There seems to be a theme of follow-through from one day to the next with one post after another in this year's Advent calendar - a bit of serendipity if you like, to prove to even me that there always is that bit of hope... Today's topic of CHOICES then follows from my previous post about the book "A man's search for meaning" with wise words from the author Viktor Frankl below:
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to CHOOSE one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to CHOOSE one's own way."
I will be the first to acknowledge that the idea of everyone having the freedom of choice is a contentious issues - no one chooses to have a terminal illness or to be born in poverty. Again this can be up for debate based on your spiritual and religious beliefs. The topic of choice then in this context is in its purest, most basic definition of the "act of choosing between two or more possibilities." We've heard the quotes - from "whatever you not changing, you are choosing" to "life is a series of choices" to "you are your choices" to "life is the sum of all your choices"... Upon reflection, one realises that there are certain basic truths to these words. The tool and power of CHOICE is something that truly does have the ability to change our life and circumstances around you in my opinion.
Yes - you can't choose the environment of family you're born into, but we can certainly choose how we respond. When we take the word down to it's most basic level as I've said above, we start realising that little by little - one thing, one step, one action at a time - can lead to incremental then massive changes in our lives.
CHOOSING to say NO for instance, whether to safeguard your own sanity or just give yourself a bit of TLC can lead to little boundaries and then to larger and more definitive ones. Choosing to sleep in or not, to say yes or no, or eating that cake or not, going to gym or not... those little things are things that can be the beginning of "the something amazing" for you! So do it... take that one step. That ONE decision. That ONE CHOICE that makes that difference for the rest of your life.
Since my dad's passing now 4 months ago, I myself have had to make some very critical choices... yes or no? Continue contracts or not? Renew leases or not? Sell properties or not? And so the list goes on... as overwhelming as this first once was a few months ago when I was faced with a barrage of choices and decisions, I realised that ONE choice, ONE decision at a time was all that I had the capacity to do... So today, I encourage you to make that first choice. That ONE choice that could set you on your road to the rest of your life. It may not be your dream choice, but it doesn't mean that you're giving up on your dream, or that you're not just being rational and logical in the here and now... but ONE choice, one decision, one thing at a time is all that we can do...
As testament to this, the below excerpt shows just how CHOICE is one of the most powerful tools we have...
As a last last last - in the words of Nelson Mandela, "May your CHOICES reflect your HOPES not your fears". How apt in the context of what I've written, and in the spirit and theme of hope. May you always be driven by hope. May you always realise and embrace and be grateful for the gift of CHOICE, and may it always steer you in the direction of your "highest excitement" as one of my very dear friends have taught me (another post on this to follow, I promise ✨)..
So I think I've overexerted my word quota for the day (as a cheat you may have noticed that I bulked 2 days into 1!..lol!).. but till tomorrow then, be gentle, kind and understanding to you and all that you need right now.
Much love always, Poonam
8 December 2022
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