“I’ve learned that when they call you crazy, it usually means you’re onto something.”—Jacqueline Novogratz
Happy Monday, my peeps! I know I typically send out Friday missives — mainly so I can wish you the most astounding weekend of your life, but thought I’d mix it up a bit.
Plus, while walking around my yard this morning, counting new lilies, adoring the clematis, reveling in the morning’s avian Opus #143, a voice clearly spoke to me—“This is your mission, Pam.”
“Say what?”
“You heard me. Your life’s work is to notice, give thanks, be joyful. And don’t let anybody tell you that’s not enough.”
“Even with all the potential causes, protests, issues I keep hearing about?”
Yes, I’ve been regularly hitting up the Dude with the question, “What is mine to do?”
This morning’s answer couldn’t have been clearer.
“Love your life, create a field of joy, expand your presence.”
Not the presence, it emphasized, that the world maintains you “should” expand — get more likes, attract new followers, sell more books– but the presence of peace and possibility, of imagination, new ideas.
But what about all the “shoulds” I inherited from my culture: that I “should” build my 401K, keep my fingernails painted, rid my lawn of all those beautiful yellow flowers that eventually turn into white wispy delights?
The rules are extensive, many buried beneath awareness, taken for granted, believed to be absolute duty as a responsible human being.
These invisible “shoulds” are buried in the left hemisphere of our brains, the rational, pragmatic side that constructs a map of the world that currently dominates reality. It alleges I “should” put up defenses, stay safe, stay separate, stay loyal to the dominant narrative. And sadly, that map has formed a world with little room for awe and wonder.
But it’s the awe and wonder, the beauty of it all, as Dostoevsky said, that can save the world.
So, no, I have not identified any new assignment, any new cause. But I have been given full-throated permission to abandon all “shoulds,” to simply walk through life as a loving, energetic field of presence. To forever enjoy “this very now” and be open to the unbounded truth that surpasses all maps, all limitations, all “shoulds.”
Here’s to enjoying a ridiculously rowdy, sensuously satisfying week, the best of your big, beautiful life.
#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)
42 Responses
Thank you Pam. I feel better already!!!!!!!
So glad!!!
PERFECT. Clear. Love this. THANKS for sharing it. 🙂
100 percent my pleasure!
This was just what I needed to read this morning. Thank you!!
And just what I needed to write. Life’s funny that way!
Love this Pam ❤️ are you still bring out a new book ?📕
Yes, just more at a snail’s pace!
Stunning advice and clarity. That is the same message I have been receiving and I struggle with the simplicity of this. I have always enjoyed your musings and now I choose to join your club. Thank you Pam
Welcome! Have you mastered the handshake? JK!!!!
Thank you Pam! I so need to hear this today.
I feel like I need reminders EVERY day!
I am very big on noticing and loving all the simple, beautiful things around me as well. I get SO MUCH JOY from the birds and other wildlife, the plants, the sunrises and sunsets, the clouds, the stars, and the phases of the moon. Also the fun little (or not so little) surprises and delights that show up on any given day. Talking to strangers (I get paid to do that!), hanging out with friends and family, volunteering (hey – I’ll be doing my radio show on our college/community/volunteer powered radio station today from 1-3pm, Mountain time on KDUR.org). All of this brings me joy that I am certain has some good ripple effects, out into the ether. None of this is a “should”. It’s all just what I feel like doing and loving.
That said, I also feel “called” to call my electeds, to voice my concerns and urge them to stand on the side of justice, democracy, humanity, and Mother Earth. Not as a “should”, but as something that I can do that brings me peace in the face of what feels like chaos and destruction. Writing postcards to potential voters is another thing that I do that brings me peace.
I can truly say that I delight in each day, and love my simple life, while also engaging with this “system” that I have preferences about. I know a lot of people who are just letting outside circumstances take them to their knees. I feel fortunate that I can live in balance.
Hey, after living in this house for 25 years, for the first time that I can remember…we have chimpmonks!
Have a day and week filled with glorious goodness, friends!
xox
Pamela Joy
Chipmunks!!! So exciting!!! And, yes, I’m EXTREMELY grateful for the balance.
Thank you Pam! Needed to hear this to reinforce my intent to surrender and allow the universe to work its magic. Love you so much!
