“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.
How do you know this is the experience you need?
Because this is the experience you are having at this moment.”
~ Eckhart Tolle
“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves.” - Mahatma Gandhi
A Moment of Choice
DailyOM
Timely: Definitely as this new year arrives I feel (and observe around me) the need for truth. Personal truth, Global truths…any and all. I feel the need to shed more of the facades that I have comfortably lived behind for such a long time. I also recognize in others that they are doing the same. Others are reacting to those around them doing this “Why are all these people acting like this towards me?”. Things like that. There is a new energy in 2008 (1/1/1) without a doubt and I think many are feeling it and processing it whether they consciously realize it or not. Peace.
There are times in our lives that lend themselves to starting something new. The beginning of a new year, finishing school, leaving a job, or changing homes—these all are times that turn our minds to fresh starts. Their advantage is that they bring with them the energy of that event, creating a tide of change around them that we can ride to our next shoreline. But we can choose to start anew anytime. In any moment we can decide that a bad day or a relationship that’s gotten off on the wrong foot can be started again. It is a mental shift that allows us to clean the slate and approach anything with fresh eyes, and we can make that choice at any time.
Starting new is most powerful when we focus our attention to what we are choosing to create. Giving all of our attention to the unwanted aspects of our lives allows what we resist to persist. We need to remember to leave enough room in the process of new beginnings to be kind to ourselves, because it takes time to become accustomed to anything new, no matter how much we like it. There is no need to get down on ourselves if we don’t reach our new goals instantly. Instead, we acknowledge the forward motion and choose to reset and start again, knowing that with each choice we learn, grow, and move forward.
Making the choice to start anew has its own energy—it’s a promise made to you. The forward momentum creates a sort of vacuum behind it, pulling toward you all you need to help you continue moving in your chosen direction. Once the journey has begun, it may take unexpected turns, but it never really ends. Like cycles in nature, there are periods of obvious growth and periods of dormancy that signal a time of waiting for the right moment to burst forth. Each time we choose to start anew we dedicate ourselves to becoming the best we are able to be.
Take a look at your shoes. What reasons did you have for buying them? Was it the style or color? Or maybe the price was right. Regardless, there’s a good chance you bought them because you were convinced you would feel better once you owned those shoes.
Think about all the choices we make: the new job; the new cell phone; last night’s dessert; next summer’s vacation. Each choice represents a missing piece in our quest for happiness.
We all want to feel better more often. It’s what motivates us to do just about everything. Whether it’s the latest style, a tropical beach or a piece of chocolate, we’re telling ourselves that when we have it, we will feel better.
Trouble is the feeling is often fleeting. Very soon we’re on to the next ‘must have’ on the list. This is the one. This one will do it. How long is your list?
If you want to feel better more often, then feel better more often. Sound too simple? Well, the truth is you create the feeling; not the sunset, not the perfect boss and certainly not another pair of shoes. When you feel better first you get what you want first! Then something happens to your choices. They become ‘add ons’ rather than ‘must haves’. And you may be surprised to find out you really don’t need those shoes!
My wish for you this holiday season is that you discover how to create the feelings you want inside yourself and find your own peace on earth!
