Reflection

When we refuse to see what is, and only see things as we wish them to be or as we think they should be, we disable ourselves from interacting effectively with life. In such states, we are in states of resistance, stress, and suffering. We think problems are outside of ourselves and we may view ourselves as victims. We relinquish our personal creative power and miss the opportunities to engage with life via effective and empowered action.

Life is here and now in the form that it is. No amount of denial or ignorance will make it any other way. If we are to move forward and liberate ourselves from our own stagnation and suffering, we must accept the truth of what is in this present moment.

Each day we make choices. Choices that either empower our state of being or disempower it. Choices that lead to growth, joy, and happiness or choices that lead to states of unease, disease, and unhappiness. What do you choose each day?

Each one of us can live a life based on inner peace, regardless of our circumstances. Each one of us has the ability to accept joy in our lives. However, what we decide is based greatly on how we choose to see things. Your perspective of the events you experience makes the difference between a good day or a bad day.

Ultimately, we all have choices with which to shape and carve our life to our liking. Yes, some people’s choices offer a wide range of options, while others a much narrower one; but still, there are always choices. If you are stuck in a life that does not bring you joy, happiness, and bliss, I invite you to reflect today on the choices you are making.

How could a change in perspective improve your situation?

How are the words you use and the stories that you tell yourself and others daily contributing to your circumstances?

There is no one right answer. Each one of us has the choice to walk down many paths. Each path presents its own challenges, joy, and suffering. Each path is a reflection of our choices.

Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.

Joseph Campbell

Have the Courage To Question Your Journey

We all know some­one who is doing some­thing that they are not happy doing. At one time or another, that some­one is us. And while there are times we must do things we do not enjoy - it is a part of life, after all - the key is not to let these things become chronic. Whether it is your work, rela­tion­ships, or habits, you cannot live a life of value, joy, and inner peace without being aware of what you are doing and why.

If you are in a workplace or relationship that is causing you mental, emotional, and/or physical anguish, can you start by bringing awareness to what is holding you there and holding you back from moving forward? Most of us think that “we just have to - we have no other choice,” but the truth of the matter is that there is always another choice. We may not be able to see it or we may not be willing to exercise it, but there is always a choice in what we do, who we do it with, and how long we do it for.

Do you really think that this mag­nif­i­cent being that you are, who was gifted with powerful mind, has no choice?

If we step back for a moment and think of our­selves as the phys­i­cal beings we are experiencing ourselves as right now, we can come to realize that what we “really have to do” only includes a very small num­ber of things that deal with our basic survival and proper function of the human body. Eating, drinking, resting, moving, and eliminating are all essential as part of being a living organism. However, when it comes to other tasks, like working, socializing, shopping, consuming, or creating, all these are variable and have much flexibility built into them. For example, you don’t have to drive a certain car or shop or dine at a specific place - these are the choices you make that shape your life and create your life story.

So we come back to the original ques­tion: What do you choose each day?

Spir­i­tual teach­ers through the ages have tried to teach us to look within and examine our choices. As long as we follow the crowd blindly or live on auto-pilot going through the motions of what we think we “should” be doing, then our lives will never feel satisfactory. Your life story means that you must choose with conscious awareness what is actually right for you. Don’t pick a job or career field that your parents want for you, if it is not what you actually want to do because you will be miserable. Don’t have kids because you think your biological clock is ticking or that it will make your partner want to stay with you because it will lead to a very difficult life for you and the child/ren. Don’t follow trends that go against your moral or ethical values because it will destroy you from within. Don’t choose against yourself.

The key to successful life creation is conscious life creation. It is only through awareness and conscious action that you can create a life that is full of inner peace, joy, gratitude, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Consdier the following major areas of life:

Your Job – you chose it. No mat­ter your edu­ca­tion or your finan­cial sit­u­a­tion – when you signed that con­tract, that was you exer­cis­ing your free will and say­ing yes. If it stopped bring­ing you wellbeing, choose again. There is a sea of choices out there; allow your­self to look and see them. And if you really, really feel that you “just can’t leave” for whatever reason — you still always have the choice to change your per­spec­tive about your situation to experience a better state of being.

Your Partner – you chose them. Unless you had a pre-arranged mar­riage, which even then some­one can argue there is still choice, you chose your partner. If things changed over the months or years you have been together and the relationship has become unsalvagable, you still have choices at every step of the way in how you want to pro­ceed. No one has to be stuck in a rela­tion­ship that does not bring them wellbeing — not for money, not for fam­ily, not for anything.

Your Kids – you chose to have them. Even if they were unplanned, unless you were assaulted, you chose to engage in sexual behav­ior where the result has the potential of creating new life. Yes, having children comes with certain responsibilities and duties. However, be mindful of not getting caught up in false “have to’s” if you have children. While you have to feed them, you do not have to buy them the latest toy or gadget. You have the choice to teach your children how to create a beautiful life based on nature, spirituality, and creativity through music or art versus teaching your children to be addicted to things like food, material items, and self-worship.

No mat­ter what our circumstances are, at every step of the way, every sin­gle day we can choose to create a life based on joy, gratitude, and inner peace, or not. It starts with how you look at things, how you choose to see things, how you com­mu­ni­cate, how much love you have for your­self, your life, and oth­ers, and so much more!

The Courage To Choose Bliss No Matter What

I know many of us have fears that hold us back from doing or being what we love, but when we overcome those fears, not even the sky is the limit. In other words, your hap­pi­ness is limitless. The Uni­verse truly does open doors, as Joseph Campbell shared, where we thought there were only walls when we fol­low our bliss, trust, and learn to let go of the illusory “have to’s”. I see this in my life on almost a daily basis.

There is not a moment to waste. Look at your life today to exam­ine your choices.

• What are you doing that is destroying the quality of your life? Ask your­self, why are you doing it? How can you change it? How can you choose to see it differently if you really cannot change it?

Life is pre­cious, and it goes by very fast. Live it with no regrets. Any sit­u­a­tion, even the grimmest and most difficult can be a teaching opportunity for us to learn how to cultivate more awareness, acceptance, and understanding. There are numer­ous exam­ples of peo­ple around us to show us that there is another way – a way to choose happiness no mat­ter what. As an inspirational example, take Dan Caro. At the age of 2, Dan was almost burned alive. He survived, and as an individual with no hands, he is an excep­tional drum player who is a tri­umphant exam­ple of how excuses do not have to hold us back from any­thing. We can choose a positive state of being no mat­ter what!

Quote

Mindfulness opens the door to acceptance.
Acceptance reflects a state of presence.
Presence reveals the truth of life.

Evita Ochel