photo: David Goehring on flickr
What if there was a mantra that could solve all of your problems?
I’m talking every single one of your problems – from hangnail to divorce.
What if this mantra had the power to completely eviscerate everything you perceive as difficult, wrong, or totally-not-fair?
And shake up your life in the process.
You probably think such a mantra doesn’t exist, that I’m just blowing silly Goofball steam out of my silly Goofball ears.
Nope.
There is such a mantra, and I’m going to lay it on you right now:
Nothing is wrong.
That’s it.
Whatever is currently going on in your life, from the miniscule irritations to the big, fat serious problems, this mantra speaks to all of it.
All of it.
But wait, you say. I am the exception to this rule. In my case, something is really wrong. Really, really wrong. You don’t understand.
Oh, but I do.
I understand, and so does the mantra.
photo: z egloff
In order to make sense of this radical concept, you need to know a few things.
The first thing is that this mantra makes no sense. At least, not to the rational mind.
Most of us look at our lives and see problems. Or maybe we don’t have many problems, but we can still find things outside ourselves that are less-than-perfect: War. Global warming. Child abuse.
How can anyone look at these things and say that nothing is wrong?!
Well, the rational mind can’t. It’s impossible. To the rational mind, people getting hurt and abused is a problem. Clearly.
But this mantra isn’t about the rational mind. It goes beyond that.
You know those zen koans that make no sense? Like: What is the sound of one hand clapping?
photo: Mattias on flickr
“Nothing is wrong,” is in that category. It bumps up against the way our human brains see the world. It bumps up against the way our human brains see everything.
“Nothing is wrong” even bumps up against the way we spiritual types are taught to speak.
Anyone who’s taken Affirmations and Mantras 101 knows that you’re supposed to phrase your affirmations and mantras in the affirmative. You never put a word like wrong in a mantra. That’s just . . . wrong!
Of course, you could flip this phrase into the affirmative and say “Everything is perfect.”
But it doesn’t pack the same punch. And it doesn’t challenge our limited human understanding in the same way.
photo: Leo Hidalgo on flickr
Let me give you an example:
I have a friend who’s sick. Really sick. After years of treatments, the doctors are now saying he’s got a few months to live.
By all accounts, this doesn’t make any sense. He eats well, he exercises, he has a spiritual practice. He’s approached his illness with everything he has, including claiming and affirming the highest good for himself and his family.
And at this point, it looks like his “highest good” may involve leaving his physical body in the next few months.
But why? Why him?
He’s still so young. He has an amazing wife and two little kids under the age of five.
There’s no way he should be leaving now.
Needless to say, I’ve been feeling sad about this. Yes, I’m a hard core woo-woo person, and I believe that, ultimately, everything happens for a reason.
But the prospect of my friend dying?
It still sucks. It’s still really hard. Especially when I think about his two kids.
photo: Kevin Krejci on flickr
The other day, I was thinking about him and his family and I started to cry. For what he’s going through. For what his wife and kids are going through.
I let myself feel the grief and the craziness and the bigness of it all. As I did, the grief moved through me like an ocean. Like something so much bigger than me, I could barely contain it.
And that’s when I first heard it:
Nothing is wrong.
The mantra didn’t come from an airy-fairy place. Like “everything’s going to turn out fine in the end.”
No, it was speaking to exactly what my friend is going through right now. The sickness and the scariness and the difficulty of it all.
Nothing is wrong.
The mantra was telling me that all those things are going on, and nothing is wrong with any of it.
I couldn’t deny it because I could feel it in my bones. I could feel it in the bigger-than-me thing that was still holding me. Like the ocean.
photo: J. Triepke on flickr
I can’t explain this through rational means. I can come up with theories, and I do have some. Things like soul agreements made before we come into this lifetime. Experiences we decide to have on a deeper level.
But that’s not what the mantra was telling me.
The mantra was simply telling me that nothing is wrong. And I believed it.
I believed it because I could feel it.
It wasn’t a feeling like happiness. Or a feeling that resulted from wishful thinking. It was a feeling that transcended all of that.
Nothing is wrong completely altered how I see my friend and his family. It completely altered how I see everything.
And that’s why I wanted to share it with you.
I don’t know if it will be helpful.
