Hello Miracle Family,
In this week’s teaching, “Grievances Block Your Miracles (Here’s How to Let Them Go) | ACIM Lesson 68 Part 2,” I pointed to something most people don’t want to look at.
If you’re holding onto a grievance, it’s not because you don’t know how to let it go. It’s because, on some level, you still believe it’s doing something for you.
That’s the part that keeps you stuck.
Most people say they want peace, but they skip over this completely. They try to forgive without first being honest about the fact that they’re still getting something out of holding on.
And as long as you think the grievance serves you, you won’t let it go.
When you really look at it, there’s usually a payoff. It might feel like protection, like staying upset will keep you from being hurt again. It might give you a sense of control, or reinforce the feeling that you were right. Sometimes it becomes part of your identity, or a way of justifying how you feel.
None of that is wrong. But it does need to be seen.
Because you won’t release something you still think you need.
A Simple Practice (Be Honest, Not Spiritual)
Instead of trying to forgive right away, I want you to do this:
Step 1: Think of one person or situation you still have a grievance about.
Step 2: Ask yourself honestly:
“What do I believe I’m getting from holding onto this?”
Take your time. Don’t give a spiritual answer. Give a real one.
Step 3: Then ask:
“Is this worth losing my peace?”
And just sit with that.
That’s the beginning of letting it go.
At some point, you have to stop telling yourself you don’t know how to let it go and start being honest about why you haven’t. When you’re willing to look at what you believe you’re getting from holding onto the grievance, you begin to see the choice you’re actually making. And from there, it becomes very simple: you can keep the grievance, or you can have your peace, but you can’t have both, so the only real question is whether what you think you’re getting is truly worth the cost.
Love,
Earl
P.S. If you need anything, I’m here. Just reach out: earlpurdy@earlpurdy.com
