Last Words: Walking Through Illusion by Betsy Otter Thompson

     Walking Through Illusion was an eye-opening book for me.  I learned a great deal about reflections in life toward my own.  That everyone and everything around me is a teacher and a guide for me to learn and become better.  The subjects of the book were honest with their struggles; a clear guide of how to learn from our surroundings.  As the book progresses it became more clear what mirrors are and what purpose they have in my life; give love and you will receive love; be truthful and receive truth.  I hope that you also learned as much as I have and will look to your mirrors to learn the lessons set out for you and your purpose.  Please check out Betsy's website at http://betsythompson.com/ to get your own copy of this remarkable book.  Thank you Betsy for this opportunity!

     Continuing on with this self-help guru journey I will be reviewing Deepak Chopra's famous book, Ageless Body, Timeless Mind published in 1993.  He is a spiritual guide and self-help guru with a background in medicine.  I saw Deepak speak in Denver last month.  He spoke of the formula of happiness and the studies that are being done to connect spirituality and physical health.  Very exciting stuff!  Stay tuned for this new book adventure on Monday.

Why are we living in Time? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

   We are here on this Earth as energy experimenting.  This life is research, explains Jesus in Walking Through Illusion.  Thompson explains that we all choose whom we become in human form to fulfill whatever lessons we need to learn.  She explains the story between Herod, a powerful ruler in the Bible and Jesus.  Herod's people were worried that Jesus would capture the allegiance of all that followed them.  Herod did not feel this threat from Jesus' teachings.  Nonetheless, he offered Jesus a job in his organization.  Jesus declined.  Herod didn't understand except that maybe Jesus wanted more money.  Jesus tells him that money is not the reward he seeks.  Jesus stays true to his purpose and the time he has on Earth.  Instead of getting distracted by money he remembers his real purpose is to spread the word of God.
     How many things are you distracted by?  Jesus says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.  When a door opens, walk through it.   Each one of us has a specific path and journey.  We have been given this time on Earth for this special purpose.  Ignore distractions and use your time wisely.

Death? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

     In Walking Through Illusion, Thompson asks Jesus if he was afraid of death.  He says, "Death had to be real to be feared.  When I knew death was impossible, I couldn't fear something I knew did not exist."    Pilate, the man who played a role in Jesus' death, was a man seeking power his whole life.  He killed and lorded over people's lives to feel this power that he needed to feel.  What he didn't realize was, "...to participate in a person's death was to kill a body that one God thought informative.  And since everyone is one, he killed a part of himself in the process."     We are all connected.  What you do to someone will return unto you and vice versa.  Pilate gave out death and received death in his soul. 
     When my dad passed 6 years ago I hadn't really experienced death in my life.  I soon began exploration of what death is.  I believe that the spirit is energy and it cannot be destroyed.  I believe my dad's energy still exists.  Since his death, my sister, mom and myself find dimes in the strangest places.  I found one the other day on the floor in the locker room.  This is our sign that he is still around.  He died on the 10th...not sure if that is why but I don't really care why.  All I know is that we have a lot of dimes.  When I think of death in these terms I am not afraid because it is part of the process.  The connection to all exists for me.  What do you believe?

Why do we get confused? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

     One form of confusion can be when you believe in your perspective and act upon it while in reality it is something else.  In Walking Through Illusion, Thompson talks about Philip, a tailor from the Bible.  "...he believed that his disrespectful children were the reason he was miserable.  As Philip confides in Jesus, he explains that, "To earn their respect, Philip, you have to understand what respect means to you."  The point is that Philip's perspective was all wrong.  He thought the problem was his children's to solve and not his own.  He would make more rules for his children but he never enforced them.  How could his children respect him if he didn't respect himself and his own rules?  Also, did he listen to his children's request?  If he wanted to be heard then he also needed to hear them.  This all added to Philip's confusion.
     I think all of us want to be liked by others.  I let others know I like them even if I've just met them.  Some of those people, but not too many actually rub me the wrong way.  I fake being nice to them but behind closed doors I will say how I really feel, usually to Nate or my sister.  In turn, when I meet them again, they may not be as friendly as they were the first time.  Thus, confirming my beliefs that they rub me the wrong way.  Possibly, it's because I've talked poorly about them and the law of mirrors reflects that and returns it back to me.  I've always been confused as to why this happens and now I understand.  Changing the logic the other way around; What if they don't like me and talk behind my back?  Then, the next time I see them I unknowingly am not as cordial.  Maybe because they are getting their feelings about me returned to them.  It sounds confusing but it makes sense!  Try to notice how you treat others and how they treat you back.  Look at what you say behind their back as opposed to how you are when you are with them.  Are they reflecting your attitude toward them back on you?

