Lesson 31
I am not the victim of the world I see.
W-pI.31.1. Today’s idea is the introduction to your declaration of release. 2 Again, the idea should be applied to both the world you see without and the world you see within. 3 In applying the idea, we will use a form of practice which will be used more and more, with changes as indicated. 4 Generally speaking, the form includes two aspects, one in which you apply the idea on a more sustained basis, and the other consisting of frequent applications of the idea throughout the day.
W-pI.31.2. Two longer periods of practice with the idea for today are needed, one in the morning and one at night. 2 Three to five minutes for each of these are recommended. 3 During that time, look about you slowly while repeating the idea two or three times. 4 Then close your eyes, and apply the same idea to your inner world. 5 You will escape from both together, for the inner is the cause of the outer.
W-pI.31.3. As you survey your inner world, merely let whatever thoughts cross your mind come into your awareness, each to be considered for a moment, and then replaced by the next. 2 Try not to establish any kind of hierarchy among them. 3 Watch them come and go as dispassionately as possible. 4 Do not dwell on any one in particular, but try to let the stream move on evenly and calmly, without any special investment on your part. 5 As you sit and quietly watch your thoughts, repeat today’s idea to yourself as often as you care to, but with no sense of hurry.
W-pI.31.4. In addition, repeat the idea for today as often as possible during the day. 2 Remind yourself that you are making a declaration of independence in the name of your own freedom. 3 And in your freedom lies the freedom of the world.
W-pI.31.5. The idea for today is also a particularly useful one to use as a response to any form of temptation that may arise. 2 It is a declaration that you will not yield to it, and put yourself in bondage.
Journal
This is maybe my favorite lesson because Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said it is our way out of bondage, our way to freedom. It took me a good while to give up all my victim stories. It seems I was quite attached to the idea that I am a victim of the world I see. Whatever uncomfortable situation I found myself in, I would look for the culprit who was guilty of putting me there. But I did learn and now I know that I am not a victim, ever.
Even after I began to accept this idea, there would be times when it seemed so apparent that I was a victim that I had trouble understanding how this could not be true. The time when the plumber took my money and never finished the job and others like that seemed like I was being victimized. But because I use every situation in which victimization seems to be occurring to remind myself it is impossible for me to be a victim, I finally accepted this simple truth.
Because of this work, when all the shingles for my new roof were stolen, I simply accepted what had happened and bought new shingles. If I had been upset and blaming others, I would still have had to buy shingles but I would have been miserable and more deeply in bondage to the world than ever. But I didn’t feel like a victim.
This is my story; one I chose for the lessons it brings me. How could I feel like a victim of it unless that is what I wanted to feel? Things happen in the world but how I interpret them is up to me. Interpreting a situation as making me a victim is painful and unnecessary. In my marriages, I frequently saw myself as a victim of my husband’s behavior but that was never true.
They were just living their lives and I was living mine. We are all doing the best we can and that doesn’t make anyone the victim or victimizer. I knew I was really free when I stopped telling my story of being a victim. Now I use these stories only to illustrate a point, never so that I can wallow in my victimhood.
The ego-mind would still like to think of being a victim, but I will not go there. Once I experienced the freedom of not seeing myself as a victim, I put my foot down and refused to accept such an absurd belief anymore. I just said, no more! Any victim thoughts go straight to the Holy Spirit where I leave them. Because I know I am not a victim, I never feel like a victim and so any situation that seems to be to the contrary is just an opportunity for me to do more healing for the Sonship.