All A Mind Needs is Willingness

For a mind to be aware of Truth and at peace it really is all about willingness and nothing else.

Looking back to when peace began for this mind so much time and energy were wasted trying to make peace happen when “my” part was over as soon as Peace came into the awareness of this mind. This awareness could not be sustained so this mind thought “I” had to make it happen again. But in hindsight it is clear that for this mind time has been about undoing the obstacles that stood in the way of this mind keeping Peace in its awareness. All of this was done within this mind as the natural unfolding in time of the awareness of Truth that came to it all those years ago. For this mind this is the meaning of “the script is written”. It does not mean that every detail of the self’s story in time was pre-ordained. It simply means that the outcome of this mind’s experience in time was inevitable once Truth came into its awareness. This awareness changed the trajectory of this mind’s story in time. In fact, time was really over for it once Truth came into this mind. And all it’s really had to do since then is to accept this.

This mind’s mistake over the years was focusing too much on whether it was happy or comfortable in its identification with a self. It looked and worked for the ego (personal thought system) to become peaceful. It expected the self would not go through the usual life processes. But when Peace came into the awareness of this mind it was not to the ego or to the self. The ego is still in this mind, blathering on with its judgments, conflicts, and confusion. The self’s story continues on with the usual life processes. But Peace is here in this mind despite the ego and the self. This is how this mind came to see it is not an ego or a self.

When this mind recognized that Peace was not leaving its awareness it wondered why there was still a world in its thoughts. And the Holy Spirit (this mind’s awareness of Truth) noted, “What difference does it make? You have peace.” Of course! This mind was focused on the wrong thing. Peace is what is real, not the story of a universe of form and the ego’s interpretation of it. Whatever this mind attends to grows in its awareness.

Despite this mind thinking what it needed for Peace, Peace came anyway. Not because this mind knew how to make peace happen in its identification with a self and an ego. But because this mind was was willing to have It in its awareness. Willingness allowed the awareness of Truth (Holy Spirit/Teacher of Truth) to work in this mind to undo its obstacles to Peace. Any obstacle that it needed to look at and undo, any technique that it needed for centering itself in Truth, came into its awareness because it was willing not because of any effort it made.

What does it mean for a mind to be willing? It means for it to be open, despite obstacles and fear, to letting the Truth work in it. The transformation occurs mostly on an unconscious level. This mind had shifts toward Peace, insights, miracles, and Revelations. And none of these ever came where this mind was “working on” the ego and the self trying to get them to change. These came despite this mind’s efforts in the ego and the self.

This mind’s willingness was demonstrated by its invitation to Truth to come into its awareness with no agenda but to be aware of Truth. It was demonstrated by its inviting the Teacher of Truth (Holy Spirit/awareness of Truth) to be its Constant Companion, Guide, and Teacher. It was demonstrated by its turning to Truth throughout the day simply to remember that It is here.

This mind’s willingness was never perfect. But as A Course in Miracles says, you only need a little. It does not have to be perfect; it just has to be there. If this mind had accepted this long ago it would’ve saved itself a lot of effort and pain and guilt. But it couldn’t accept it because it found it unbelievable, and somewhat insulting, that “I” did not have to make peace happen. It was all wrong about what is real. A mind naturally at peace is real. The rest is just a meaningless story.

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Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, 4 Habits for Inner Peace, and Releasing Guilt for Inner Peace at www.acimmentor.com.

Comments

will said…
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will said…
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bat said…
thanks liz, great insights as always.
C. said…
This article reminds me of the Christian concept of Grace where we are "saved" not by works, but by a gift, freely given.

The idea that we have peace not by our efforts, but simply by our willingness feels similarly sublime to me.

Thank You!
meg said…
Thanks Liz--it helps to be reminded that a little willingness is all that is necessary. I often stump myself by working at peace (involving ego). One thing I'm curious about though, is how it looks to be fully peaceful in Mind, yet the ego is still operating in the "world." Is Mind aware of the ego? Does Liz in the world look like any other person, getting upset at things that egos in the world have agreed are justifiably upsetting? Does the ego that is Liz still yell, curse, cry, etc.?
Anonymous said…
"This mind's mistake over the years was focusing too much on whether it was happy or comfortable in its identification with a self. "

.... Minds fixation on a "good or bad" self from my experience.



