Today’s Mandala Message: It’s Your Choice
This week I’m working through Principle #38 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Fuel Your Success with Passion and Enthusiasm”. I set my intention today to contemplate the power of choosing. Canfield shares: “You will discover that all of the things you feel like you have to do are really choices that you are making that serve some higher purpose. … Once you realize that these are choices you are making, you realize you can make one more choice, and that is the choice of your attitude. …Why not choose to do everything you do with joy and enthusiasm?”
Years ago I had a job I really despised. I would bitch and moan to my co-workers to no avail. One day a higher-ranking co-worker friend said to me “well then quit”; to which I said “I can’t quit. I’ve got bills to pay. And looking for another job was a hassle. blah blah blah”. I basically went into full victim mode.
She then suggested that every weekday morning I ask myself “what am I going to do today? … go into work or stay home or something else?” And regardless of my answer, I was to take full responsibility for my answer. If I decided to go into work, I was to remember that I chose to go into work, it was my choice. If anything happened at work that would normally irritate or bother me, I would remind myself that I chose to be there. If I decided to go someplace other than work, I was to remember that I chose that instead and that it was my choice.
In short order, this approach changed my whole perspective (and my life)…I went from being a victim to being empowered. Not long afterwards a new opportunity opened up at my work that propelled me onto amazing career path (at that time)…over a period of ~5 years I went from being a clerk typist at a small medical research facility to being a software engineer for a major defense industry corporation. I’m now on a completely different trajectory. 😁
A good mindfulness practice would be to remember that you have a choice.
So what about you? Do you sometimes feel trapped by your goal(s)? Do you know that you can change your perspective? Are you open to changing your attitude?
“It’s choice – not chance –
— Jean Nidetch
that determines your destiny.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 