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Lesson 281: ”I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts.”
Reframe: Only my own judgments and beliefs can create suffering.
Suggested Practice:
From now on:
Once in the morning and once in the evening for however many minutes feels sufficient. Then every hour remember/recite the idea for the day.
Prayer For today:
(feel free to swap out the wording to whatever resonates with you best)
“Father, Your Son is perfect. ²When I think that I am hurt in any way, it is because I have forgotten who I am, and that I am as You created me. ³Your Thoughts can only bring me happiness. ⁴If ever I am sad or hurt or ill, I have forgotten what You think, and put my little meaningless ideas in place of where Your Thoughts belong, and where they are. ⁵I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts. ⁶The Thoughts I think with You can only bless. ⁷The Thoughts I think with You alone are true.” (ACIM, W-281.1:1-7)
OR… “Let me align my thoughts with those from a Higher Source.”
For Lessons 281-290: What is the Holy Spirit? is the theme for the next 10 days. Read the whole article here.
”The Holy Spirit mediates between illusions and the truth. ²Since He must bridge the gap between reality and dreams, perception leads to knowledge through the grace that God has given Him, to be His gift to everyone who turns to Him for truth.” (ACIM, W-pII.7.1:1-2).
OR put another way…
”We are gifted with a mediator who points to truth when we are lost in illusions.”
From the PART II Introduction: Read the whole introduction here.
“Words will mean little now. ²We use them but as guides on which we do not now depend. ³For now we seek direct experience of truth alone. ⁴The lessons that remain are merely introductions to the times in which we leave the world of pain, and go to enter peace. ⁵Now we begin to reach the goal this course has set, and find the end toward which our practicing was always geared.” (ACIM, W-pII.in.1:1-5)
View timelapse of the coloring of today’s mandala
on My YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/regT84QbNTE?is=gkzw1k5yU3P-q4JI
Message
I can see where today’s Lesson might seem far-fetched at first glance. You may ask, “What about that awful thing so-and-so did to me or said about me? That hurt.” I’d say: “Yes, I understand how you might feel hurt. But here’s the question: did you consciously choose to feel hurt, or was it a knee-jerk reaction out of habit or impulse? There’s a difference. Let me explain. A knee-jerk reaction is just a habit; a conscious choice means I’ve looked at the thought and decided it’s true.”
In the “Manual for Teachers” in “A Course in Miracles,” Section 17, paragraph 4, is the line: “Perhaps it will be helpful to remember that no one can be angry at a fact.” A fact just is. We forget that with free will, we get to decide how we respond to that fact. For me, when I’m operating from ego mind, I overlook that part and jump straight into anger, frustration, hurt, or any other feeling that doesn’t feel like peace.
For instance, yesterday I needed to drive on the highway for an hour and a half each way. I didn’t realize I had unconsciously set myself up to notice and dread “bad” drivers. With that mindset, all my trigger buttons were ready to be pressed. One particular driver was weaving around all three lanes trying to race past everyone in his way. I had all kinds of words for him that were not loving.
After he zipped through and it looked like we were safe from him, I recognized I was operating from ego mind. I knew because my whole body was tense, my thoughts were racing, and I felt emotionally drained—all suffering, no peace. That driver had no idea how much I suffered because of him. And that’s the thing: he didn’t cause my suffering, I did.
Had I taken a moment to remind myself that my thoughts were harming me, I could have prevented a lot of suffering yesterday. Thankfully, talking with a friend helped me remember. On my way back, I made a point of applying it consciously. It was a delightful and peaceful drive home—despite a couple of drivers trying to test my resolve.
This Lesson brings up one of my favorite principles about where our hurts come from—one I love to teach to people new to the Course because it’s so powerful. On the surface it’s a simple idea, yet it can be challenging to embrace and apply. I sometimes forget it, as yesterday’s story shows, so I appreciate the reminder that it is my thoughts alone that hurt me.
“Like a preacher, he encourages his audience to take responsibility for their thought.” — “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
