Mindlessness in A Course in Miracles (ACIM) means so much more than not paying attention. Since we are choosing all the time, being mindless is agreeing with the miscreations of the ego thought system to focus on the projected forms of the world as reality instead of the mind as the cause. It is avoidance of admitting the choice we are really making which is to deny Love, God and Truth by pretending we don't see how we are choosing, or that we are unable to choose differently (helpless).

ACIM is all about content, or the mind, you are using for the cause; and cause is what you are choosing, or agreeing with, in the mind. You see the corresponding effect once you do that. Forms are the behaviors and things projected into the world as miscreations made by the ego, i. e., they are merely judgments from agreeing with the ego mind as cause.

Forms are mindlessness which leads to helplessness. The natural progression is into projected passive-aggressive behaviors to handle situations.

Mindless:

The definition of mindless is, "Acting or done without justification or concern for the consequences. " In other words, you behave like you don't have any idea what you are doing and there's no choice.

Let's be clear: It is agreeing with the ego that you are a helpless victim of forms (effects of the ego) acim  and there's nothing you can do but modify behaviors. You are choosing both the "right" and "wrong" ego mind perception which is agreeing with error and using error to correct error.

Helpless

The definition of 'helpless' is, "Unable to defend oneself or act without help, " and it plays out like this:

Help: Mindlessness is choosing (agreeing to) the ego's help as you focus on forms instead of content. You're at the mercy of ego conditions, must choose among them for experiences, and see no way out (helpless).

Defense: When you try to solve form problems within form, instead of giving them up for correction of the mind, the only ego solution is attack. All attack is meant to defend (protect) the ego's errors, i. e., agree with them by joining them which is projection.

Passive-Aggressive

Passive-aggressive thoughts and behaviors are the ego's solution to this mindless helplessness. It is a way to feel more powerful and in control of the world.

Most consider war an aggressive attack. Passive is also an attack or a denial of Love because it is agreeing with ego conditions (errors) and projecting those onto another. Because it is so covert, it is harder to recognize until you decide you've had enough, bring it into the light and look at it.

Ego Wrong Mind:
Fear
Overt Attacks (blatant and obvious)
Aggressive
Mindless
Helpless
Victimizer

Ego Right Mind:
Guilt
Covert Attacks (concealed and hidden)
Passive
Mindless
Helpless
Victim

Through guilt (shame and embarrassment), we've been taught not to express anger because it's wrong. Also, we have a fear of punishment for sins (things we consider wrong). This leads straight to passive thoughts and behaviors and vacillation between those and aggressiveness.

Aggressive is: "Readily or likely to attack or confront. "

Passive is: "Accepting or allowing what others do without active response or resistance. "

Passive is the covert (concealed and hidden) adaptive "anger behind the scenes" victim attack. Here's some ways the ego's judgments attack in response to the no-way-out scenario of forms:

Avoidance - ignore - evade - procrastinate - obstruct - non-communication - competition fears - being ambiguous - sulking - tardiness - chronic forgetfulness - fear of intimacy - fear of dependency - making excuses - resentfulness - irritability - cynical or hostile attitude - sullen - victim and victimizer - self-pity - blaming - withholding - learned helplessness

Helplessness is asking error to solve error. The ego's answer to that is even more feelings of insecurity, mistrust, lack of truthfulness, resentment, all negative feelings and making enemies. It's only a matter of time until aggression takes over.

Forgiveness to Destroy

Let's bring in our continuing discussion of forgiveness to destroy. If you think you are not using any of these aspects, you might want to reconsider because we all do. In ACIM, this world was made by us because we thought we could do "better than" God and His Love. The ego's projections (attacks) are to place your sin, guilt and fear seemingly outside yourself so you can feel like you're better than another.

Better than you: Passive covert victim is (a) the fear of competition because someone else might be better and, (b) because they have no choice (mindless). Aggressive overt victimizer is (c) passive or aggressive attacks to hurt another. You're here because you thought you could do better; and all projections (which is everything) are so you can feel better than someone else (separation).

Same as you: Passive covert victim is (a) agreeing with these inescapable and mindless ego forms and conditions. Aggressive overt victimizer is (b) using passive or aggressive attacks to hurt another. You're the same in sin (error) and the only way to correct error (forms) is to agree with error (mindless).

Martyr: Passive covert victim is (a) being a victim of the behaviors done to them. Aggressive overt victimizer is (b) using passive attacks to hurt another, i. e., the tirade of angry thoughts judging the victimizer's sins. You absolutely agree that error (sin) is real, must be judged and punished with death.

Bargaining and compromise: Passive covert victim is (a) because you just agreed (bargained) with the ego's errors for help. Aggressive overt victimizer is (b) using passive or aggressive compromise to remedy the behaviors from the broken bargains. You're a slave to the ego's help because you agree this is a mindless (form) world, no way out; and you have to handle situations by modifying behaviors (bargain and compromise) within error.

Power to Decide

We don't see we have the power to decide until we stop focusing on form conditions of the ego (behaviors and things) and go inward. Real change is only in the mind and that is where you will find the solution.

The power of our ability to choose lies in where we are choosing in the split mind. Ego says the choice is between its own aspects (ego right and wrong mind), which is a choice within the illusion. Really, the strength lies in choosing to give up all aspects of the illusion in favor of the truth (Love). The Course is aimed at the decision maker for this purpose.

In ACIM, it says that all of our misery comes from the belief that we are powerless; and that being helpless is the cost of choosing to agree with sin as the truth about ourselves. Helplessness (effect or condition of sin) is merely a form of attack which is a denial of the real Truth that you are a sinless mind and have the ability and strength to choose differently at any moment.

Deciding to believe (agree) in helplessness also leads to believing you are not the Son of God and are therefore His enemy and attack is necessary. Helplessness and victimization attacks (projections) serve to keep the hate going so you feel like you can control and rule the world. Also, in a strange ego twist, if you are not willing to attack, you are an enemy of the ego because you're not accepting its interpretation of salvation and might actually choose out of the system and remember God (its biggest fear).

Listening and agreeing with the ego has projected a world of sin for perception through the body. By going out of forms and back into the mind, we can perceive (see) through the vision of the Holy Spirit where this world as a simply denial of Love, no error has occurred, nothing has happened and it's not real. The idea came from us (Source) in the mind and we can decide to give it up.

Creation is Love and that is what is real. So you "see, " denying forms and going back into the mind exchanges helplessness for strength in the mind to choose differently. That is choosing again. The ego's difference is separation and covertly choosing between its errors.

In Love, happiness is a constant which never changes because when we choose Love, we are choosing the changeless. Our desire is considered the necessary proof of our ability to choose again (differently). To not to be helpless and mindless any more, give up the desire to be that way and change you mind. That's all we need to do.