One day about seven years ago I was on a walk to the library to return a book, while also on the phone with a Christian Science practitioner. I was crying and going on and on about my fears regarding a presentation I’d given, feeling completely unnerved by someone’s copious feedback. At one point, needing both hands to tie my shoe, I put the book on top of a six-foot stone wall. I didn’t realize the wall was rounded on top, and my book fell onto a private patio on the other side of the wall.

It was as if a switch had been flipped from “on” to “off.” I stopped fussing and told the practitioner I’d need to call her back. All my focus turned to retrieving the library book. This meant an athletic (and comical) feat of climbing a chain-link fence and walking on a flat-topped brick wall that led to the aforementioned rounded wall. Then I had to scoot along this surface until I was able to get down to a tree stump, grab the book, and retrace my steps. 

I was laughing at my antics during the whole thing and felt invigorated and triumphant afterward. Calling the practitioner back, still laughing, I thanked her for her prayers and said something like, “Talk about breaking the mesmerism—that sure got my attention!” I was completely free of the repetitive, worrisome self-absorption that had preceded the book drop. God, ever-present divine Mind, had made it impossible for me to continue to sink into a loop of discord. This was the first time the concept “breaking the mesmerism” clicked for me.