Love you, too, so much!
I have been faithfully studying ACIM and doing the experiments in E-Cubed (amazing!) and as Experiment #9 requested asked for a transcendent moment I couldn’t miss. I got the same message today…and a few minutes later opened your email. Thank you for opening up a whole new world for me…sending light and love to you. ❤️
Gladly feeling your light and love. Thanks!
Perfect timing! I so needed to hear this today. I am printing this and will be reading it on a daily basis as a reminder to love my life now and embrace the joys of simple living that actually bring me peace. We had a huge rain last night in the deserts of Arizona and woke up to temps of 68 degrees in June! Thank you, Pam for a perfect reminder of loving life no matter where you are.
It’s the only thing that makes any sense. And wow–enjoy the reasonable temps.
I call your gazillion and raise you a zupillion, hermanita!
Zupillion, hermanita times 525,000!
BALANCE!!!!! I just realized that I am here for the balance to counteract the negative. Thank you Pam. Yin-Yang.
Yes, I’ve always felt my “easy life” was a counterbalance to the frenetic energy of most everyone else. Now I know that I’m the one that makes it easy!
That’s the exact message I keep getting. I still catch myself wanting to separate and blame others, and then I remember, I’m here to spread and be love and joy. I love reading your posts and every year I start at the beginning of *A Course in Miracles Experiment* and integrate a little bit more of the lessons. Thanks for sharing what you’re learning with us.
That ego does like to put in its two-cents!
Yes it does.
My happiness and my function are one. 🥳😎💞
Abso-frickin-lutely!
here, here!!
There are the famous “self-helpers” and then there are the renown & respected like Pam, like Byron Katie, like Eckhart Tolle (and just a few more) that truly understand that “self-help” is doing less, then, in turn, clearing more. Thank you, Pam!!!
Hej Pam!
I love your mails and I’ve read all your books and I follow you a long time now. My question is: Do you no longer have any open wishes for the universe? I have a lot of open wishes and I try to speak with the universe, but it seems not to answer to me…. What can I do about that? Do you have any advice or idea for me?
I wish you a wonderful week.
Regards and a big hug from Sweden
Annette
Thank you so much Pam for always shining your beautiful light so that we can recognise our own.
Big hugs from Reading England.
love you Pam , gracias 🙏🕉️💚🌈
Absolutely perfect! Can I join in your mission Pam, noticing beauty, revelling in simple joys, radiating kindness, being present? Love it! ❤️
The best message you’ve ever delivered Pam. At least in my book. Your words are always a great source of Joy, and I thank you deeply for them.
Love,
Karen
Hi All,
Very interesting! I also have gotten tired of having been “should” on by our corporately driven culture.
I loved the cartoon -” right arm” man!
Thanks,
Fred
Wow Pam! Just WOW!!! That is a fabulous, big, important message!!! Abandon all shoulds!!!! I love – and need – this message. I have a list of stupid shoulds in my head as long as the distance between Melbourne Australia and Kansas USA. Longer. To the moon and back. Or out to universe nine! 😄 Anyway, I can’t tell you how liberating it is to think we can all truly get rid of our “Should List” once and for all, and simply allow ourselves to move though life with gratitude and joy, noticing all the beauty and ‘good stuff’ there is everywhere around us. To live from a place of love and to be fully glad to be alive. I mean, I’ve “known” for years now that I should get rid of my shoulds (haha! 🤣) but your message has come at the perfect time to help me take that final step of eradicating every single last one of them for good! Amen! So thank you Pam for your Magical Monday Missive, and for sharing the wisdom you heard with us. It’s a blessing to us all I reckon! 🦋 Have a fantabulous week and here’s to noticing, being grateful, and living in joy. Yeah!
PS By the way, I laughed out loud at that hilarious cartoon! Love it! 😄👌🏼🎉
As ever totally adore and resonate with every word you write! 🙏🏼
Thank you so much, I needed that! Often the state of the world feels so overwhelming, and what can you do about it? But you are right: abondon the ‘shoulds’!
Loving this message and resonates as my new way to be – loving your post as always Pam 🧡🧡🧡
And I now exhale…🌼🌼🌼🌼
In this moment my very beautiful soul is soooothed🌼
Thank YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU ✨⭐️♥️✨ Pam!! ♥️