The thoughts holding us back are excuses to remain as a victim to the ego. That is not what the Course is teaching us. It is teaching us freedom from what we made by way of the ego's thought system. We have heaven's help to assist us-that is a given. As it says in ACIM, "In me you have already overcome every temptation that would hold you back. We walk together on the way to quietness that is the gift of God."