Greetings All –
Step 81 - I will not
deceive myself today. (MP3)
[Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download
folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
UPON THE HOUR PRACTICE MAKING
THIS STATEMENT and feeling its impact. Strengthen your commitment to Knowledge.
Do not fall into the apparent ease of self-deception. Do not be comfortable
merely with assumptions or the beliefs of others. Do not accept generalities as
truth. Do not accept appearances as representative of the reality of another.
Do not accept the mere appearance of yourself. Doing these things demonstrates
that you do not value yourself or your life and that you are too indolent to
carry forth effort on your own behalf.
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I will not deceive myself today. Step 81
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YOU MUST ENTER UNCERTAINTY TO
FIND KNOWLEDGE. What does this mean? It simply means you are giving up false
assumptions, self comforting ideas and the luxury of self-condemnation. Why is
self condemnation a luxury? Because it is easy and does not require you to
examine the truth. You accept it because it is acceptable in this world, and it
gives you a great deal to talk about with your friends. It evokes sympathy.
Therefore, it is easy and weak.
DO NOT DECEIVE YOURSELF TODAY.
Allow yourself to examine the mystery and the truth of your life. Upon the hour
today repeat today’s idea and feel what it means. Also today, in two longer
practice periods, repeat the statement and then dedicate yourself to stillness
and receptivity. By now, you are beginning to learn how to prepare yourself for
stillness—using your breath, concentrating your mind, relinquishing thoughts
and reminding yourself that you are worthy of such an effort. Remind yourself
of the goal that you are attempting to reach. Do not deceive yourself today. Do
not give in to what is easy and painful.
PRACTICE 81: Two 30-minute
practice periods. Hourly practice.
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| "I will not deceive myself today." Step 81 |
Simple, not easy. We do our
best at the Steps.
Yesterday: Step
80 - I can only practice.
6:31 A.M. Tuesday, October 5,
1999 →
I can only practice. There must
be a better way. I am always teaching. With Knowledge/Holy Spirit I can improve
my practice within the limits of the earth spell and assist in advancing to the
happy dream.
9:05
A.M. ... Late for the office - but doing my life - its practice will improve
with the conceptual tools S2K provides.
Notes also in the Steps
book.
The notes in the journal and
text reflect my earlier study of ACIM - A
Course in Miracles. In Greater Community Spirituality there are
confirmations and parallels with other teachings, as well as new perspectives.
The new is the revelation for this time.
NNC
Journal
2nd Time Step 80. This is for those who have completed Steps once. Doing Steps
with only the texts, messages and your life experience, including what you may
have studied and practiced is your journey. I’m showing Step comments after the
Step, so as not to influence you in advance. It is a wilderness trek to be left
to your own wits, but then you can also listen more closely for guides, angels
and teachers, always first saying: “I surround and protect myself with the Love
and the Grace of God.” Thankfully, I was taught this practice in 1989.
P.S. If you’ve some interest due to this or other
Steps, you should go to the beginning blog post. From here you will learn about Steps to Knowledge
and can begin it on the day that makes sense; then progress as needed. You can
use the posts on this blog as a companion if it helps. They will remain in
order in the archives - one post per Step.
Often it takes 18 months to get through the Steps
once. For this blog, the pace is one-a-day, but it really makes no difference
how fast you do it, only that you begin, persist and repeat. Posts here provide
a trail that may let you have a virtual companion when and if you want one. One
may have to study alone, as I did in the beginning. There are other Steps
students blogging their experience and you might find a person more like you as
a companion, or use a number of such Steps journeys. There are options as well
through the Free School of the New Message.
