ACIM – Page 24 – Pam Grout

Rewriting my story about God

March 5, 2018 23 Comments

“It is not until our image of God is corrected that we begin to understand how we sabotage our own happiness.”—Michele Longo-O’Donnell
anything

Before we commence with today’s festivities, I want to answer a question that was posted on my blog yesterday.

Could you give some suggestions on how to forgive the old story?

The simple answer, of course, is quit thinking about it, but that’s rather flip and perhaps not helpful.

So it came to me this morning as one my own old stories was playing out in my head that: a) I had cemented this “problem” into the plaster of my life by believing it was absolutely true and b) that an alternative story (in fact a gajillion other stories) were also true.

And that maybe that field of the other gajillion stories (where an alternative story could be true and a whole different thing could happen) is actually a pretty good definition of God.

And that forgiveness is nothing more than withdrawing my belief in the one story, withdrawing my conviction that this “problem” needs to be solved.

At that point, I can return to the field of gajillion possibilities. Or, to use the old terminology, return to God. Or love.

Absolutely anything is possible. Until that moment I pluck one particular possibility (usually a problem) out of the gajillion possibilities and then whip the bejesus out of myself for having it.

In quantum physics, it’s called collapsing the wave. All of our problems are nothing but waves we chose to collapse out of the field of gajillion possibilities.

So to turn it over to God is to turn it back over to the field where anything at all is possible. Where the wave is no longer collapsed.

It occurs to me that this definition may be just as difficult to understand as the Course often is. And my goal is to make it as simple as possible. So let me try one more time.

ACIM Lesson 64 (Let me not forget my function) encourages me to bring my attention back to the field of gajillion possibilities instead of zeroing in on one collapsed wave.

My function is to “be the light,” “to spread molecules of merriment.” And it’s much easier to fulfill that function when I focus on the gajillion possibilities (God) rather than the one thing that I just know is a problem, that thing I failed to “forgive.”

This lesson tells me that it’s all very simple–although it begs the question why the Course has used so many words to tout simplicity.

Every decision I make leads to either unhappiness (This problem is real, I believe in it with all my heart) or happiness (Absolutely anything is possible once I return to the field of gajillion possibilities). I prefer definition 2.

Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her new book, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.

Love like crazy

March 4, 2018 59 Comments

“Let go all the trivial things that churn and bubble on the surface of your mind.”—A Course in Miracles

hair days Okay, universe, I get it!

I may be dense, but when I hear something enough times (say like 42), I have no choice but to acknowledge that the bigger thing has come a’knocking. It has an assignment it wants me to take on.

So when my schedule slows down (probably when I’m in Ajijic, Mexico in a couple weeks), I plan to create a book proposal for compiling these daily Course in Miracles lessons into a handy-dandy reference guide. So thank you guys for being so persistent.

And I probably should mention that when I first conceived E-Squared, my bestseller to date, I totally pitched it as a starter kit for understanding the Course. In my proposal, I even mentioned that God had a giant PR problem. That those who claimed to be his minions were not doing him (I prefer the less masculine pronoun “it”) justice.

Because here’s the thing. This unseen energetic force is the biggest badass on the planet. It isn’t limited or finite or a last-minute relief team. Why wouldn’t everyone want to feel this buzz? To use its infinite power? To enjoy its guidance and blessings.

I called the book God Doesn’t Have Bad Hair Days. As you may know, it was published back in 2005 and proceeded to do a ginormous nosedive into oblivion. A few years later, I found a different publisher and reissued it with the new title. Let’s just say that it did okay. #1 New York Times okay!

This new book, that we in this community are creating together, will be a paraphrasing of the ACIM workbook.

For example, Lesson 63 (The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness)is basically saying that when I give up my old story (that’s what forgiveness is), I’ll find nothing but peace and joy. In the meantime, my role here is to be happy and spread molecules of merriment throughout the planet.

Why the F Word and I roll deep, Part 2

March 3, 2018 40 Comments

lamott “Celebrate the madness
The joy
Of seeing God
Everywhere!”
— HAFIZ

I’ve devised a simple test for determining what’s important. If it’s widely misunderstood, it’s probably worth my attention.

Case in point: the word “God”—more baggage than a Samsonite store, completely misconceived, the coolest force on the planet. That’s why I rarely call it God.

Love is another word weighted down with misperceptions. We actually believe it’s something we have to find. In reality, it’s who we are, why we’re here, the only thing worthy of our time.

Today, I’d like to bring up another word with massive baggage problems. The F word. Forgiveness.

