Download to Color: MandalaoftheWeek.com

Lesson 187: ”I bless the world because I bless myself.”

Reframe: Extending kindness to myself naturally radiates outward.

Suggested Practice:

From the Introduction to Lessons 181-200:

”Our next few lessons make a special point of firming up your willingness to make your weak commitment strong; your scattered goals blend into one intent. ²You are not asked for total dedication all the time as yet. ³But you are asked to practice now in order to attain the sense of peace such unified commitment will bestow, if only intermittently. … And so we start our journey beyond words by concentrating first on what impedes your progress still. …⁴So we now attempt to go past all defenses for a little while each day. ⁵No more than this is asked, because no more than this is needed. ⁶It will be enough to guarantee the rest will come.”

Do two 15-minutes practices today.

Ponder this from the lesson:

“No one can give unless he has. ²In fact, giving is proof of having. … ⁷Having had and given, then the world asserts that you have lost what you possessed. ⁸The truth maintains that giving will increase what you possess.”

“…⁴And you do not lack for proof that when you give ideas away, you strengthen them in your own mind. ⁵Perhaps the form in which the thought seems to appear is changed in giving. ⁶Yet it must return to him who gives. ⁷Nor can the form it takes be less acceptable. ⁸It must be more.” (ACIM, W-187.1:1–2:8)

”Ideas must first belong to you, before you give them. ²If you are to save the world, you first accept salvation for yourself.³But you will not believe that this is done until you see the miracles it brings to everyone you look upon. ⁴Herein is the idea of giving clarified and given meaning. ⁵Now you can perceive that by your giving is your store increased.” (ACIM, W-187.3:1-5)

View timelapse of the coloring of today’s mandala
on My YouTube Channel:

https://youtu.be/iHTx6BkYwGo?is=ZVL_TKa2lXot2kU9

Message

From the Lesson:

”Give gladly. ²You can only gain thereby. ³The thought remains, and grows in strength as it is reinforced by giving.⁴Thoughts extend as they are shared, for they can not be lost. ⁵There is no giver and receiver in the sense the world conceives of them.” (ACIM, W-187.5:1-5)

This reminds me of the childhood playground retort: it takes one to know one. Translated for the Course: it takes one being blessed to know one being blessed.

Let’s be clear about something often misunderstood. The giving and receiving the Course refers to isn’t about form—it’s about thoughts. When we give things of form, like a book, we lose possession of it. Now they have it and we don’t. The ego would perceive that as sacrifice, even when we’re happy to give.

Course-based giving is never about sacrifice. It’s expansion where both parties receive the blessing. If I hold a door for someone with their hands full, that person is usually grateful. That act elevates their feelings and mine. The kindness wasn’t taken from me—it was shared by both of us.

Another way to say it: when I recognize the light of God in me (blessing myself), I recognize the light of God in you (blessing the world).

Here’s what that looked like recently. I was annoyed with my neighbor for leaving trimmed branches on our side of the fence. Recognizing I’d lost my peace, I asked the Divine to help me see this differently—not the situation, but my reaction to it. Immediately it came to me: at least now with that tree trimmed, we don’t have to deal with the berries and seed pods that constantly fall in our yard. That shift reset my peace, turning annoyance into gratitude. Blessing me with peace. Blessing them by seeing them differently.

Further from the Lesson:

”Ideas must first belong to you, before you give them. ²If you are to save the world, you first accept salvation for yourself. ³But you will not believe that this is done until you see the miracles it brings to everyone you look upon. ⁴Herein is the idea of giving clarified and given meaning. ⁵Now you can perceive that by your giving is your store increased.” (ACIM, W-187.3:1-5)

“Now are we blessed, and now we bless the world. ²What we have looked upon we would extend, for we would see it everywhere. ³We would behold it shining with the grace of God in everyone. ⁴We would not have it be withheld from anything we look upon. ⁵And to ensure this holy sight is ours, we offer it to everything we see. ⁶For where we see it, it will be returned to us…” (ACIM, W-187.11:1-6)

Simply put:

Blessing others blesses me. Blessing me blesses others.

“[Lesson 187] tells me the only way to protect my assets (love, happiness, beauty, joy) is to give them away.”
— “The Course in Miracles Experiment” by Pam Grout

Blessings & Peace,

Maureen,
The Mandala Lady

transforming soul whispers into mandalas & channeled messages
for clarity, peace, and joy

 About the 2026 Mandalas of the Day — ▶️ A Note About A Course in Miracles