Life is Just a Bowl of Choices
Although the photo shows cherries, the topic is choices. One of the most challenging disciplines of my life has been to recognize that everything I think, feel or do is my choice. Initially I may have a thought that appears out of nowhere or wake up to a feeling of joy or being blue and I have had no time to process anything to create that; but immediately I have a fork in the road to consider as I become aware of those situations.
From finding out that my car insurance has gone up by 27% (welcome to California) to a good pal is coming to visit, I get to choose how to respond. From ordering lunch to ordering on Amazon, I have a choice. From being dismayed by the news to being moved by the people in the news; I have a choice. My choice may not be about the circumstances. In fact, the choice may be how to think about it all or to see beyond what appears to be happening to a deeper awareness. Regardless of what shows up, I have a choice….a power greater than I could possibly imagine and a freedom that defies what looks like “it just is the way it is”.
From liking someone to avoiding someone, I have a choice. From feeling afraid to extending love, I have a choice. From seeing myself as a victim, to seeing myself as blessed, I have a choice.
It looks like we don’t have a choice – before we can take a breath we hear ourselves saying…you made me feel….or you made me mad….or you make me crazy…when in truth, we had a series of neural connections that produced a gap…and in that gap is our power of choice. Yes it goes by fast…yes it would be so much easier if we could slow it way down…(well that would be a choice) so that we could see that fork in the road and perhaps take the one less traveled.
I repeat this thought because it is the key to the power we have in this life. It is demonstrated over and over – from Victor Frankl and Anne Frank to Christopher Reeves or Michael J Fox – choosing joy-choosing love…choosing forgiveness in the worst of times and in the best of times.
Come to terms with this and use this week to exercise your power….try to notice you are doing it in every moment and become intentional about what you choose in every moment.
And since its cherry season…have some of those yummy treats as well. It’s your choice.
