LESSON 7. I see only the past.
As this lesson points out, this is the reason for undergoing the mind training laid out for us in ACIM. Actually, it is mind “re-training” or purification. What we are attempting to do is reprogram the brain to change/undo our conditioning.
Consider this discussion of neural pathways by Naturopath Sue Kira : “Have you ever noticed that when you drive to work or a regular place that you always go the same way even if there are alternate ways you could go? This is because you have created a neural pathway in your brain that has created this routine. Sometimes we even drive to this destination on ‘remote control’ as such. Often if I’m driving somewhere routinely I like to try going a different way, and then when I have made this change a few times, a new pattern occurs and I drive that way all the time. This has become the new neural pathway. It’s like how water always flows in the same direction that the first lot of water has run, but if that path is blocked then a new path is created. Our brains can do the same thing. Changing routines and doing things differently will promote these different pathways.”
It has been said that, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”. We simply cannot expect to see differently if we continue to believe our thoughts. This is why we must allow our brains to be reprogrammed. Let’s look at other ways we can reprogram the brain.
How to Reprogram the Brain (change/undo conditioning):
- An open-heart increases efficacy. In other words, joy, forgiveness (knowing all is well), willingness, trust and a positive desire or spiritual aspiration (e.g., desire to heal, to know the truth, to be only love) increases your efficiency in reprogramming the brain. Note: If your goal is negative (such as to stop suffering) consider a positive goal (such as freedom or happiness). A negative goal actually keeps you focused on the negative (a closed hearted spiritual aspiration).
- Repetition and practice with new programming such as resting the mind, remembering the daily lesson, thinking of your spiritual aspiration, etc. replaces the old programming with new programming. We have neural pathways that have become well worn by our habitual thinking. Thus, we must practice consistently in order to let those old neural pathways dry up and become replaced by new ones.
- Visualization of ourselves using our practices will help form new neural pathways. For example, imagine yourself resting the mind, imagine yourself remembering to do the workbook lessons, imagine yourself wanting awakening/truth more than anything else, etc. The brain cannot tell the difference between something real and imagined. Research shows that anytime you are thinking, you are engaged in conditioning neural pathways. By imagining ourselves using these practices in relatively peaceful moments, when difficult situations, emotions etc. arise, we will have already begun creating the neural pathways that will allow us to make a different choice in those situations.
- Meditation is concentrated rest away from mental activity. This concentrated rest helps the old habituated ways of being and seeing fade and make room for a new way of being and seeing. (Meditation will be introduced into our daily practice later.)
- Observe/watch your old programming without feeding it. Be aware of it, but don’t believe it or fight against it. As you watch, become familiar with your triggers. For example, what does it feel like in your body just before an old neural pathway begins to fire? Slowing down and paying attention to what our triggers are and what happens when our triggers get hit will enable us to see it before it happens and enable us to make another choice. We are learning what our unconscious habits are so that we can change them.
- Discover how you can stay motivated to stick with gentle healing because you want to. (Positive motivation.). If you don’t want healing more than anything else, you will not “stay in the room when the screaming starts,” which, as the Way of Mastery told us, is the commitment we must make in order to experience healing.
As Lesson 7 says, “everything you believe is rooted in time, and depends on your not learning these new ideas about it.” That is, everything we believe is based on our past “learning.” Until we become aware of those beliefs, they cannot be undone. The beliefs that need to be healed will come up to be healed. We need to see them anew from this healing perspective rather than simply reapplying the meaning we have learned to give them. This is why purification/undoing/mind training is necessary. Focusing on our commitment to healing and practicing the techniques listed above will keep us moving on the path toward healing rather than remaining stuck in the insanity of our conditioned thinking.
