By Gonny (Inspired by A Course in Miracles)
Why is this happening to me?
Illness often feels like it strikes out of nowhere. One moment you’re fine, and the next, you’re dealing with discomfort or pain. We’ve been taught to see illness as an external attack, something that happens to us without our control. But A Course in Miracles offers another perspective: nothing happens by chance, and everything we experience has an inner cause.
This doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. It means illness can be seen as an opportunity—an invitation to choose again.
When your body doesn’t cooperate, you can ask yourself: “What is this situation showing me?” Not with guilt or self-criticism, but with curiosity. Illness is not a punishment, nor a test you have to endure. It’s a chance to explore:
• Where am I holding on to stress or fear?
• What can I release to be more at peace?
• How can I respond to this with love?
Instead of asking why illness?….we can focus on what it can teach us about how we relate to ourselves and the world.
Even though ACIM teaches that illness is an illusion, it often feels very real to us. The body demands attention, and it’s important to respond to that lovingly. Caring for your body is not a failure; it’s a way to honor the illusion while knowing it’s not your ultimate truth.
For example, if you have a bladder infection, you can take practical steps to address the symptoms (like drinking water, taking probiotica and cranberry, or visiting a doctor) while inwardly reminding yourself: “I am not a body. I am free.”
Illness often feels like an unexpected twist, as if it sneaks up on us. But according to ACIM, nothing is truly random. This doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong or that you’re “to blame” for being ill. On the contrary, it’s an opportunity to become aware of old thoughts or beliefs you may be holding onto unconsciously.
Sometimes, illness is simply a way for the ego to grab your attention and convince you of your vulnerability and separateness. But you can choose to see it differently—not as an enemy, but as an opportunity to look at yourself anew.
What can I do with this?
When you’re unwell, you can lovingly invite yourself to:
1. Acknowledge what you feel without judgment: “I feel discomfort, and that’s okay.”
2. Remember your truth: “This does not define me. I am Spirit, free and whole.”
3. Ask for guidance: “Holy Spirit, help me see this through the eyes of love.”
It’s not always for us to know why illness arises, but we can choose how we respond to it. By bringing love and gentleness to the experience, we shift our perception.
Sometimes, humor can be a bridge to love. Have you ever thought of your body as a loyal dog responding to your inner world? It tries, in its own clumsy way, to show you something. Imagine it gently saying: “Take a break, drink some water, and don’t forget you are eternal peace.”
Maybe you can even smile at the situation: “There goes my ego again, trying to make me believe I am just a body. But I know better.”
True healing is not the same as the disappearance of symptoms. Healing is the shift from fear to love, from separation to connection. Every time you choose to see illness as an opportunity to be kind to yourself, you are engaged in healing.
So, instead of asking why you’ve become ill, try asking:
“How can I use this moment to choose love?”
That is the real invitation of illness: to remember the truth of who you truly are.