Most of us think it’s an act we’re forced to perform when horrific jerks do us wrong.
Forgiveness, as I see it, is realizing that no one HAS the power to do me wrong. To believe someone or something outside myself can hurt me is what started all the problems in the first place. It negates the Truth of who I am.

Being pissed off unplugs me from the F.P, this wild and crazy force that’s constantly trying to bless me. It erects a big wall between me and my highest good.

Believing outside forces can hurt me stunts my growth. Blinds me to all the miracles. Creates an illusory world that makes me want to hide, feel guilty, close down.

Each of us is here to strengthen the life force–in ourselves and in each other. If we point fingers and believe something outside ourselves can hurt us, we put the squeeze on this unbelievably cool and ever-present life force.

If anyone had the right to hold a grudge, it was Nelson Mandela. He was imprisoned for 27 years, three of his children died before he did, his second wife Winnie took a lover and his government treated him no better than a dog.

But instead of letting those injustices take away his dignity, his superpower of love, he used them to solidify a vision for a better world. He refused to BE imprisoned.

ACIM Lesson 62 reminds me of the real reason I want to forgive. Because I want to be happy.

Forgiving, it says, removes strain and fatigue. It takes away fear, guilt and pain. It makes me invulnerable. But, as far as I’m concerned, I’m down with forgiveness because it brings me joy.

I am the light, baby

March 2, 2018 22 Comments

“Everyone is involved whether they like it or not in the construction of the world.”—John O’Donohue light

We did it! Made it through the first 50 lessons (and the review) where we learned the world is nothing like we thought. It’s actually malleable and responds to what we believe and think and say about it. We’re the artists, the creators, the only people we can hold accountable if, for some reason, our world doesn’t appear like we think it should.

ACIM Lesson 61 is a biggie. Get this one lesson (I am the light of the world), get it deep in your bones and boom, everything changes!

Not only are you light (underneath the wah-wah-wah of the hamster wheel of thought), but being light is why you’re here. It’s your rai·son d’ê·tre.

Since I happen to agree with John O’Donohue who says, “Music is what language would love to be if it could,” I’m going to let the following song (I’m sorry for those whose browsers don’t read my song links) communicate today’s lesson.

Love you guys! Have the best weekend of your life.

There is a hum in you

March 1, 2018 21 Comments

“Nanny Ogg looked under her bed in case there was a man there. Well, you never knew your luck.”—Terry Prachett
omg
My life seems to be one big OMG after another. Karen Drucker (yes THAT Karen Drucker!), the one who has recorded 19 CD’s and won about every award an inspirational songwriter can win, is writing a song with my AA 2.0. catchphrase. She called (well, I returned her call) and she played the chorus for me. It is, to quote myself, amazingly awesome.

I can’t wait for you all to hear it. I’m already envisioning winning a Grammy.

But since I’ve devoted this year to writing about the Course in Miracles, I’m going to quickly introduce my take on ACIM Lesson 60. It’s a review (tomorrow we move on to new material) with these five paraphrased principles:

1. Today, I recognize my innocence. And everybody else’s, while I’m at it.

2. Instead of working really hard, I just have to turn within and tune into the Divine frequency. When I’m there, everything works out in miraculous, beautiful ways.

3. Fear is an imposter. It pretends to be important, but when I see the world as it really is (without fear gunking up the windows), I recognize everyone leaning in (maybe even Sheryl Sandberg) to bless me.

4. The Divine Buzz stalks me wherever I go. There’s never a moment it’s not available. And it will tell me exactly what to do, what to say and whom to say it to.

5. This Divine Buzz, this Super God, lights up the world in peace and beauty and goodness.

So there we have it, my friends. Once again, I just want to say thank you for joining me on this journey. I heard Marianne Williamson say that when she gives talks about The Course, she feels like an aerobics instructor. She may be the one up front, but she’s doing it right along with everyone who’s listening.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts. We’re all in this miracle-performing business together.

Money is everywhere

February 28, 2018 45 Comments

“Happiness comes from many sources, but none of these sources involve car or purse upgrades.”—Mr. Money Mustache abundance

Last November, at an executive women’s retreat in Orlando, I met a brilliant CPA named Christi. I feel compelled to mention that I wasn’t at this weekend retreat because I’m an executive woman. I work in my pajamas. I was there because I was invited to give a two-hour presentation which, you’ll be happy to hear, I didn’t give in my PJ’s.

But this story isn’t about me.

