s a natural expansion taking place. Just like my heart continues to beat, my lungs continue to take in oxygen. ”
Thanks a lot, Pam.
Thank you!!!
Love this! Many spiritual teachers have taught the Truth that the path is “effortless” but we do insist on thinking it’s not that “easy!” And we meddle and poke and prod our dream, and pout if we don’t see it manifesting…haha So thank you for the reminder to “set it and forget it” and keep having fun – then when your intention manifests, what a lovely “surprise!”