At the heart of A Course in Miracles, God’s only Will for us is happiness... But is it really POSSIBLE to be happy all of the time? The Course says yes, if we are willing to make the Inner Shift.
What is the Inner Shift?
The “inner shift according to Chapter 21 of ACIM is, ‘the choice to be constant in our decision for happiness.’ The Course says, we all know that we WANT happiness, but we deny it simply BECAUSE it’s the truth.
In other words, we are afraid of it, because it poses a threat to our current ego experience, which we THINK is real. In fact, The Course says, ‘constant joy is a condition quite alien to our understanding.’ However, once the final decision for ONLY happiness is made, it has no exceptions; it’s unshakeable and unchangeable.
How do we make the Shift?
1. Keep things simple to avoid over-thinking and ego-resistance.
2. Understand the dynamics of our decision making process.
3. Examine and transform our core beliefs with the help of eternal Spirit (HS).
4. Establish a firm commitment to making the Shift.
The Dynamics of our Decision Making Process
We have two mindsets: Love and fear and we are always swinging between the two. The problem is, one mindset is real, but the other is false. So why then do we constantly swing back and fourth?
Basically, it’s our choice. One minute we can choose love and peace and the next minute, we can simply change our mind back again. But if we REALLY want ONLY happiness why do we keep changing our minds? Deep down we think this world holds something of value.
But, in order to fully understand the dynamics of our current decision making process, we need to examine our core beliefs (perceptions).
Examining our Core Beliefs
Since our core beliefs are always being projected outward and reflect back to us what we perceive to be real in the world, examining them can show us where they might be limiting us from choosing total happiness all the time.
I recently had an experience where I fell into a real upset over being reprimanded on a work project. I felt that he treatment I received was unfair and I also felt guilty because “I should have known better.” My stress over the matter mounted and I decided to take time off work to reflect over why I was feeling so heavily adversely affected.
I discovered after taking a close look at my values and perceptions (which I hadn’t done for some time) that I was holding onto an underlying belief from childhood that I was somehow unworthy. It was a real eye opener in that it was being reflected back to me in the form of not allowing myself to make and learn from simple mistakes in my life, but rather, demonstrate perfectionist behaviour to avoid being judged and feeling victimised when I received minor criticism.
I later read in the Louise Hay book, You can Heal you Life, that out of the thousands of people that she has counselled over the years, almost all of them held the underlying belief that they were “not good enough.”
I actually knew this because the Course teaches us that we all feel unworthy of love at a deep level because we falsely belief that we have separated from God and from each other and we feel guilty as a result. However it wasn’t until I stepped back and made a proper evaluation of my thought system that I realised this concept in action.
Once I came to recognise that this underlying belief was influencing my decision to be constant in my choice for happiness, with the help of Spirit, I am able to remain mindfully aware that I am the dreamer of the dream and I constantly choose what it is I see and experience (this is what it means to receive miracles all day, everyday).
Transformation of Beliefs with Spirit
So, let’s take some time now to look at the limited thought patterns and beliefs that may be limiting your choices and experiences currently and then take them to eternal Spirit (HS) for transformation:
• Limited beliefs about people?
• Limited beliefs about abundance and possessions?
• Limited beliefs about relationships?
• Limited beliefs about health?
• Limited beliefs about self-worth or value?
Process: Transforming beliefs with Eternal Spirit.
Now close your eyes and relax…
Allow your body to relax and your mind to quiet…
Breathe deeply and allow yourself to go within…
Centre your mind… and feel the peace and gentleness emanating from deep inside you…
Breathe it in…
Feel the constant Love… and the ever present peace that comes from your eternal spirit...
Allow this awareness of peace to extend to everyone…
Let it flow…
From this peaceful happy state, ask your eternal Spirit for insight on how to transform
your limited beliefs into unlimited beliefs. Begin with…
• People in your life… (Pause).
• Abundance and possessions… (Pause).
• Relationships… (Pause).
• Health… (Pause)
• Self-worth or value… (Pause)
Spend at least five minutes more reflecting on what you might still be afraid to give up if you make the constant choice for happiness? Remember we all secretly believe this world has something of value to offer us that we may not be that keen to release just yet, such as special grievances, worldly pursuits, etc. Then take these also to Spirit for a healed perception.
After the transformation process with Spirit, take a pen and paper and make notes about your experience and what are now your unlimited beliefs as received from your inner Teacher. These can be reflected on in the future and can slowly serve to replace your limited thought patterns as they arise.
• Unlimited beliefs about people?
• Unlimited beliefs about abundance and possessions?
• Unlimited beliefs about relationships?
• Unlimited beliefs about health?
• Unlimited beliefs about self-worth or value?
Making the Final Commitment
Now that we’ve examined and transformed our perceptions, this should lower any resistance to choosing love over fear. It’s important to note, that making the final choice for constant happiness requires that you no longer desire to waver back and fourth. Remember, this is your choice.
It’s also helpful to remember you’re not alone in your decision for happiness. You’re always supported by the universe and provided with every resource necessary. In addition, Eternal Spirit is always available when you call to provide a healed or “corrected” perception, also known as the miracle. There is no order of difficulty in miracles.
The choice you’re making now is not abut BE-ING happy all the time, but the desire to be CONSTANT in your decision for happiness. And lastly, by answering “yes,” to this final question, the Course says, “you will have renounced your decision to change your mind again.”
Is the decision for happiness [truth] all that I would see?
~Namaste~
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