Practical Wisdom: Living 5D in a 3D World
Integrating higher consciousness into everyday life—one miracle at a time!
Dearest Beloved,
There are moments in our spiritual journey where the Course becomes more than a book…it becomes a mirror. And in this Lesson 24 class—“I do not perceive my own best interest”—I had the privilege of witnessing that shift happen for one of our beautiful students, I'll call Mary.
She had just returned from a group travel excursion, full of personalities, quirks, expectations, and triggers. And in her words, “It was fascinating to watch my mind and remind myself: everyone is on their own path, and my only job is to be kind.”
But it was her piano lessons—not her travels—that Spirit used to reveal the deeper, unhealed layers hiding beneath the surface. Layers that so many of us carry without realizing it.
Lesson 24: “I do not perceive my own best interest.”
The Course wastes no time in this lesson:
“In no situation that arises do you realize the outcome that would make you happy.”
That’s a bold statement.
And yet…completely true until we’re trained to see differently.
When Mary shared that she was considering ending her piano lessons, she wasn’t unclear about her decision. In fact, she felt strongly that it was the right choice.
Where she struggled was one tiny word:
quitting.
And that single word opened the door to a lifetime of egoic conditioning.
She felt torn between what she truly wanted—
➡️ freedom, spaciousness, and ease—
and what her ego insisted she prioritize—
➡️ not disappointing the piano teacher.
Her desire for freedom was clear.
Her ego’s desire for safety was even clearer.
And this is exactly what Lesson 24 calls out:
You think you’re making a logical decision.
But underneath, the ego has already set up:
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assumptions
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hidden goals
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contradictory desires
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unconscious expectations
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people-pleasing patterns
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childhood associations
The ego wants 10 different outcomes at once.
Which guarantees…you’ll be disappointed with someone in the end—
usually yourself.
The Real Issue Wasn’t the Piano Lessons
As we explored the feelings beneath her hesitation, something profound emerged:
The part of her that was afraid to quit wasn’t the adult Mary at all.
It was the four-year-old version of her who had learned:
“If I upset someone, I’m not safe.”
A child who once had to fly under the radar to avoid negative attention.
A child who learned that pleasing others was the only path to safety.
That little girl was still trying to run her life.
She was the one afraid of “disappointing” her teacher.
She was the one terrified of being seen as “flaky.”
She was the one projecting all these assumptions onto a neutral situation.
The older, wiser Mary—the one who quit smoking at 25 and reclaimed her freedom—was nowhere in sight.
So we brought her back.
We reconnected Mary with that strong-willed, courageous version of herself who once said:
“I choose what’s healthy for me, even if others don’t like it.”
That powerful inner adult is the one aligned with the Holy Spirit.
And from that place, the decision becomes simple.
And peaceful.
And clear.
The True Heart of Lesson 24
The Course invites us to stop pretending we always know what’s best—because the “we” the Course is referring to is the ego.
“Your conviction that you do know what your best interests are makes learning impossible.”
This lesson doesn’t ask us to stop making decisions.
It asks us to stop making decisions from the frightened child within who misinterprets reality.
It asks us to notice:
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every hidden demand we place on situations
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every projected expectation
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every attempt to manage someone else’s feelings
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every contradiction inside our goals
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every way we try to “stay safe” by abandoning ourselves
It asks us to pause and say:
“I do not perceive my own best interest in this situation.”
Not because we’re weak—
but because only the Holy Spirit sees the entire picture.
When Mary let the mature, free, self-loving part of her speak, the inner conflict dissolved.
The teacher was no longer someone she could “disappoint.”
Her past no longer needed to dictate her present.
Her freedom no longer felt selfish—
it felt holy.
And once again, A Course in Miracles proved itself:
When we stop projecting our fear onto neutral situations,
we see clearly.
We act clearly.
We choose clearly.
And the world becomes a gentler place.
Integration in Daily Life
Here are a few places Lesson 24 is at work in your life right now:
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When you hesitate to set a boundary
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When you’re afraid to “let someone down”
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When you stay in a commitment long after your heart has left
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When you say yes while your inner being screams no
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When you assume someone will react badly—and shape your choices around that fantasy
Each time you catch yourself doing this, you can pause and ask:
“What outcome is my ego trying to force here?”
“What outcome is my heart quietly longing for?”
“What if I truly don’t perceive my own best interest—and that’s okay?”
The Holy Spirit can only guide a quiet mind.
Lesson 24 helps you create that quiet.
Lainaism
“Clarity comes the moment you stop managing people’s feelings and start honoring your own guidance.”
Closing Transmission
Take a slow breath.
Bring into your awareness one situation in your life where you’re uncertain, conflicted, or afraid of someone’s reaction.
Say gently within:
“I do not perceive my own best interest in this situation.”
Let that admission soften you.
There is nothing wrong with you.
You are honestly noticing that the part of you making the decision is too small, too scared, and too young to carry that responsibility.
Invite the wiser part of you forward—the part that loves freedom, truth, and genuine peace.
Ask:
“Holy Spirit, what would You have me do?”
“How would You have me see this?”
“What outcome would truly set me free?”
Feel how different that is from:
“I need to make sure they’re not upset with me.”
Today, offer your decisions to the One who sees beyond your history.
And let yourself be surprised by how simple the right choice feels when it comes from Self Love.
As we’re still riding the wave of Thanksgiving and the spirit of gratitude, I’m reminded that one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves is the freedom to stop pretending we always know what will make us happy—and to let gratitude arise from clarity instead of obligation. I am deeply grateful for students like you who are willing to look honestly at your patterns, invite the Holy Spirit in, and choose freedom over fear. These inner shifts ripple outward more than you know. Thank you for being part of this awakened family.
I love loving you,
Founder, The Awareness Academy
“Today belongs to Love. Let me not fear.” —ACIM, Lesson 274
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