I’ve done a battle with pleasure and pain in a way that is familiar to most people.

I’ve pursued pleasures of eating, exercising, drinking and even smoking to excess so that I am absolutely clear that I’m not helping myself, not enjoying myself and in some twisted way punishing myself.  It was demoralizing and I’m very glad I don’t feel compulsive about that kind of behavior any longer.

This experience of confusion between pleasure and pain could be something like a lovely dessert that becomes two or three portions and then a feeling of way too much sugar.  I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I used to do that with chips, popcorn and crackers.  I’d feel that I’d eaten too much and definitely too much salt.  

I notice now that I rarely eat more than feels healthy, and I rarely eat things that I regret and that’s HUGE for me.  

I know now that it happened because of my willingness to do the self-forgiveness inner work.  

This is why I feel compelled to keep offering opportunities to do this work in a group – so we don’t get overwhelmed by our resistance and reluctance.

Every year, folks in class with me tell me stories of how they did the class work and they naturally experienced losing a bunch of weight and keeping it off, having arthritis pain lesson dramatically and then needing fewer and fewer pain killers, as well as, of course, chronic pain disappearing entirely.

I think for some people the constant feeling of physical discomfort is what keeps them in the cycle of negative pleasure.  I can remember feeling that some form of self-medication was “all I had” that brought me pleasure.  It was “all I had” to take my mind off my unhappiness.  And yet there wasn’t REAL pleasure in the experience, and it always left me feeling worse, ashamed, bad, wrong – hence the “negative” pleasure.

I used so many things that were enjoyable in small doses but became painful in larger doses.  They were all meant to distract me from my feelings, but they only led me into a deeper hole of feeling that I was a fake and a failure.

It’s so liberating to be able to enjoy the pleasures of life without feeling addicted or compulsive about them.

I feel that my whole life is better because I’m not having to control my impulses, I’m naturally choosing the things that are self-loving.  It’s a whole different way of living.  It’s a MAJOR release of worry and guilt and shame.  YAY!

It’s because spiritual practice has eliminated the ROOT CAUSE of my negative pleasure habits.  DOUBLE YAY!

This healing has definitely brought me a constant feeling of higher vibration in my beingness.  

Living at a higher vibration, I notice that I naturally am less interested in lower vibrational choices, so I don’t have to struggle with behavior modification and trying to release those negative pleasure habits – they fell away gracefully.  HALLELUJAH.

The healing power and presence of God’s Love is REAL.  I know that now.  I also now know that it’s available for everyone.

I really didn’t think I’d be able to get to the place I am now.  The main turning point for me was when I made my spiritual life and practice the most important part of my life.  It was during that time that I shifted into the healing practices that became my programs. My life began changing for the better – and it’s continued to this day.  

My whole orientation changed and I began to achieve lasting success and the healing took hold in my heart and mind.  

I no longer have any days where I feel like I’m sliding back.  

That feeling is gone and I am forever grateful!

Being able to forgive myself helped me to move on and that’s why I am glad to offer forgiveness retreats and classes.

If forgiveness is what you know will help you the most right now, CHECK THIS OUT!!! I was in a staff meeting last week and Spirit gave me a beautiful inspired idea!  

I’m giving away my Forgiveness Retreat for free – yes, no cost for tuition – MY GIFT TO YOU – (you do have to pay for travel, lodging and meals).

It’s a BONUS if you register NOW for my Masterful Living Program 2024

Right now, people are registering for Masterful Living, my year-long Program, that I’ve been offering for the past 15 years.  It’s deeply transformational and based in ACIM Principles.  

Folks who register now are getting some other WONDERFUL bonuses of really great classes with me this year – live classes this month and next.

I’d LOVE to get to be with you soon!

Not sure if one of my programs is right for you? You’re invited to schedule a free Exploratory Call with one of our certified spiritual counselors to get your questions answered and see if this program can bring you the results YOU would like!

NEW PODCAST EPISODE! The new episode of my podcast’s topic is When It’s Hard to Forgive. ACIM tells us that forgiveness offers everything we want, so why is it sometimes so darn hard to forgive? How can we break through that resistance? This week I share tips in how to dissolve reluctance and move to higher ground.