Let’s take a moment to look at WILL POWER vs WILLINGNESS.

It has been SO helpful to me to understand the difference and then apply that wisdom to my life.

When someone has a problem with obsessive, compulsive behavior or avoidance they’ll often try will power to make a change.  A perfect example of that is trying to get in shape or lose weight at the beginning of the year.  

People make new year’s resolutions about what they’d like to change in their eating, drinking, exercising, home cleanliness and organization and all kinds of things.  

Resolutions require will power.

Will power is part of a plan of behavior modification.

Behavior modification is a helpful start when we’re feeling out of control, obsessive, compulsive, and addicted.  

For the moment we can pause the addictive behaviors with will power.

But we all know that stopping the behavior isn’t a healing.  

As A Course in Miracles teaches us, all healing is at the level of the mind – NOT at the level of behavior.

We seek not to change the behavior, but to change our mind about ourselves, life, our bodies and eliminate the ROOT CAUSE of the behavior – which is our beliefs.

Many people obsessively self-medicate as a way to escape how they feel.  I’ve certainly done WAY more than my fair share of that.  Will power does NOTHING to eliminate that issue – it only intensifies it.  

It’s like turning up the heat on a pressure cooker.  

Eventually, it will explode.  

And then there’s an even bigger mess to contend with.

A Course in Miracles tells us:  

“You must change your mind, not your behavior, and this is a matter of willingness. You do not need guidance except at the mind level. Correction belongs only at the level where change is possible. Change does not mean anything at the symptom level, where it cannot work.”  T-2.VI.3.

Willingness is the only way to make real progress on the spiritual path of awakening.

Our willingness is ALL that’s required to have true and lasting transformation.

It seems so simple and, quite frankly, too easy, but neither is accurate.

Have you ever had a moment where you felt driven to act compulsively and you knew it would not end well and that if you could have any small fraction of willingness you could take a deep breath and make a higher choice, but you just didn’t want to – in that moment? 

Instead you willFULLY, self-destructed?

Practicing those moments of willingness IS where our healing’s at.

Will power simply won’t do.

One of the ways we can get to a place willingness, healing and real change is to let things be neutral.  Let the alcohol, the cigarettes, the chocolate, whatever it might be, be neutral.   

When we’re craving, needing and wanting to satisfy that compulsion, we’re feeling deprived.  We’re feeling like a victim that needs and wants and craves because we don’t have, we lack.

What don’t we have?

In that moment we don’t have a connection with Spirit that lets us know we’re fully loved and held in perfect wholeness.  That knowing of our perfection is missing from our awareness.  

How could will power or behavior modification ever heal that?

How could will power ever even satiate the craving for unity for one second?

It cannot.

But even a little bit of willingness is instantaneous joining with Spirit. 

“The power to work miracles belongs to you.  I will provide the opportunities to do them, but you must be ready and willing.” T-1.III.1.

Using will power actually makes things worse.

We feel self-betrayed on some level when we’re trying to control and manipulate the cravings and behavior.  It just feels hellish.

Ok, maybe there are moments of ego superiority and satisfaction when we’re able to use will power to not follow the needing, wanting and craving impulses.  But those will power moments just fuel the fire of living without lasting healing.  Always a victim.

A Course in Miracles tells us:  

“We have already attempted to correct the fundamental error that fear can be mastered, and have emphasized that the only real mastery is through love.  … You may think this implies that an enormous amount of time is necessary between readiness and mastery, but let me remind you that time and space are under my control.”  T-2.VII.7. 

The new episode of my A Course in Miracles podcast’s topic is Don’t Let Ego Determine Your Priorities. I offer help to avoid some common ego mistakes that spiritual students make.  I discuss some of the mistakes I used to make and how to avoid them.  Don’t let the ego determine your priorities.   We can lead a fulfilling life while we’re awakening.

Our willingness IS all that’s needed for our healing.  Let us practice that this entire year and see what wonderful and miraculous healing we have!

If you ever have any questions about any of our programs, you can book an exploratory call with one of the spiritual counselors and let them answer all your questions. They can even help you prioritize your goals for the year! Click here now to book an exploratory call.

If you feel called, come join us in 2024 for the best year of your life – the year that changes EVERYTHING, if you’re willing.  Let’s do it together.  If you’d like to find out what others are saying about this powerful community please click here to learn more about Masterful Living now.  You’ll get New Year Reboot as a bonus!

If you’re willing, I’m willing. If this is right for you, you WILL know it.  In my year-long Masterful Living Course, a number of people have healed their depression gone off anti-depressants, let go of old hurts and sadness that has troubled them for many years.  They have accomplished what they never believed they could do, because they gave themselves a chance, and they didn’t give up.  You can do it, too.

Information isn’t healing.  

Spiritual practice is healing.

Follow your intuition – let yourself be guided by Spirit to join us or not.

I am grateful for this path we’re on and our ability to take the next healing step upon it!

Are you unsure about whether my year-long Masterful Living 2024 is right for you right now?  You can book an exploratory call with one of the spiritual counselors and let them answer all your questions. Click here now to book an exploratory call.

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!  The new episode of my podcast’s topic is Don’t Let Ego Determine Your Priorities. Here’s some help to avoid some common ego mistakes that spiritual students make. This week, I discuss some of the mistakes I used to make and how to avoid them. Don’t let the ego determine your priorities. We can lead a fulfilling life while we’re awakening.