Are Memories Controllable? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

"To remember your past is one thing.  To remember it clearly is another."  Betsy Otter Thomspon

     Thompson asks Jesus in her dialogue with him in Walking Through Illusion what it means for him to remember the past clearly.  He says, "It meant for me to remember the growth it brought to the present."  Even if the memory is awful it is better to remember and learn.

     I was just thinking about my past year and all the lessons I have learned.  I am not proud of all the moments but I can use the memories of my past to learn from.  I noticed that the more I have been mean or angry toward someone the more anger I got back and the more distance grew between us.   Usually in the beginning of a deep relationship there is a lot of love being passed back and forth.  As I contemplated this from my past, I realized that the more love I gave the more I got back in return.  Exactly what I wanted and still want to this day.  Walking Through Illusion is opening my eyes to the mirror of the past, present and future.  I can see why things were the way the were in relation to who I was in the past.  I can also see where I would like the future to be with lot's of love.  I better start loving a lot more!

What does hate create? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

      Hatred is an intense feeling and is usually backed with actions of revenge.  This revenge only does harm and does not heal the emotional wounds.  Mary, from the Bible and in Walking Through Illusion, was an abused girl by her father.  She hated him for abusing her.  Thompson explains that as she got older she confronted her dad.  Unfortunately, she suffered physical abuse and was badly injured.  She goes to Jesus and he asks her which she prefers, "...the pain from lashing out over and over or the pain from abstinence once?"  Mary didn't like hearing this because she felt she was the victim and why should she be the one to change.  Mary confesses to Jesus that she doesn't love her father.  Jesus says, "I told her she didn't have to love him; she only had to release him."  This was the only way to find the love in her personal turmoil.
     What personal turmoil are you going through right now?  Holding onto the hate only causes pain for yourself.  Hate only causes destruction.  Although, Mary's case is an extreme case where you may think she is justified in her hate she is only continually living in her own pain by holding onto the hate.  Letting go and finding the love in your situation is the way to release yourself from your pain.  Mary eventually realizes that her father was also searching for love but in all the wrong ways.  As she released her hate toward her father she began to understand his pain and this made it easier for her find the love in her situation.

What is your real identity? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

    "Names, titles, and places lose their validity as soon as you leave the human plane.  The emotion behind them lasts forever."  Betsy Otter Thompson

     Vrotskuv was a soldier who delivered prisoners to the sites of their crucifixion.  He led Jesus in the Bible, Thompson, begins to explain in Walking Through Illusion.  As Vrotskuv is escorting Jesus, their eyes meet and he receives a special message, "We are all in charge of ourselves in the love of God forever."  The feeling was infinite and full of love.  He was expecting hatred and anger from the man he was leading to his death.  This encounter changed Vrotskuv's life forever.  He continued to search for this feeling because in it he felt he found himself.  Thompson points out that this was the theme that kept recurring, "We always find ourselves in the people we face."  He learned that day to continue to look for the love in people, the godliness in everyone in order to feel the connection he had that day with Jesus, with God.
      I was just telling Nate, my boyfriend, that I can see we have the same flaws in many different areas of life.  It's almost awkward.  It really is true that we can see ourselves in other people; the love, the hate, the good and the bad.  Nate was sharing with me that I am a pessimist about our relationship while I shared with him that he is a pessimist of other people.  It was ironic.  We could both see the pessimism in each other and we both didn't like it yet we both are that way.  Interesting...

