Lesson 34 

I could see peace instead of this. 

W-pI.34.1. The idea for today begins to describe the conditions that prevail in the other way of seeing. 2 Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. 3 It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. 4 It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises. 

W-pI.34.2. Three longer practice periods are required for today’s exercises. 2 One in the morning and one in the evening are advised, with an additional one to be undertaken at any time in between that seems most conducive to readiness. 3 All applications should be done with your eyes closed. 4 It is your inner world to which the applications of today’s idea should be made. 

W-pI.34.3. Some five minutes of mind searching are required for each of the longer practice periods. 2 Search your mind for fear thoughts, anxiety-provoking situations, “offending” personalities or events, or anything else about which you are harboring unloving thoughts. 3 Note them all casually, repeating the idea for today slowly as you watch them arise in your mind, and let each one go, to be replaced by the next. 

W-pI.34.4. If you begin to experience difficulty in thinking of specific subjects, continue to repeat the idea to yourself in an unhurried manner, without applying it to anything in particular. 2 Be sure, however, not to make any specific exclusions. 

W-pI.34.5. The shorter applications are to be frequent, and made whenever you feel your peace of mind is threatened in any way. 2 The purpose is to protect yourself from temptation throughout the day. 3 If a specific form of temptation arises in your awareness, the exercise should take this form: 

4 I could see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in it. 

W-pI.34.6. If the inroads on your peace of mind take the form of more generalized adverse emotions, such as depression, anxiety or worry, use the idea in its original form. 2 If you find you need more than one application of today’s idea to help you change your mind in any specific context, try to take several minutes and devote them to repeating the idea until you feel some sense of relief. 3 It will help you if you tell yourself specifically: 

4 I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety or worry [or my thoughts about this situation, personality or event] with peace. 

Journal 

2 Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. 3 It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. 

I used to think, like most people, that how peaceful I was depended on what was happening in my life. I learned through doing these lessons that I could be peaceful no matter what was happening in my life. I learned that peace of mind is a choice. I began to make the peace of God my only goal. In that way, I would see whatever was happening as a way to reinforce my desire for peace by choosing peace. 

This peace can be lost if we accept the thoughts in our mind without questioning them. It could start off with a thought that my child has tested positive for Covid. That is just a fact. But the mind wants to think about this and wonder what it will mean for her. This leads to more thoughts that could have me looking online for information that might help and then it is just a small step to being obsessed with fear for the future.  

This is why I choose to stop the ego thinking in its tracks before it gets out of hand. I can choose peace even while my children test positive for Covid. I know I can because I have done so. The first thought I noticed both times this happened, was, “Oh no.” I saw that thought and I knew it was just an interpretation of the fact that my children have Covid. I didn’t actually know what that meant or what it was for. I released this interpretation and asked the Holy Spirit for another way to see this. I accepted the healing He offered me and I was, again, at peace.