LESSON 33
February 2

"There is another way of looking at the world."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Purpose: To recognize that you can shift your inner thoughts and outer perceptions.

Longer: 2 times, morning and evening, for 5 full minutes.

Go back and forth from glancing around outer world to closing eyes and observing inner thoughts. Do both with equal casualness and detachment. While doing so repeat the idea unhurriedly, as often as is comfortable.

Shorter: As frequent as possible.

Repeat idea, maintaining detachment.

Response To Temptation: The instant you are aware of distress, say: "There is another way of looking at this." You might want to take a minute, sit quietly, close eyes, and repeat idea several times.

COMMENTARY

This lesson asserts the power of our minds to choose how we see the world. We can shift our perception of the world! That is not only a personally empowering concept, it is, quite literally, a world-changing realization.

As we begin to examine our thoughts, we will be amazed at the number of situations in which the idea of "another way" of looking at it has simply never occurred to us. With some things, the idea that we could see them differently may actually be offensive. Without realizing it we may be saying, "My mind is already made up; don't confuse me with facts."

That is why following the practice instructions with these lessons is so important. It isn't just the longer five-minute times in the morning and evening: "The shorter exercise periods should be as frequent as possible" (3:1). The more often we bring this idea into our awareness during the day, the more we will become aware of areas of thought that we are protecting from change.