It’s about Christi who is brilliant, not just because she helps clients with taxes and financial planning and all that other left-brain rigamarole, but because she helps them really understand money. Not in the way most of us understand money, but in the way money really is.

She considers it her duty to make sure they know that money is energy and that those numbers on their balance sheets and tax forms are a direct result of their thoughts and beliefs. She loves to tell them that money is unlimited and that it is only their thoughts and beliefs that could ever keep it away.

I’m thinking about money today because I just received my yearly bill from WordPress. WP is a free blogging platform, but I actually pay an annual fee so they’ll take all ads OFF my site. I figure it’s the least I can do for those of you who so generously take the time to read my posts

I write them out of sheer joy, as my own spiritual and creative practice. I write from my heart and I view them as a gift to anyone who cares to read them.

Which is why I don’t use my blog to promote what’s known as affiliate programs. You know–those posts that have the same spiel, the same wording and everything, from five different people. While there’s a certain kind of mad genius in promoting someone else’s program or product in exchange for a percentage of sales, I choose to turn down such invitations because I don’t view you as “a list.” You are my compadres in spiritual mischief, my friends, my sounding board. If I write about something, it’s because I’m genuinely excited about it.

So while Christi’s mission is to maximize and optimize finances, mine is to maximize and optimize joy. That’s why, as I often say, my goal is to become the Warren Buffet of Happiness.

And that’s what A Course in Miracles does. It helps us realize that the way we see ourselves and the world is upside down. It teaches us that living a wonderful, fulfilling life has nothing to do with finances and everything to do with how we see the world.

ACIM Lesson 59 encourages us to give up our pitiful illusions, to reach in and grab the absolute peace that abides within. It’s there within everyone, hidden under our thoughts and crazy beliefs, hidden under worry and stress and belief that money (or really anything at all) is limited. Limitation is a false construct that we have cemented in with our thoughts. It can be changed at any time.

Today, I encourage you to notice that, like Christi preaches, money (and abundance of all kinds) is everywhere.

You’ll find it by getting on a frequency of joy and gratitude. By taking off the blinders that block the presence and the radiance and the unforced generosity of the universe.

My service is to this presence. And to you, my dear friends, who have put a little bit of trust in me. For that, I say thank you, thank you, thank you.

Recognizing the holiness in all things

February 27, 2018 29 Comments

“I wandered everywhere, through cities and countries wide. And everywhere I went, the world was on my side.”—Roman Payne blessings

As I see it, my work (although I prefer to think of it as my playground) is to spread the word that the world is on our side.

In fact, ACIM Lesson 58 encourages me (and everyone else who is following along) to step up and claim our blessings. Most of us, because of illusions we manufactured in our heads, don’t.

This lesson even tells us (and I’m paraphrasing) that fear is a nothing burger.

So, today, since I’m getting around to posting later than normal, I’m going to share a couple inbox stories from readers who gave up fear and, by golly, claimed their blessings.

1. E-squared changed my life completely. I remember when I first read it I was unemployed (blah blah) and then it shifted everything. A year later I was a lecturer at a university ( I even emailed you before my first lecture being so scared on how I would speak in public, in students…), meeting amazing students who every year nominate me for the lecturer of the year award, teaching about the subject I love the most (the Sun) and now I am even working with Cambridge University, travelling all over UK to inspire hundreds of young kids to study physics (mainly the Sun, ha)!

I mean Cambridge from being out of the academia for some time, from being actually the “black sheep” of academia, and being unemployed and suddenly Cambridge! Ok that I could have never seen coming 🙂

2. Here are the gifts I received while manifesting during E2. Immediately, I got outta a speeding ticket, my frozen flowers started blooming after laser love. Plus, I focused on getting $5K for things and after 2 months I received a check for $7200

3. I wanted to send off my thank you and share this brief story as it surely exceeded my expectations for what this exercise could bring.

I read the chapter and even formally copied the worksheet to my iPad for working the process. I filled out the form setting date and time and was ready for the FP to demonstrate itself in clear form. I watched over the next couple days as amazing things happened:

– I received a large bonus of over $10k!
– A bathtub drain that endlessly frustrates me with its slow draining drained perfectly throughout my shower on the next morning (it has since gone back to usual!).
– I went to a folk concert and because the last band playing was a guest in our AirBnb the last song was dedicated to my wife and I!!! (And they were so incredible)

It’s me again.

I’ve posted this song before, but it bears listening to, well, maybe every day.

