Gigi Langer

Worry Less Now!

Ā Love More Now!

A Mystery Quote: “Songs of Plenty and Songs of Want”

a course in miracles

Several years ago, my friend, Mo, dictated into her 1990s tape recorderĀ several selections fromĀ A Course in Miracles (ACIM).Ā  I’ve spent many hours listening to the 90-minute tape; I even converted it to a CD when cassettes died. Now it lives in my phone’s music app. I love every wise word Mo recorded, and I often thank “Angel Mo” for this dear gift.

At the very end of Mo’s recording is a section called, “The Human Experience.” I’ve always thought it was taken from ACIM, because everything else on the tape was from there. But this beautiful section is NOT in the Course, and I can’t find its source anywhere. CAN YOU? If You’re The First One to Find It, You’ll Get A Free Copy of “Worry Less Now.” Here is part of the section I love so much.Ā 

The Human Experience

“So dear are you to me. I see you struggle and let go, struggle and let go again. And that is the dance of life. Seek not to end the dance.Ā 

The earthly dance moves from ballroom to ballroom,Ā 
from dance floor to dance floor. The cosmic dance moves from era to era. But the dance must continue until all the music has been heard.Ā 

You are now hearing different stanzas to the same song. The song is salvation. The verses speak of learning all there is to learn.Ā 

All there is to learn includes songs of plenty and songs of want. You learn the dance of prosperity and the dance of scarcity, until you realize that all the dances are the same.

You move to the rhythm, sway to the beat. You pause to start again. You feel the heartbeat of the music until your heart and the beat of the music are one. Then that dance is over.

Worry not, my child. All earthly experiences teach only one thing: That you are a child of a loving God who punishes you not.”

Isn’t that beautiful? Although it’s very similar the the Course‘s style, it’s not from there. I hope you can find out where it was published.

What IS a Course in Miracles, Anyway?

You may already know about the Course, perhaps from Marianne Williamson’s best seller, A Return to Love–a wonderful introduction. The three books form a “curriculum” that people study on their own or in a group, thus the reference to a “course.” It’s main purpose (the “miracle”) is to help us align our thoughts and actions with love rather than with fear.
Here is my summary of some of the key ideas presented in ACIM (from Chapter 3 in 50 Ways to Worry Less Now)

•  We are spiritual beings living inside a physical body. The confusion of the human experience comes from thinking our body represents the full extent of our being. The true essence of a person, however, is not the body. It is the spirit, also known asĀ the soul, positive power, love, true self, and so on. Most of usĀ seek to connect with a loving source of safety, comfort, and wisdom.

•  Fear separates us. When we believe we are merely a physical body, we think there isn’t enough love, attention, or material security to go around. We live in fear as we constantly compete against others to fulfill our human needs. In this survival state, we separate ourselves from one another. The Course and many other teachings refer to this self-centered fear as “the ego,” and considerĀ it the main source of unhappiness. (Note that Freud defined theĀ ego differently—as the decision-making part of theĀ personality.)

•  Love connects us. When love (positive power) is our driving force, we trust there is enough of everything we need to be happy and secure. We connect with others in loving care and compassion. We are no longer driven by our fears and we find joy.

To simplify: Fear, judgment, and separation create negativity and worries. Loving connections cure them.

What do you think? Do you agree? What’s your experience with ideas such as these? I’d love to hear from you!

Worry Less Now CoverGigi Langer has been clean and sober for 33 years, and holds a PhD in Psychological Studies in Education from Stanford University. She’s a sought-after speaker and retreat leader who has helped thousands improve their lives at work and at home.
Read her blog here or order her award-winning book (50 Ways to Worry Less Now) from Barnes and Noble, Amazon (5 stars), and all e-book vendors.