ACIM Mentor said…
Yes, Meg, the mind is aware of the ego. It just doesn't believe in it. Liz still gets upset when she's in a hormone induced mood-swing. Then it happens to fast to catch. And there's a lot of swearing! But otherwise most things just go past her or are resolved quickly.
Unknown said…
Wow, beautifully expressed. I have begun to realize exactly what you have expressed in this article. Thank you so much for sharing your experiencing of peace and truth.
nicci said…
deep breath ~ okay. i notice that the personal self - the ego - has not changed any since i began acim study and practice several years ago. it remains as rascally and resourceful as ever. what seems to be changing is my relationship with it. i don't as readily believe what it has to say, nor stay wandering in it for as long. i am deeply encouraged to hear that much is happening below my awareness.
i think i hear you saying that willingness is a letting go into that Place where i do sense an Inner Guide. i have difficulty holding that awareness for long however, as a vague anxiety arises and tosses me back into avoidance. at this point, all i know to do is to return again, as soon as i notice i have wandered. this is what the Course must mean about patience....why would i continue to feel this resistance if i now know and have felt this Peace when i turn toward my Inner Teacher? i will go back and study your words again, and remain ever grateful. nicci
ACIM Mentor said…
Nicci, you return to the ego because it is familiar even if uncomfortable. It takes a long time to trust Peace. And it takes a long time after that to acclimate to It. You just have to accept that you will vacillate between the two for a while. And, as you said, return to Peace again and again when you notice you have wandered off.
nicci said…
thank you liz. thank you. nicci
will said…
"This mind' is the Course in Miracles where it is taking place. The information is invaluable. I hope you will continue to write about 'this minds' life with the Course.
Anonymous said…
I agree . . . I found this sharing to be invaluable as I journey along. It is the hand of the "big sister" I can hold. DB
Anonymous said…
The Gift Of Desperation is pretty gestalt too.
Thank you Liz, your words seemed almost poetic, and resonate very much. Beautifully described.
Marissa said…
Very insightful Liz. I find I learn so much better when I read about other minds experiences. The 'little willingness" perplexes me somewhat. I'm doing the workbook lessons again and find myself understanding so much more but expecting to have 'got it by now'. My motivation is strong, thinking of truth throughout the day, but not as often as is asked, say e.g. 4 times or more every hour and more in the longer practise period. Am I confusing what the workbook lessons asks of us with the little willingness? I feel as if I am generally doing what is asked of me as a student, but have no way of measuring my progress because as you say it happens in the unconscious. I don't react as quickly as I used to when I'm confronted with an issue. However, it's not until the evening when I'm contemplating on the events of the day that I can truly forgive the situation as the course teaches. Would you say this is correct or to forgive as soon as I can? Thank you again Liz and thanks for your Workbook lessons in plain English, which has become invaluable to me this second time round.
ACIM Mentor said…
Marissa, your experience with the lessons is typical. Re-read the introduction and you will see it says to do the best you can each day. That is all that is asked of you. You are expressing your willingness by doing the lessons at all. And your slower response to upsets is a measure of your progress. It does not matter when you forgive. Forgiveness is for you. It is not a "right thing" or a "good thing". It's about bringing relief to yourself not pleasing a god.
Unknown said…
Thank you Liz. Nicci summed it up for me and your response was perfect. This article was extremely helpful. All kinds of time collapses for me each time I read it.

it also explains why I can read this and the other books and experience this smooth Peace and then later I can't remember what I read. Apparently it's this mind trying to remember something to which it has no access. Now the frustration of not remembering doesn't seem as real - more like it's going on in the background but not disturbing me.

I also wondered why the world is still going on around me as before, however I feel less obligated to respond to it. And when I do respond it is gentle and loving and in the back of my mind it feels like I'm talking through and to myself - if that makes any sense.

Big hugs to you.
ACIM Mentor said…
Good to hear from you again, Wende. It's been a while. Hope all is well with you.
Adrian said…
LOL Wende of course the human race is still doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing...sleepwalking!!! why thererfore should I or anyone else that's awake should "explain" anything. it's like that scene in the Willie Wonka movie where he tells in a monotone voice "oh please don't go near that machine" but what does he do? Just what he wants to...and ends up in a predicament...at least in the movie. People I find are pretty much the same because of the "I"/authority problem.
will said…
"Why should I or anyone else that's awake should "explain" anything." = Passive aggressive (among other things) = ego.
Adrian said…
No, not as much as surrendering that which I have no control over...oh well. That "assessment" sprang from your mind dear will, but thank you for your input.
will said…
Yes it did Adrian and you're welcome.

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