Lesson 034: ”I could see peace instead of this.”
AI Reframe: A peaceful viewpoint is possible right now.
Suggested Practice:
Three, five-minute sessions are required (their word): one in the morning, one at night, and another any time in between. All applications should be done with eyes closed. During each session, search your mind for “fear thoughts, anxiety-provoking situations, “offending” personalities or events, or anything else about which you are harboring unloving thoughts.” With each one, slowly repeat today’s idea, letting each thought casually come and casually go.
I could see peace instead of this.
Shorter, more frequent sessions are also recommended throughout the day whenever you feel your peace of mind is threatened in any way. For any specific “threat”, apply the idea in this form:
I could see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in it.
And if the “threat” takes on the form of more generalize adverse emotions, such as depression, anxiety or worry, you may find it helpful to use this form of the idea:
I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety, or worry [or my thoughts about this situation, personality, or event] with peace.
View timelapse of the coloring of today’s mandala
on My YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/84i9QYd1ers?si=c6CN9OTBsPF57lNi.
Message
If we could only work with one lesson for the rest of our lives, this would be the one. This single sentence fully embraces the core principle of A Course in Miracles—at least in my humble opinion—and it easily lands in my top five.
Let’s break down the sentence so you can see what I mean:
“I could” reminds us that we have options. Regardless of any situation, we can either see ourselves as having no say in the matter, or we can remember that we do.
“See peace” gives us our goal—though technically it’s not something we acquire. Peace is already present; we’re simply learning to see past what blocks our awareness of it.
“Instead of this” acknowledges that we now have the awareness—and the skill set—to recognize when whatever “this” is falls out of alignment with our inner peace.
Within the lesson we’re reminded that “peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.”
If it were up to me, I’d be tempted to swap “could” for “can.” “Can” feels confident and declarative, while “could” can sound tentative, almost shy.
And yet—there’s something quietly brilliant about “could.” It carries the unspoken phrase if I wanted to.
As in: I could see peace instead of this…if I wanted to.
Which raises a few uncomfortable—and illuminating—questions:
Why wouldn’t I want peace?
Why do I keep choosing “this” when peace is available?
What about “this” feels more familiar, or strangely comforting, than peace?
Worth pondering.
“For five minutes, three times today, I look around the room and shout out the wrong name for everything my eyes light upon.”
— “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
About the 2026 Mandalas of the Day — ▶️ A Note About A Course in Miracles
Mandala of the Day 