Pain Or Joy: A Choice?
On the surface, pain or joy doesn’t seem to be a choice, but in the vast majority of instances it is. Of course we can’t prevent the physical pain that occurs when our bodies stop functioning in the way they … Continued
Choice: Why? or Why not?
When faced with a choice, what’s your natural approach: do you see the reasons why to move forward or the reasons why not to move ahead? One of the things I find interesting is how differently people react to choices … Continued
Personal Dispositions: Windowpanes to the World?
Fulton Sheen, theologian, said “Our personal dispositions are as windowpanes through which we see the world as either rosy or dull. The way we color the glasses we wear is the way the world seems to us.” Personal dispositions To … Continued
Two Faces Of Acceptance
Acceptance has two forms: perseverance and resignation. The distinction has a powerful impact on your ability to live life fully. Perseverant acceptance There is a form of acceptance in which we acknowledge what exists while continuing pursuit of what we … Continued
Ego, Pain & Choice
I’ve often said that much of the pain we experience, emotionally and physically, is triggered by our ego…focusing too heavily upon ourselves and too little on others. This insight was recently driven home eloquently when I watched The ThornBirds (opens … Continued
Control and Choice
Some of the greatest frustration we experience in life comes from our desire to control. We want to control our destinies. At times, we desire to control others’ behaviors. In reality, the only control we have is over the choices … Continued
Free Choice: A Myth?
‘Free” choice is a myth. Every choice we make has a cost associated with it. At the very least, that cost is what we’ve foregone in the choice we’ve made. At the other end of the spectrum, the cost of … Continued
Outcomes and Expectations: A matter of perspective?
I teach people to let go of the outcome, that they can be happy regardless of whether their expectations were met or not. How does that jive with the expectations and accountability that we employ in dealing with others? The … Continued
Change Your Energy, Change Your Environment
When you’re not happy with your environment, you have two choices…leave or change your energy. What prompted this insight was a recent restaurant experience. Bad experience or opportunity My wife and I had received less than stellar service from our … Continued
Avoiding frustration
I attended a meeting of people involved in mentoring high school students. The mentors were becoming frustrated with the kids because they weren’t following instructions. My caveat to them “You can’t care more than the kids do.” The right to … Continued