Why is betrayal so painful? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

"Betrayal is an act of doing in a way you'd hate to be done to."  Betsy Otter Thompson

     In Walking Through Illusion, Thompson, dives into the controversial story of Judas' betrayal of Jesus.  She explains that his betrayal was not to hurt Jesus but to free himself of his own inability.  Judas hoped that he could persuade Jesus to leave town by turning him in and warning Jesus beforehand.  In this way Judas could save Jesus from dying.  Judas thinks to himself, "How will you find your spiritual growth if your spiritual leader is dead?"  In reality, Judas didn't have enough courage to leave town himself and was hoping that if Jesus left he could too.  He didn't want Jesus to die and thought if he could get Jesus to leave then he would be safe.  To Judas' dismay, Jesus did not leave town.   His actions were selfish and they didn't work.  Instead he betrayed his friend and then couldn't live with his limiting thought, that there was nothing left in this life for him to progress through and he commits suicide.   Betrayal is never a good option.  It hurts others and it hurts yourself.
     Another life-changing point Thompson points out is that we all have the same opportunity of success here on this Earth.  That it's not unfair that some have more than others such as money or fame but that everyone has a fair chance to succeed in feeling all the love, joy and peace one desires.  People think the material possessions will bring us these eternal feelings of goodness but they don't.  These feelings, we all seek, come from how much we give out.  Everyone has the opportunity to feel their highest potential.  It's a matter of mirrors.  Give love to receive love.  Do not betray, do not get betrayed.  Give peace, receive peace.  We all want happiness, to feel good.  Give out what you want.  Change your thoughts. Change your actions. Change how you feel.   Jesus says, in Walking Through Illusion, "When I knew the ultimate prize was a feeling to be experienced, not a place to be led to, I urged people to listen to themselves."  We are all on common ground when it comes to living our greatest life.  It is the feeling we possess not the external success we are trying to achieve.

What are the blessings in your pain? Handicaps (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

     We all have strengths and we all have handicaps.  In Walking Through Illusion, Jesus is asked by the author, Thompson, if he knew anyone with a handicap.  His response can be taken in a physical sense or a spiritual one, "A real handicap was one that pushed a person to find the blessing beyond the pain."  He continues, people with a handicap are able to heal themselves if they are willing to see the bigger picture, the blessing.  Usually, it's our pain that pushes us to go farther and be better.  For example, in honor of breast cancer awareness month, it's Susan Komen's death that motivated her younger sister, Nancy, to begin the largest money raising, breast cancer awareness, research program in the world.  She was able to see through her pain into the blessing of her sister's handicap.
     Handicaps are the limits we place on ourselves. My handicap is my insecurity in relationships which has followed me into every one I've had.  Yes, I am the jealous type.  It limits me because when a situation is innocent I jump to wrong conclusions, sabotaging my relationship and bond I have put time and energy into creating.  I am given the best advice from Thompson's book;  to look inside your own heart when searching for love.  When I get triggered I can tell myself that I love me and that's good enough; to not worry; be confident that I am a capable woman that can stand alone if needed.
    Lastly, through Jesus' words Thompson reminds us to pay attention to our thoughts and to change the ones that are negative.  If I have a thought that, "All men cheat."  I can change that belief that, "Men are faithful."  I get to choose to change this anytime I want. What are the blessings in your pain?   What negative thoughts can you turn into positive thoughts that you truly believe?

The heart (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

    Kaleb, a business man portrayed in the Bible and in Thompson's book Walking Through Illusion, hoped to gain what everybody did from a talent they enjoyed, "...a heart full of love and contentment."  Instead, he was arrogant because of his talent and looked down upon his co-workers.  Eventually, Kaleb became very sick and bed-ridden.  Jesus came to his bed to talk.  After discussing many things (politics, work, family life) Jesus discovers what is wrong with Kaleb.  He says, "  ...you have the same thing wrong with you that we have wrong with us."  Kaleb thinks to himself, "They have heart conditions too?"  Then, Kaleb understood; "We all come here with heart conditions and we're all trying to heal them."  Kaleb then realizes that if everyone else has a heart condition just as he does then why is he in bed and they are standing up?  Kaleb, then, stands up and is healed of his "heart condition."   
     As in Kaleb's story, we have all gotten wrapped up in our own problems without realizing that we don't have to.  It's all a matter of perspective.  Kaleb just needed to be reminded of where he came from to return to it.  There are times when we get tunnel vision with work, our family, or our children and we can't see anything else.  There is a lot more to see out there besides our own perspective. 