I don’t know if it will make any sense. Though it’s not about making sense.
For what it’s worth, I wanted to put this radical little mantra out into cyber space. It came from somewhere beyond the material plane, so it makes sense to send it forth into similar territory.
Nothing is wrong.
That’s all, folks.
photo: JD on flickr
How do you feel about this mantra? Share your comments below!
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I can see how that mantra can be very useful depending on what kind of space i am in on any given subject. For me, the next step from “Nothing is wrong.” would be “All is well.”
Hi Mary,
Yes, “all is well” is another great one. Depending on the situation, it can be quite nifty. 🙂
XOZ
Love this, Z. Thank you! And agree with Mary’s statement — “All is Well” is one of my mantras. This also brings to mind the saying “What we resist persists.”
Hi Kelly,
I love it that “nothing is wrong” is sparking other sayings/mantras. The sayings/mantras talk to each other, and then something more is created from that. Very cool.
XOZ
“Nothing is Wrong” is a Major League mantra. Definitely not when I’m being a spiritual sissy. It is the Universe asking, “Do you believe in Divine Order or not?” At the highest level of my multi-storied mind this mantra rings crystal clear. However, in my bargain basement you will hear me yelling, “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” when something doesn’t go my way. Praise spirit that I have an “elevator” that I can use to get to a higher level of perspective/consciousness where nothing is wrong. I just have to remember the elevator and then get on. It’s folks like you who remind me to push the right button!
Hi Gary,
Yes, I can totally relate to the bargain basement “Fucks”! I LOVE your elevator analogy. Sooooooo true. Thank you!
XOZ
Love it. I believe this is what the Buddhists mean by Emptiness. Pretty heavy stuff.
I can’t even say anymore about it.
My Mind is Blown.
Hi Sherry,
Yes, I love that you bring in the quality of Emptiness. And yes, there’s really nothing more to say.
XOZ
Thanks Z! This is profound – and reminds me of the saying; everything is for you and never against you. No matter how bad, wrong, upsetting it may feel or look there is a deeper meaning going on. Today I am practicing seeing all my hardships as vehicles and opportunities for breaking out of whatever is holding me back from my greatness. One other comment, I love positive thinking and phrasing, however many times it is more powerful to me when it is phrased like what you presented today. My mind will argue with the positive affirmation, but with “Nothing is Wrong”, this phrase argues with my mind. My mind stops. THANKS
Hi Julie!
Thank you for reminding me of “everything is for you and nothing is against you.” Very similar in tone. And definitely bumps up against the aspect of the mind that wants to make trouble out of everything. Yee haw!!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
XOZ
A Radical AND Profound Concept! I LOVE IT!
Imagine living in a space of ‘nothing is wrong’ all the time. Imagine living in a space that feels like ‘home’…peacefully cradled in the arms of Spirit; free from stress, free from worry, free from the daily ‘stuff’ that causes us such anxiety. Free from all the turmoil in our lives. Free from the burden of it all! Sign me up!
Oh-oh, I feel the “bumping up against” coming up for me. Seriously, you want me to see through the lens of my experiences as though “nothing is wrong?” How does that look? How does that feel? How does it express itself? I honestly don’t know.
You offer a far-reaching challenge for some of us…look at life from a totally different perspective, one that confronts our sensibilities, and causes us to question what daily life brings into our experiences. Yet, the gift presented to us as we question and see life from an altered perception, is that we may experience a softening of our resistance to all that exasperates us, and see, hear, feel, and know for ourselves that “nothing is wrong.”
I am open to putting this mantra into play to see what shifts and changes unfold and blossom in my life. The ‘God bumps’ all over my body agree with this concept, so It’s In Play! I am open and receptive to “nothing is wrong” in my life! Let the unfolding and blossoming begin!
Thank You Z!
Bountiful Blessings,
Kat
Hi Kat,
I love this description of what it’s like for you to really sit with this mantra. Wow! So cool.
Ultimately, I can’t take credit for the mantra, as it just appeared in my head. But I’m really curious to hear about how it’s landing with other people. I love the way you are noticing all the different thoughts and feelings that come up in response to the wacky idea that Nothing is wrong. I hear you, sister!
Have fun with the unfolding and blossoming! And keep us posted. . .
