The Illusion of choice and A Course in Miracles (ACIM)
A program in Miracles (ACIM) clearly points out how perception and choice are very closely linked together. As long as we perceive error, the tendency is to continue to choose error through judgment thereby making error more real. We are the foundation choosing ideas, placing judgment on matching results, and finally judging those results as being real as well. All of this leads us back to perception and choice and to start the cycle once again.
As you perceive, you judge and project; and as you judge and project, you perceive back. Having perceived the judgments and projections back with you, you will now judge those and project them outward if you do not perceive the results back. The ego knows no other way. It is a continuous judgmental cycle until you may break it; and yes, there is a way to do just that. There is one obvious choice off the merry-go-round, and it is so simple you will scratch your head in wonder you experienced not thought of it before now.
Choice remains unsettling because when you make choices that further the error, or take you deeper into the illusion, it seems like you are merely making choices between the lessor of two evils. moviewatcher That’s because you are only choosing between the sides of the wrong mind. The ego has a “wrong” and “right” side but neither is the true Right Mind of the Holy Spirit. If there was ever a new Year’s resolution worth keeping, it would be: Stop judging and turn them over to the Holy Spirit for correction instead.
The Tiny Insane Idea:
The original divorce is considered a “tiny insane idea” in which you thought you used to be separated from source. This is also called “the error” and is the original choice for judgment of the ego. Already down that road in the mind, it becomes another layer every time you judge the consequences, or matching effect, from the error as cause. This implies every time you judge what you see or what is happening in the world, and you may believe the ego about it, you are choosing the error as cause once again. Matching effects show up which reinforce your belief in error.
These judgments further part out the split mind instead of returning it to peace. Hence, this is why is seems like you are choosing between the lessor of two evils with neither one really being “less”. The error hasn’t already occurred and only seems real because of your choice of internal Teacher. Choosing the ego is like choosing a spinning door with only one exit.
ACIM says there is no order of difficultly in miracles and that means there is no order of difficulty in choices. One is exactly the same as the next, handled in precisely the same manner. Every problem is equal because they all come from the same cause. You think one is harder because of your belief and add-on to it as being more real than another.
Choosing one Maker:
The fastest way to turn choice from an unsettling phenomena to at least one of illusion is ty trying your decision maker, or viewer, to choose differently. Actually, if you wanted to produce a judgment up against the ego, there is only one appropriate choice to make: Choose to use your decision maker to choose up against the ego and in favor of the Holy Spirit. It has such enormous power when harnessed and used to choose instead for the truth.
Using the decision maker can be difficult to understand without program. It is an action-oriented mechanism of using, or choosing. That really is its big secret and now you know it. You have to do the work of choosing. Reading these ideas is not enough. Program is everything. Simply be ready learn how. You will make mistakes, but so what? We all do. Try again.
Think of the ego like a coin system in a can. Every time you listen to and believe an ego judgment, you put a coin in the can for that material because you chose it. Carry on doing this, and you will fill the can until overflowing. Step back into fairly neutral, which is choosing one maker, and stay ready turn over those judgments to the Right Mind for correction, and you actually spend a coin from the can instead.
Stay in the fairly neutral decision maker, or viewer, and wait out the tantrum of the ego. It is merely an indication of how much you have dedicated to that area of the thought system. Don’t act on it! The ego usually spends other can of coins trying to tell you back into the judgments. You don’t have to do anything except be willing and actually spend what you may hear to the Right Mind via choosing one making capability. You are choosing between the sides of the split mind. That is choice as an illusion.
Forgiveness:
Stick to the process and the ego runs its race and then, if you’ve not re-invested in the judgments, correction occurs. You will know you have received it because of the peace, love, joy and freedom associated with it. That material is now gone forever.
This is exactly what it takes to make the decision for love, forgiveness, correction, healing, true perception and God. The Holy Spirit, the voice for God, takes care of it all if you are simply willing, and actually do the work of turning over to Him whatever you no longer want: The ego’s judgments. You cannot heal what you keep hidden so for heaven’s reason, proceed to own up to it and turn it over to the Holy Spirit. Only the ego most judges.