Some people react when I use the word "negative," as if it's negative to use it! Ah the limits of language… So I'd like to clarify what I mean by negative. By using these words, "negative" and "positive," I'm distinguishing between something that causes us to contract (negative) and something that causes us to relax and feel at peace (positive). So when I'm talking about a negative thought, I'm referring to any idea or belief that causes us to feel contracted, unhappy, and small or that stimulates feelings that cause us to feel contracted, unhappy, and small.

The reason for using the words "positive" and "negative" is that it's useful to realize that some thoughts are truer than others. Thoughts that are truer don't cause us to contract and feel bad, but enable us to relax and fall into our essential Self, which is at peace with life and from which love naturally flows. Isn't that a wonderful and amazing thing that a true thought makes us relax and feel good! What if it were the opposite? This world would truly be one of suffering. But when thoughts that make us feel good, at peace, and loving are actually the truth… well that's a world I can easily celebrate.

The funny thing is that the ego, which is the producer of negative thoughts and feelings, doesn't believe that THE TRUTH IS WHATEVER MAKES US FEEL AT PEACE. It believes its own negativity to be true—it believes that thoughts that make us feel bad are true. Because what isn't true feels true, I've often said this is an upside down world. But it's only an upside down world if you're identified with the ego. Then, you believe the ego's false perceptions. If you aren't identified with the ego, the truth is plain enough: You can trust whatever idea or belief causes you to relax and feel at peace with life.

Once you see the truth (that true thoughts are the ones that bring us Home, not to Hell), it's a beautiful world full of goodness, peace, beauty, and support. What ideas are making you feel bad? Guess what—they aren't true! What great news. Now you can forget about them and get on with experiencing this beautiful moment.