Lesson 008: ”My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.”
AI Reframe: My thoughts tend to circle around memories and past impressions.
Suggested Exercise: several times today, for about a minute each time, close your eyes. Search your mine, noting the thoughts you find there. Name each one, then go onto the next one.
Apply this statement to each: “I seem to be thinking about _______.” (name the: person, thing, event, emotion, etc)
Then end each session with: “But my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.”
My take on it: The idea of “past thoughts” makes it seem (at least for me) like it would be thoughts from our childhood that we’re preoccupied with, but it could just as easily be something from yesterday or even a few minutes ago.
That being said, I’m struggling with applying today’s lesson, mainly because of a major injustice that happened yesterday and how it’s being reported. So yes, rather than being fully present in this moment, my mind is preoccupied with thoughts about what happened along with a full range of emotions from disbelief to frustration to outright anger.
What am I supposed to do with this ? My understanding is that this lesson is not about denying, gaslighting, or sugarcoating my thoughts/feelings about what happened, it’s about “recognizing that my mind IS preoccupied and how that is affecting me and how they are from my past”—and to do so without judgment, just observe.
In other words, I am not being asked to erase my outrage. I am being asked to notice that my mind is not neutral right now, it’s occupied territory.
One thing I do know and understand is that when I am in a preoccupied state such as I am today, it’s a struggle for me to think clearly—and its taking every ounce of energy right now for me to cut in and out of that state long enough to write this. This preoccupied state feels more like fearful, victim mode to me…it reminds me of Piglet’s usually state of being from Winnie the Pooh.
Conversely, when I’m in a more clear state of mind (calm, peaceful, unoccupied mind), I feel more empowered with a more clear direction as to what action, if any, to take. So that may be where this lesson is leading us.
So for today, we’re invited to just recognize, witness, and acknowledge these thoughts (past or otherwise) that are occupying our minds.
“Today, I surrender my defenses, my fool bullheadedness and my convictions that I use figure everything out. I fall back into the loving arms of the Universe, whose sole purpose is to dish up my good.”
— “The Course in Miracles Experiment” by Pam Grout
Blessings & Peace,
Maureen,
The Mandala Lady
transforming soul whispers into mandalas and channeled messages for clarity, peace, and love
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