It was written by an amazing musician named Claudia Carawan. She is the music director at Unity Bon Air in Richmond, Virginia. When I spoke there, she played this song that, while she didn’t write for me, could easily be my theme song. Enjoy!

I have been waiting to meet you all of my life

February 26, 2018 13 Comments

“Love is how you become a person and why.”—John Green 1awesome

Recent lessons in A Course in Miracles (today, I’m on Lesson 57) have been reviews, where I solidify my commitment to free my mind, to give up my old stories, to choose peace.

Basically, I’m learning to “be new,” to see others as new, to see new possibilities.

Byron Katie, who has been married to Stephen Mitchell for 30-plus years, says she gasps every morning when she first sees him, as if she’s seeing this “incredibly precious” person for the very first time. There’s no baggage. There’s no story. She sees him as “new.”

Today, I choose to spend more time seeing the new and less time imagining the past.

I choose to see myself as a powerful radio tower for joy, for love, for connection.

I choose to emit goodness, to spew beauty, to broadcast molecules of happiness.

I choose to approach every person I meet with the attitude of Byron Katie, “I have been waiting to meet you all of my life.”

Be weird. Have fun. Start now.

February 25, 2018 10 Comments

“I am in love with the whole world.”—Maurice Sendak be weird

In Europe, soccer (they call it football) is huge. Really big. The best players make $50 million per year.

Ostersunds FK, a football club in remote northern Sweden, in a town just 240 miles from the Arctic Circle knew their only hope of competing in the big leagues was Eljest. It’s a Swedish term that means “be different.”

Their coach, Graham Potter, a Brit who’d never really led a team before, noticed that all the teams trained the same, organized the same, played the same. They were mostly owned by old white dudes.

What if he mixed it up? What if, in addition to practices, he started a Culture Academy where his players were encouraged to try something new, to step out of their comfort zones? What if he got the whole town involved?

So, in 2010, his first year as coach of this team that was lucky to get 600 fans to a game, required his players to perform Swan Lake. For the community. The next year, they wrote a book. They went on to paint, to stage a rock concert, to mentor a team of refugees in Darfur.

And a funny thing happened. This little team of soccer rejects went from 4th tier soccer when the “be weird experiment” began in 2010 to playing in 1st tier soccer.

In 2017, they won the Swedish Cup. They’ve gone on to play in the Europa League and have racked up wins against such powerhouses as Berlin and Galatasaray SK, a legendary Turkish team that was so impressed with their grit that they gave them a standing ovation.

As their manager said, “We win every game, even if the score shows otherwise, because we learn something new every time.”

So today, as we ponder ACIM Lesson 56, think of Ostersunds FK who accomplished the impossible by changing their mindset, being brave, opening up to a whole new weird way of being.

Today is your lucky day

February 24, 2018 37 Comments

“Scientists have calculated that the chances of something so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.”—Terry Pratchett
111
February 24 has always been my lucky day.

One year, my butter cake landed the blue ribbon in the Ellsworth County 4-H Fair. Another Feb 24, I won the school spelling bee. Yet another, a really hot guy invited me to dinner.

The point is, I began to notice a pattern and the wins, the joyous events started pouring in. Every year, something out of the ordinary and highly-desirable occurred.

I was thinking about this last night, wondering what cool gift was going to stop by for a visit this February 24 when it struck me. My A.A. 2.0 program, my ritual of starting every morning with “Something extraordinarily epic is going to happen to me today” is sorta the same thing.

Richard Wiseman, psychology professor at the University of Hertfordshire in England, spent eight years studying lucky people. He finally concluded that getting all the good breaks has nothing to do with karma or kismet and everything to do with how we see ourselves. He even started what he calls “Luck School” to teach people to be more lucky.

The quantum field, as you know, is an infinite mashup of superpositions or possibilities. It isn’t until the waves are measured–or observed–that they coalesce into one material reality, thus destroying the original configuration where “all is possible.”

Once we decide that “today is my lucky day,” we collapse that wave and the rest of the countless superpositions are no longer available to us.

It’s only 8:25 here, but already I got a lucky break when reading ACIM Lesson 55, another review. It more or less provides a summary (the elevator speech that everybody expects you to have) of what the Course is all about:

1. The very fact that I see disease, disaster and death is proof that I do not understand God. In other words, crazy world (when I happen to collapse those waves) is an illusion.

2. As love returns to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy. To that, I shout “bring it!!”

So today (and I hope you’ll join me in this), I anoint myself lucky. And I declare that something extraordinarily epic is destined to happen to me today.