XOZ
Thank you so much. This is so simple yet so profound.
Hi Linda,
You are welcome. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
XOZ
Hi Z!
You are awesome! Yet another great post! Thank you for sharing this story of your personal transformation. Wonderfully inspiring. What a beautiful gift your friend is bringing you.
I think “nothing is wrong” also applies on a mass consciousness level, too. I am talking about situations like climate change, weather catastrophes, terrorism, GMOs, violence, war, disease, child kidnapping, etc, (whoa, long list!). There is great suffering in this world. Can I apply “nothing is wrong” to the awareness of these situations, too? I think so, yes.
In fact when I do, I notice I feel better, just like you did. It doesn’t mean I am indifferent to the suffering, I just try to think of the bigger picture. Letting go of my fear and worry and anger always feels better.
Our spiritual community, Centers for Spiritual Living, carries as part of their vision for the world this statement: We see a world that works for everyone. I think that in the context of “nothing is wrong” we already have it.
Nothing is wrong, and nothing needs to be fixed. And yes, the solutions and resolutions do exist, and they WILL be realized. And then there is more.
Now here is the question. If Nothing is Wrong now, does that mean suffering will always exist? I think probably yes. If it works now in the bigger picture, why would that change?
While there is great suffering, there is also great good and wonderfulness and love and joy. I have a choice as to which of these I put my focus. And one of them feels much better than the other. Perhaps my own suffering, or not, ultimately is my choice.
Thanks again, my friend!
Annette
Hi Annette!!
So groovy to see you here.
So many great ideas here. I like your question at the end – will there always be suffering? I have heard different spiritual teachers answer this differently. IMHO, I think it depends on how you define “always.” I agree with you that it certainly seems to be playing an important role for us now. At least on the earth plane. And – who knows what other realms there are in which suffering may actually not exist and/or not be necessary. Who knows?! Not I, said the fly.
Thank you for all your awesome thoughts, and for providing some great questions. 🙂
XOZ
Got chills reading. And it is a very warm day. The chills come when something sinks in deep. Nothing is wrong. So good. So simple.
Hi Claire,
Oooooooh. Chills are good. Nothing is wrong – not even chills.
XOZ
It’s true, and a great reminder. Thanks, Z
You’re welcome, Jill!! 🙂
Love this reminder – thank you! And yes, I can feel an energetic difference between “Nothing is Wrong” and “All is Well”. When I say “All is Well”…my mind definitely has a “no it’s NOT!” response. With “Nothing is Wrong” – it actually feels more powerful and grounded. Fascinating! This blog post reminds me of one of my most beloved books – Radical Forgiveness which teaches that since nothing is wrong, THERE’S NOTHING TO FORGIVE! Such freedom and peace in that. Thank you ZZ!!
Hi Marcy,
I also love the ideas in Radical Forgiveness – there are definitely really similar to this mantra. Glad you liked it. And thanks for shout out to Radical Forgiveness – it’s really wonderful work! 🙂
XOZ
I love it. It puts life into perspective. Like right now a friend of mine is having an event and I wanted to support my friend AND I woke up with an upset stomach. So I told my friend I’m not going to go. I feel a bit guilty about not going because she supports me so much AND NOTHING IS WRONG. NOTHING IS WRONG with me choosing not to go AND NOTHING IS WRONG with my stomach being upset. Thank you Z! My condolences to you and your friend:)
Hi Sauda,
Thank you for your condolences. Yes, it is a tricky time.
And YAY to you for taking care of yourself! Nothing is wrong, indeed!!
XOZ
For sure, Z.
As Abraham-Hicks words it, “Nothing has gone wrong here.”
It’s such a great reminder when it SEEMS that a lot has gone wrong here and we’re stressing like the dickens about it.
Everything happens for a reason, and that reason is always the same: there have been long-standing habits of thought that brought it about.
And nothing has gone wrong when someone dies (croaks, in Abe parlance), because we’re all eternal beings and there really is no such thing as death.
Thanks for another fun and inspiring post!
Hi Karen,
Not a surprise that Abe also has an awesome comment along these lines!
I like their term “croak” as well. It really puts the whole thing into perspective.
Thanks for another fun and inspiring comment! 😉
XOZ