Acceptance (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

"You can choose to see the love in your life or you can choose to see the opposite.  But if you have a choice, why not see the love?"  Betsy Otter Thompson

     In Thompson's dialogue with Jesus, she asks if his inner circle had a hard time accepting who he was when others were cruel to him.  He answers, "Especially when others were cruel.  Who needed acceptance when the world was full of love?  When it wasn't, that's when acceptance counted."  She goes on to explain how Thaddeus, from the Bible, was born with a stutter and many people did not accept him for this difference.  Judas particularly unaccepted Thaddeus.  Avoid Judas Thaddeus tried.  But Jesus makes the point that to avoid Judas was to not accept him.  Therefore, he was doing the same thing but in a different way than Judas.  Lastly, when having a hard time with not be accepted by others, look at your strengths instead of your weaknesses.  We all have weaknesses.  When we don't accept someone else we are not accepting ourselves.  The first step is to accept ourselves.  Good point Thompson!
    

What does complaining do to you? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

     We all complain.  Usually, when we complain its about something we want changed and don't like about someone or a situation.  Sometimes, it's something that we do to others and when it's done to us we don't like it.  Some examples could be complaining about someone being late to a meeting or someone not driving quick enough in front of you.  The ironic part is that we all have been late to a meeting and driven slow for some reason.  In my eyes, complaining only causes negative feelings in any situation.  There are two ways to approach a situation you don't like; complain or actively try to fix the situation.  There are always two sides to the coin and you can make the best out of any situation.  Complaining only brings yourself and others around you down.
     Thompson, in Walking Through Illusion, explains it best in her dialogue with Jesus, about his work fishing with Andrew, from the Bible.  Jesus wasn't the best at it and Andrew complained about it.  Jesus knew the truth that he wasn't a skilled fisherman and didn't take it personally.  After Andrew complained, he would feel very badly and always apologized.  Complaining usually results in negative feelings and even guilt afterward.  So, what's the point of complaining?

What type of advice is good? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

    Thompson starts out asking Jesus, in Walking Through Illusion, what type of advice was worthy of giving to others.  His response, "The kind I loved receiving."  Giving advice can be good or bad.  The key, explains Thompson, is that unsolicited advice is more of a distraction than a gift.  The advice we need is right in front of us.  If we suffer from something, it is only because we are telling ourselves to suffer, explains Thompson.  Lazarus, from the Bible, suffers in his life but he turns it around once he realizes that he doesn't have to.  He changes his perspective and suffering stops for him.  The best advice, is the advice you are giving yourself in every aspect of your life.  What you give out you get back.  If you want to receive more love, give more love.  If you want to laugh more, make other's laugh more.  If you want to suffer less, create less suffering for others.  Thompson sums it up best in the words of Jesus, "Your body follows wherever the mind takes it, so love the journey, appreciate the gift, and value the growth it offers.  There will never be another experience exactly like this one.  Honor your choices and believe in what they have taught you."

Who's Truth is the Right Truth? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

    The older (and wiser) I get, the more I realize that the truth is ever changing.  What I thought to be true turns out to be only my perspective from my experiences.  So, who's truth is the right truth?  Yours or mine?  Doubting Thomas, from the Bible, in Walking Through Illusion, complained that he was a victim of his parents.  He had a "poor me" attitude.  Since the truth is usually just your perspective (and you can change your perspective) he is told, "Instead of pinpointing all the ways these people have ruined your life, highlight all the ways they have pushed you to find a new one."  It is possible to change your old beliefs.
     When we do try to change, it won't be over night.  People will still treat us like we are our former selves with the same beliefs.  I used to be very judgmental of other people.  With all of my growth and working on myself I am not, as much, anymore.  I still come across people who expect me to be.  People may doubt your new truth but continue in your new beliefs.  Belief comes when action is taken, states Thompson.