FREEDOM FROM SELF-SABOTAGE (by Harriet Hunter)

miracles of recoveryHarriet Hunter has written one of the best daily meditation books I’ve seen in a long time. I just love reading it each morning. Below is an excerpt of the April 21st meditation (p. 123) from Miracles of Recovery: Daily Meditations of Hope, Courage.Ā  Ā  (Order book Here)

ā€œHow many times have we heard others put someone down with, ā€˜You’re not good enough to do that,’ or ā€˜You’ll never be able to. . .’?Ā  Do these or similar statements resonate within you?

ā€œThese are the telltale signs of self-sabotage.Ā  ā€œSelf-sabotage is the mechanism used to denigrate our power, as if we have none at all.Ā  ā€œWe become what we think. We need to stop rehearsing our rejections.

ā€œOver time, self-sabotage becomes form fitting, snug in the mis-identification of our self-worth. It feels familiar, safe and warm. We know self-sabotage well because we’ve endured it for a lifetime.

ā€œSomewhere we heard we should promote others while sacrificing ourselves to gain friends and keep the peace. To do so would be to tell ourselves the greatest lie of all: We deserve nothing, but others do. Treating ourselves with the same gentleness and loving care we give to family and others is what we need.

ā€œThere is plenty of inner strength and fortitude already deep inside, and we deserve to hear it reflected in our voice.

ā€œSo why not let it begin with us? No longer can we allow ourselves to take part in self-deprecating talk. Our voice is listening, waiting for the echo of words that promise love and kindness for who we are.

“When we change the way we see ourselves, we get to change our lives and the way others see us too, with resonating confidence.”

Today’s Meditation
ā€œToday I am conscious of how others speak to me and how it makes me feel. I will not accept negative, demeaning talk from anyone–even me–as I recreate with loving care who I want to be.ā€œ

harrietHunter GigiLangerHarriet Hunter (shown here with me at the Venice FL Book Fair) is the author of the 2018 Miracles of Recovery: Daily Meditations of Hope, Courage. She is a person in long-term recovery, an expert on journaling, and an inspiration to all who know her.Ā  Her book is fabulous! Order book HERE Website here Ā  Ā  FB: Harriet Hunter Author

JUST LOVED THIS RETREAT!

This is why you didn’t get a blog post this week. I was the retreat leader and it was a huge privilege. And it took a lot of planning plus airplane travel to and from St Louis. I’m on my way home now and am just sending you this quick update.

Here’s my FB post about this wonderful retreat:

it was a WONDERFUL WEEKEND retreat in Springfield IL with an incredible group of women. I had asked my FB friends to pray that our time together benefit all of us, including our loved ones. It worked!

?ā¤ļø?

Why Are Frogs So Happy? They Eat What Bugs Them!

worry less now gigi langerWhat bugs you? Is it something or someone you can’t change, but wish you could? Yup, the fly in the ointment! It happens to me all the time.

Try Kermit’s approach: just chew it up and swallow it. It’s merely acceptance–digesting the reality of the situation and getting on with your life.

I needed to remember this lesson recently when my book distributor went out of business. Upon reading the notice, I just wanted to spit out the unpleasant news. It just couldn’t be true!

Then I began to roll it around in my mouth, as I tried to figure out how to fix it. Eventually that effort failed, and I had to just gulp it down, exactly as it is.

Now that I’ve absorbed this truth, I can look at it differently. For example, I realized that the defunct printing company had been charging me a lot! And that led me to finding new and creative ways to distribute my book.

For example, soon you’ll see a special offer of a personalized SIGNED COPY (available now at GigiLanger.com/buy mailed right to your home. Although people can still get it from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, this special deal allows me to connect with you more directly.

So, when life throws you a curve ball–something that really bugs you–just gobble it up and keep moving, knowing that a better way is coming along.

It works for me and for Kermit too!

worry less nowGigi Langer has been clean and sober for 33 years, and holds a PhD in Psychological Studies in Education from Stanford University. She’s a sought-after speaker and retreat leader who has helped thousands improve their lives at work and at home. Read her blog here or order her award-winning book (50 Ways to Worry Less Now) from GigiLanger.com/buy, Barnes and Noble, Amazon (5 stars), and all e-book vendors.