What We Really Want

"Only the mind is responsible for seeing. It alone decides whether what is seen is real or illusory, desirable or undesirable, pleasurable or painful. The One Answer to all illusions is Truth." -- A Course in Miracles

I work with a lot of different people with seemingly different issues and seemingly unique stories. Each one, I know, thinks their story is unique and different, that their situation is somehow different, harder, more weighty. That they are somehow more something or less something than everyone else. In other words, that their life and their story is somehow special and unique.

The other thing I notice about all of us is that there are people or situations in our lives that we insist are special. This one may give me what I want. That situation may be the break I've been waiting for. Maybe I should give this more time, or do it a little differently. Maybe there is potential in this relationship or this job or this idea. "This is IT," we say excitedly. And another illusion is born.

A Course in Miracles says,"By definition, an illusion is an attempt to make something real that is regarded as of major importance, but is recognized as being untrue. The mind therefore seeks to make it true out of its intensity of desire to have it for itself. In these dreams the mind is separate, different from other minds, with different interests of its own, and able to gratify its needs at the expense of others."

This is the human condition. Not one of us is exempt from this constant projection of illusions. Salvation lies in recognizing and forgiving, then giving up the need to be right and to have what you think you want. Recognize that everything you think you want will hurt you and bring more suffering. Illusions bring only illusions of happiness, and that only for a brief time. All illusions fail, and all will bring suffering if you insist on their reality. It is the way of it in this dream we call life.

What we really want is to know our Self. What we really want is the Peace and Joy that are Who We Really Are. This can be known and experienced in a heartbeat, the moment we surrender our illusions. The moment we let go of what we think we want 'out there' and come home to Love. The moment we trust the inner more than the outer. What we really want is Home.

"What is real can never be threatened. What is unreal never exists. Herein lies the Peace of God." -- A Course in Miracles