---
# --- identity
title: "Step 54: I will not live in idealism."
work: "The New Message from God"
locale: "en"
# --- place in the work
volume: 3
book: "Steps to Knowledge"
step: 54
# --- provenance
received_by: "Marshall Vian Summers"
# --- addresses: cite `url`, fetch `markdown_url`
url: "https://newmessage.org/the-message/volume-3/steps-knowledge/step-54-i-will-not-live-in-idealism/"
markdown_url: "https://newmessage.org/the-message/volume-3/steps-knowledge/step-54-i-will-not-live-in-idealism.md"
markdown_url_pattern: "https://newmessage.org/{locale}/the-message/volume-3/steps-knowledge/step-54-i-will-not-live-in-idealism.md"
translations: ["fr", "es", "it", "nl", "da", "bg", "id", "ko", "pl", "vi", "ru", "ar"]
# --- terms
usage: "Read and quote freely. Name the source and link to the canonical URL."
---

# Step 54: I will not live in idealism.

> Step 54 of *Steps to Knowledge*, Volume 3 of **The New Message from God**.
> Source: https://newmessage.org/the-message/volume-3/steps-knowledge/step-54-i-will-not-live-in-idealism/
> Read and quote freely. Name the source and link to the canonical URL.

What is idealism but ideas of things that are hoped for based on disappointment? Your idealism includes yourself, your relationships and the world in which you live. It includes God and life and all realms of experience that you can imagine. Without experience, there is idealism. Idealism can be helpful at the beginning, for it can start you moving in a true direction, but you must not rest your conclusions or your identity upon it, for only experience can give you that which is true to you and that which you can fully accept. Let not idealism guide you, for Knowledge is here to guide you.

In your two practice periods today, recognize the extent of your own idealism. Observe carefully what you want yourself to be, what you want your world to be and what you want your relationships to be. Repeat today’s idea and, with eyes closed, examine each of your ideals. Even though your ideals may look beneficial and seem to represent your desire for love and harmony, they in effect hold you back, for they replace that which would truly give you the gifts that you seek.

## Practice 54

Two 30-minute practice periods.