Nothing Has Meaning

"Nothing has any meaning in this world, unless I give it meaning" is a summary of the first two lessons outlined in the Workbook of A Course in Miracles. 

Some years ago when I read the above lines for the first few times (many, actually!) they appeared mundane and almost boring to me because it was too inconvenient for me to accept. They appeared dry and so matter-of-fact that it took me many years to actually develop an interest enough to read A Course In Miracles with the intent to transform my mind. So, ideas like nothing has any meaning in this world till I give it meaning appeared preposterous! How is that even possible??  Like everyone, I believed everything I was taught from infant to present about the validity and existence of a world that appeared totally real to me. Unfortunately, this is not so at all.

When I started applying these words to all the challenges in my life, I was actually surprised at how my ideas and perceptions began changing almost instantly. I used to go into long state of pauses after every revelation of the Truth in my heart. These words together form my Raft that helps me cross over from insanity to sanity, from chaos to peace always.

Think about this for a while. When I give any meaning to all that goes on in my world of experience according to my own needs, wants and desires, I instantly choose suffering unconsciously.  I breathe new life into that which was just something that was floating in space and passing me by. I reached  out for the idea or thought and pulled it towards me and started creating an untrue story. It's like reaching out for the passing clouds against the vast blue sky and trying to hold on to them! Impossible, right? 

So, what do I do now when something is going on? I take many steps back and look at the overall scenario. I begin to see all of that is happening in front of me exactly as it is happening. I add no more or no less story ideas, beliefs, or opinions to the happening. I just observe it and choose to change my perception. And there you go! The whole energy suddenly changes giving me a feeling of lightness.

I would like to share an experience to this effect. For many years I had certain ideas about the different kind of relationships and friendships I held and nurtured. Each was different and specific in nature according to the vibes I shared with the person. However, with most of them I found a pattern in my life. And the pattern was that I invariably attracted people who did'nt actually seem to "listen" to what I was saying. The same old issues of conflict just kept coming up over and over again. They just never seemed to get sorted out until I realised my perception of the friendship/relationship was all wrong. I had a certain picture about how a certain relationship should be, and when that was not meeting up with my expectation, I was always cheesed off. In turn, they too mirrored my subconscious beliefs and this was just one karmic circle that was going round and round. When the going was good, it was good, but when it was'nt there was chaos and it always ended the same way: deep disappointment and regret. One fine day I decided I had to deal with all of this or I would go stark raving nuts!  

I began to think deeply about each and every situation, I realised that even though I am a straight forward, non-nonsense kind of person, but when it came to people I loved, I always skirted around the truth of my actual feelings; the main reasons never came up. I have no idea why. Perhaps I was fearful of permanent disconnection, loosing people, etc. Who knows! It was when I started applying the ACIM principles, that I suddenly began to see my fear dropping away. I felt brave enough to meet every person WITH THE TRUTH and confession of how I am actually feeling vs. how it really should be. Right before me I would see the tension dissolving. Something usually happened to both sides, but, having said that, there have also been cases where the resistance was so much with the other person, he/she walked away and never came back. I did'nt mind it any longer. I felt compassion for that person because he/she needed to sort out his/her own belief systems. I stopped feeling bad, guilty, ashamed. I was okay. Heck! very okay. I did'nt need anyone. I was just happy being with or without them. I did'nt love them less. I loved them more because I could practice my Truth and give space to someone else to practice theirs without judgment. 

This is not as easy as it sounds. It requires me to be very present in order for me to see that I am seeing wrongly.  I have to admit it can be a difficult practice because the ideas are so radical in ACIM, you need true commitment to see differently. A lot of resistance comes up but then, that's good because it is only through the resistance do you get to see how wrongly you have believed about your life, the world, God (whatever you call God) and each other for the longest time in your evolution. Honestly speaking, I feel like I have hit Gold!!!

May you find your Raft and your Gold.  

With Love, Peace & Prayer,

Lavina Olive