Today’s question comes from my community as a whole.
I’ve been asked this question over and over again. It finally felt like time to go all in on the topic, as it relates significantly to the ultimate goal of the Course: moving away the blocks to Loves presence.
🎧Click here to hear the audio version.
Here is what my community has asked:
QUESTION:
“I don’t think I really understand what an illusion is? Can you help me?”
This is such a beautiful and absolutely brilliant question to be asking.
False thinking and illusions are foundational and important to understand.
Because if we want peace…
if we want to know our purpose…
if we want to live in joy…
if we want to see a world beyond the one we think we’re living in…
Then we have to clear away illusions. We have to clear away false thinking.
And the very first step in doing that is education—truly understanding what illusions and false thinking actually are.
Why Understanding Illusions Is the First Step to Peace
MY ANSWER:
This isn’t about fixing our thoughts.
It’s about noticing which thoughts are false—so we can choose our true thoughts instead.
We must do this, because false thoughts block our true thoughts. And they keep us feeling miserable…always grasping for peace that seems just out of reach.
I’m going to simplify illusions and false thinking for you, and help you recognize them when they show up—so you know exactly what to do and how to begin the correction process right away.
What’s Actually Running The Show In My Mind?
Right off the bat, here’s something important to know:
You cannot undo false thinking until you recognize it.
Until you recognize it, false thinking runs the show.
It speaks loudly. It speaks first.
False thinking is made up of conditioned thoughts—the mental model through which we see the world.
That’s why A Course in Miracles tells us, “I see only the past.”
It’s reminding us that the filter we’re using to perceive life comes from the past—not from the present moment.
Most of the time, we’re not actually thinking. We’re remembering.
We recycle old mental loops—often rooted in fear, separation, and ego—and we call them thoughts.
Why Do These Thoughts Feel So Real Then?
Here’s the tricky part: these thoughts feel familiar, so we trust them.
But they aren’t true.
They’re illusions—because they were never created by God.
Every human being has an ego. We all think with ego first. This isn’t about guilt.
It doesn’t mean you’re failing spiritually.
It simply means we’re learning how to discern between truth and illusion, so we can finally be free.
What Is An illusion?
In A Course in Miracles, an illusion is any thought, feeling, or experience that does not come from love—that does not come from God.
This includes fear, guilt, judgment, anxiety, shame, lack, disbelief…and even the belief that you are just a body, or that the world defines who you are.
Illusions aren’t just ideas. They’re a lens.
We see through them.
We feel through them.
We react through them.
And the ego loves it—because it keeps you under its control without you even realizing it.
What’s the Most Important Thing to Know About Illusions?
But here’s the truth:
Illusions have no power unless you agree with them.
They aren’t real. They’re projections of the mind.
And while this lens of illusion is one way of seeing, it is not the only way.
There is another lens—one of clarity and truth.
But before we can see through it, we must learn to recognize illusion when it’s happening.
How Can I Spot An Illusion In Real Time?
So here’s how to begin. Start by paying attention to how you feel.
Do you feel heavy?
Rushed?
Anxious?
Afraid of the future—or stuck in the past?
That energetic frequency is the ego.
Some helpful questions to ask yourself are:
- Am I believing something outside of me is taking my peace?
- Am I judging myself or someone else?
- Am I replaying a past memory on repeat?
- Do I feel defensive, disconnected, or not at peace?
Why Are My Emotions Trying to Help Me?
When we ask these questions honestly, we gain awareness.
And awareness invites choice.
When ego patterns show up, they often show up as emotion in the body.
That’s not a punishment—it’s a signal.
In that moment, we’re asked to pause…become open…and choose again.
Because the Course tells us that the mind can be right or wrong depending on the voice it listens to.
What Do I Do Instead Of Beating Myself Up?
If we notice we’re listening to ego, we pause and ask for right perception instead.
No guilt. No shame.
Just curiosity and willingness.
We begin to take responsibility for our thoughts, our feelings, and our interpretations—so real transformation can occur from the inside out.
Do I Really Need to Fight This Thought?
We don’t need to fight illusions.
We simply need to see them, acknowledge them, and hand them over:
Use this thought instead:
“I don’t want this anymore. I want to see something different.”
That’s when the Holy Spirit can help—because we’re no longer clinging to the illusion.
What Does This Look Like in Real Life?
I recently saw a beautiful example of this in the comments of my YouTube video.
A woman shared how she went to the grocery store and couldn’t find what she needed.
Instead of getting frustrated, she paused.
She chose not to follow her ego conditioning. She asked the Holy Spirit for help—
and moments later, the shelves were stocked with exactly what she needed.
It’s a simple example, but a powerful one.
Can You Lay Out The Exact Steps For Me?
So here are four simple steps you can use throughout your day:
First: Notice
“Oh—there’s the illusion.”
Second: Name it
“I’m seeing with fear. I choose love instead.”
Third: Hand it over
“Holy Spirit, I need your help.”
And fourth: Breathe
Make space for truth to enter.
Why Does Practicing Build Trust?
This is how false perception becomes true vision.
This is how trust grows—through practice. You don’t have to get rid of false thinking today. Just be willing to see it.
That willingness creates space. And in that space… miracles happen.
So my friends, be patient with yourself.
Practice gently. I believe in you.
This Sunday, I’ll be releasing a new video on recognizing your real thoughts—the thoughts you think with God.
Until then, remember:
Miracles are always available now. We simply have to ask—and allow ourselves to receive.
Do You Offer More?
If you’re feeling ready for deeper transformation, I want to invite you to my Tuesday Textbook Study Group.
It’s a free weekly class and a powerful training in the Course—while also introducing spiritual therapy.
This space tends to be especially helpful for three kinds of people:
First, A Course in Miracles students who want to truly integrate the teachings.
And second, spiritual people who’ve been on the path for a long time, but are now ready for real inner peace and to live their soul’s true purpose.
It’s also for those who are letting go of religiosity who want to release guilt, fear, and shame but still love Jesus and feel a deep desire to know the truth and be free.
We all come together here in the same sacred space, because we’re headed in the same direction: toward truth.
And that means learning how to let go of illusions and false thinking so we can truly arrive.
📖 Order A Course In Miracles Here
Wishing you a beautiful, blessed weekend and week ahead.
May peace and love guide you on your journey. 💖
If this message resonated with you, feel free to share it with others.
Much love to you, Beautiful Soul. ✌️
Britney
>>> If you find this topic interesting, click here, to watch this YouTube video I posted!
P.S. ASK ME ANYTHING: If you have any questions or need clarity about A Course In Miracles, I’m here to help! Simply submit your question through this form.