Hello Fellow Truth Students,
“Ouch!”
It seems that so many lessons that come along on our spiritual journey come packing a wallop. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Why does it seem that just when I learn how to pray for prosperity the bottom falls out financially? Why is it that just when I think I’ve met my romantic ideal he/she makes it so hard to love them? Ouch! Why is it that just when I find my spiritual home they start talking about tithing? Ouch! 
Our ouches are based on our perception of events. It comes down to the fact that we choose our feelings. We choose how we think about things. When we choose to not like something it becomes an “Ouch!”
Actually the “why’s” don’t matter. It doesn’t matter “why” any of these things happen. What does matter is what I do with all of the ouches. The only reason the “Truth” ever seems to hurt (and I say “seems” because Truth never, ever hurts) is because it seems to be unfamiliar to our current way of thinking. If we are accustomed to thinking with our ego mind rather than our spirit mind then Truth is going to appear dangerous and it is going to seem as if I have something to lose when in actuality I have everything to gain. I told a friend of mine that I would like to tell the truth even when I know that lying might feel better. I would rather risk others being disappointed in me than lie to them when I have been wrong. I would rather go without than steal. I would even rather feel the sensations of the perception of lack than steal.
But what do you do when you get slammed? First I say “Ouch!” when I get slammed. Sometimes I say some other things but they’re not necessary to repeat here. If I’m remembering God at the time I get slammed then I remember to say “Thank you.” How silly to say “Thank you” just after you get a wallop, but it is essential to fast and speedy healing. When you forget to be grateful for the stuff you don’t like you become a victim. It starts to feel as if everything and everyone is against you. It can’t be true that anything or anyone is against you. God is for us, so everything and everyone is for us. So the “Ouch” is important when these sensations happen, but so is the “Thank you.”
“Thank you”, puts you in charge of perception. “Thank you” is your ability and willingness to see clearly. Imagine saying, “Yahoo!” after you have been diagnosed with an illness. It seems to me that I would be more clearheaded to remember that God is at work all of the time with a good “Yahoo!” under my belt.
Yes, life is filled with many occasions to say, “Ouch!” Life is filled with just as many occasions to say, “Thank you.” “Thank you” removes the “ouch!” because “Thank you” mean’s I’m choosing a different perception. Tonight, when you go to bed, say, “Thank you, God for today.” Tomorrow, when you awaken, say, “Thank you, God for today.” Do this every day. You don’t have to know what you are offering your thanks for. You just have to do it and know that today has been or will be Good because it is today and you are in it.
Congratulations and Thank You,
Shawn
