We define forgiveness as the willingness to let go of the illusion of reality that we see in this world. Building on that definition, lesson 23 from A Course In Miracles, one of my favorite lessons, says, “I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts,” and applying this practice will guide you toward strengthening and continually developing your miracle mindset.
The reason why this lesson is one of my favorites is because it gives step-by-step teaching on why the world we see is a simulation, or an illusion. Or as I like to say to my coaching clients, everything that you experience in your life is your “movie,” or your “nightmare.” These are all different ways to invite dialogue into ongoing conversation about how everything you experience (good, bad, and indifferent) is a movie that you are projecting from your mind. You can then conclude that you can escape from your “nightmare” by giving up your attack thoughts. This is a great lesson to use to explain how ACIM approaches the world of perception in the way that it does and how we can begin to take responsibility for our own “movie.”
The cause of the “movie” we are watching is made up with “attack thoughts” which we should release. The course advises against lamenting on the sufferings of this world and even trying to change it because they are merely an effect of our inner thoughts. Therefore, when you transform what’s inside, you can then change your “movie.” Forgiveness practice can, as a result, transform your life.
When I coach my clients, I sometimes open the space to allow them to vent about their “movie” and I of course listen with compassion and empathy. They may feel the need to go through all of the details about what appears to be happening and who did what. The malicious ego fuels the desire to continue dwelling on misery and maximize suffering. In addition, we experience “secondary gain” for having a sob story and we may garner attention, compassion, sympathy, or other temporary rewards by staying stuck in negative scripts. But I then remind my clients that it is merely a “movie” because we have an alternative which is to change the “movie.”
No matter what situation you have gone through, and no matter what horrendous things have happened to you, it may not have been your fault, but the main benefit of applying this is that you will get a better “movie” as a result. The technique in this lesson will give you the tools to take responsibility for your experience today and form a better one going forward. It can be a long-term practice or an instant decision with immediately results.
This is the formula to transform your life:
Identify the cause of your “movie,” your own attack thoughts
Take responsibility of your attack thoughts
Let go of your attack thoughts and be willing to let your “movie” go
Replace your attack thoughts with better thoughts
A personal experience in my life urged me to practice this technique. I had congestive heart failure and was at death’s door in 2014. I was informed that I could die. I didn’t feel close to having finished my life’s purpose and I was so sad to learn that this could be the end for me. The doctors tried to convince me to have open-heart surgery, though I would have preferred a more holistic healing approach. While in the transplant ward of the hospital, I read books and was led to this lesson. I didn’t want the open-heart surgery so I committed myself to trying this practice in my desperation.
After several hours of committing to and applying this practice, I went to the bathroom and realized that I was urinating blood. I felt so disappointed and discouraged. I thought the miracle mindset doesn’t work. That was until the doctors came back a few hours later with news that even though I was urinating blood, my heart had actually stabilized, and so I would be sent home! I couldn’t believe it. This bought me a little more time until my still pending surgery. Upon my next medical examination though, I was informed by the doctors that I no longer needed the open-heart surgery. Today I am healthy, taking no medication, and stable enough to operate my body in a way that doctors weren’t sure I would ever be able to again. I was able to use this practice - while listening to the advice of my doctors - to arrive at a miraculous outcome. I attribute my health today to making this mental shift that day in the hospital, without making any exaggerated claims.
You might be wondering, what “attack thought” would lead me to having this medical experience? How could this have possibly been my responsibility? With a Christian upbringing, I had a subconsciously held belief that it was important to suffer and sacrifice in order to become a martyr, and that this would make me more holy and respectable. I was glorifying the idea of dying and death and I subconsciously wanted a story to tell like this as I was fascinated by martyrdom. In my health crisis, I realized that I did not need or want that experience and I wanted a better movie! I replaced my attack thoughts with thoughts surrounding health, wellness, and longevity. Using the formula above, you too can transform your life and escape from any nightmare situation.