Curiosity-What are we searching for? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

    The things in this world are fun to discover.  There are so many different curiosities to unfold.  Life should be enjoyable to discover all of it's treasures.  Thompson, in Walking Through Illusion, makes the powerful acknowledgment to find the love in each new adventure.  The love is the light which brings purpose and personal fulfillment to every new discovery.

"Faith can't be bought, bartered, or begotten.  It is the knowledge of who you are, why you are here, and how to enjoy that search."  Betsy Otter Thompson.

Why is life so unfair? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

     How fair are you?  Do you go out of your way to be fair?  John, from the Bible, struggled with fairness.  He didn't realize that he needed to love the people around him, not because they deserved to be loved but because he deserved to be loved, states Thompson in Walking Through Illusion.  Money was scarce for John.  He didn't think it was fair that he needed to work so hard to survive.  Jesus gives him very useful advice, to look at the benefits of his current state; that he has a job; he can help his family; his lowly status taught him lessons that the high-status people would never learn, "...that outward beauty shone briefly, while inner beauty lasted forever in the hearts of those who felt it."  John learned that fairness was already his.  As much as he gave out, he got back.
     Thompson is a strong advocate for realizing your mirrors in life and learning from them.  Your mirror is anyone and any event or situation in your life.  Whatever you are going through, look back at yourself and how the situation reflects your own attitude and actions in life.  

Is approval necessary? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

     Jesus says, in Walking Through Illusion, that, "To get approval, I had to give approval; especially to myself."  Another character in the Bible seeking approval was Mark, states Thompson.  He was on a mission to discover the answers to his questions.  As he traveled he looked for approval and acceptance.  He wanted to be distinct from others; special.  Mark discovers that approval comes from within.  That status in life doesn't make you worthy or not of approval.  He observed that although Jesus was just a carpenter he still pursued a life of travel and preaching to others.  Jesus wasn't waiting around to be someone.  He approved of himself and therefore others approved of him.
     I usually try to go out of my way to be nice to others so they will accept me.  If someone isn't as receptive of me as I hoped then my feelings get hurt.  I, too, am looking for approval and acceptance.  I'm learning, though, that not everyone will accept me.  We all come from such different backgrounds and teachings.  We are here to teach each other and it's okay if someone doesn't approve of me.  I am in the process of learning this.  As Thompson also struggled with approval she says that, "I knew that progress couldn't come from her [Thompson's mother]  approval; only from self-approval."

Opinions, They are yours only! (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

"Remember your first opinion?  Remember what happened to it?  Remember why it changed?  Every belief is meaningful until another one comes along to love you more."  Betsy Otter Thompson

     In Walking Through Illusion, there is a family conflict between two brothers, Seth and Matthew.  Seth has a bad opinion of his family and begins to spread his opinion to others.  Matthew, wanting to stop this, asks Jesus how.  Jesus' advice is to "Highlight his strengths instead of his weaknesses...and let the focus shift."  Matthew, reluctantly, followed Jesus' advice.  If he wanted Seth to stop saying negative remarks about their family, possibly, focusing on Seth's positive qualities instead of putting him down might change him around.  Why was he saying negative remarks about the family in the first place?  Maybe he wasn't getting the love he needed and therefore for formed a negative opinion.  To conclude, Seth did have qualities to be admonished by Matthew and Seth loved hearing them.  There was a turn around in their relationship.
     The point Thompson is making is to look at ourselves when things are not going the way we want them to.  If someone is talking mean about you, are you talking mean about them to other people?  Why not start finding the good in that person?  Possibly, you will be able to turn a situation around just like Matthew did with Seth.   Opinions are your own to change or not change as you will.  I changed a negative opinion about a girlfriend of mine into a positive one and we are now better friends; a friendship I enjoy very much.  Remember:  You can change your opinion.  You have the power.