|
| |
|
| |
![]() |
Tips for Stress free life > Expert Zone > Inspirational Inspirational Tips by experts |
|
|
|
|
Have You Voted Today
Huh? You're probably wondering when this article was written, and probably thinking that this article is about a recent election. Well, it is and, it isn't. Webster's Dictionary defines voting, in part, as choosing or deciding. In that respect, you likely make choices and decide many things in the course of a day?which means you have probably voted several times today! OK, so now what? Where am I going with this? Just because the most recent Election Day as come and gone does not mean that you longer have to consider voting. The great thing as a human being is the fact that you always get a vote - even when you don't think that what you have done has registered. Your votes - your choices and decisions - always register. They always affect someone, something, somewhere. Even it's just you in the moment you cast your vote, or when you choose not to. There is no greater power than the freedom we have to always choose. Sometimes it may not seem as though there is anything to choose. How often I used to say, "I don't have a choice!" Well, I may not have like my choices - which is a different story - but I always had options to choose from. I came to realize that my whole life I have voted, even many times when I didn't even realize that it was going to count. But everything I have ever done has been up for a vote - consciously or unconsciously. I started to realize that I could make more powerful decisions by making them, and making them consciously (oh, how I didn't want to sometimes!). However, I realized that without my conscious vote, I was still making choices, but often I was left feeling quite unhappy. When something isn't working, I now realize I have essentially 3 choices: - Stay with how things are All 3, every time. Looking at it that way, it makes it very difficult for me to use the "I don't have a choice!" statement ever again. Oh! Sorry, I should have warned you that was coming. After all, if you see validity in it for yourself, it will also make it difficult for you, as well. The good thing is, though, you are still safe if you want to choose to keep your "I don't have a choice" perspective intact! However, if you're open to the perspective, what do these choices mean? Let's start with one very important thing that they don't mean. They do not include an option to control a situation or to alter or change another person, their attitudes, or their perspective. What they do mean is that the solution to anything lies within you - and can only come from you. Yuck! I know, it really stunk for me what I realized that I had to stop looking outside of myself. After all, it'd be so much easier if the other person would just change, or see it my way, you know? Well, we all know how easy it is to "get" another person to change, right? I'll tell you a secret, though, one of these 3 options actually has a pretty good possibility of changing how another person acts. Can you guess which one? If you guess #1 or #3, maybe you have some insight for me. My answer, though, is #2. Can you guess why? When our perspective changes, we change. We act differently. When we act differently, those around us will likely react differently to what we do and say. Because we are not being the same as we've always been, they will likely not be, either. It was difficult to shift perspectives in the beginning?but it got easier over time, in part due to seeing the results. I had often heard if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. It's a great thing - as long as you like what you've got. It's your life, you can vote any which way you want to. Your votes will take you all kinds of places - places sometimes you may not even want to be. Consider that it's your votes that got you there in the first place, and it's your votes that can take you somewhere else. Don't like where you are? Vote again. In the process, also consider seeing situations and choices in terms of "different" and in the light of whether or not it works for you, does it get you what you want, rather than in terms of "good" or "bad." It will likely allow you to be much kinder to yourself and others, and make new choices easier to make. Sometimes it is necessary to get some outsider input. Just make certain that it's not someone who has a stake in your "needing to change." I got some news for you - contrary to what others may say - you never need to change one bit. You can choose (vote) to stay exactly as you are. Just make sure, though, that the person you are gets you the things you want and need. If that is not happening, you still don't need to change, but you may want to consider moving a few things around so you can have more of what you want, and be more of who you'd like to be. Remember that choice comes from within, and is not dictated by an outside source. Outside sources will appear to limit how far you can go, what you can do, what is possible. They can attempt to persuade you that they have the ability to restrict the world in which you live, but choice allows for creativity which has a magical effect on any situation. There is always SOMETHING you can do. The question isn't so much "what?" as "are you willing?" The world that appears around you is actually a creation of your outward expression that comes from that which is within you. Consider that your life, and what you experience, is not something that happens to you, but happens because of you. Your life is not up to a situation you find yourself in. It is not up to someone else. It is up to you, and each and every vote counts. ©2005 Essa Alraune. Essa has a varied, non-judgmental, and fun approach to the work she does as a StressBusterBuddy. She works primarily with individuals on a one-on-one basis, and is the Author and Publisher of a mindful meditation CD. To learn more about Essa, her CD, or to listen to her online recordings, visit http://www.StopKickingYourself.com/or call 212.560.7582 (where you can also hear a 3-minute Relieve Stress Recording - only local, toll, or long distance charges apply).
MORE RESOURCES: See the complete list of Articles on Inspiration here Have a look at Best Selling Books on Inspiration
See also : Other articles on
Depression,
Grief-loss,
Elder Care
Relationships
Latest info on : Inspiration
Inspirational - Google News
Why not be an expert yourself ? If you can write on
any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your Submit
your article here |
RELATED ARTICLES
Discover Your Passion What are you passionate about? We didn't ask if you are passionate. But what are you passionate about? What stirs your emotions? What is it you can't stop talking about whenever someone asks: "What are you passionate about?" What's the fire in your belly? What really turns you on? What do you love doing most?What is it that you love doing so much that you forget time? You forget others. More Than I Can Bare One of my long time best friends called me the other night with a horrible pain in her heart. She needed someone to talk to. How I Made $10,000 In One Day By Swimming Underwater! "Without health, life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering," RabelaisIf you want to be wealthy, it's best to get healthy. A salubrious lifestyle is worth the effort. Imagine How Different The World Would Look Just By Knowing What Type of Learner You Are Are you a listener or a writer type of learner?President John Kennedy was a reader and writer. PresidentLyndon Johnson was a listener. It Wont Happen Again Have you or do you know someone who has been abused or been involved in an abusive relationship? What is your definition of abuse? All of us know that physical violence is abuse. We also know there is emotional and mental abuse too, but do we know what it really is?What counts as abuse?I, myself have experienced physical, emotional, and mental abuse to different degrees. Giving Can Overcome Language Differences I recently had to take a trip to Germany. It has been more than ten years since making my last international trip. One Night Stand Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 24, 2003I met someone over the weekend who is very, very famous. I was volunteering at a sports function and his sister was working the function. When Was the Last Time? When was the last time you smiled at a stranger?When was the last time you really enjoyed a good meal?When was the last time you did absolutely nothing all day and didn't feel guilty about it?When was the last time you did something special for yourself?When was the last time you anonymously did something nice for someone else?When was the last time you listened without interrupting?When was the last time you picked up the phone without looking at the caller-id?When was the last time you took a bath without any interruptions?When was the last time you made a child feel special?When was the last time you paid your bills on time?When was the last time you forgave someone?When was the last time you confronted someone who hurt you?When was the last time you said "I'm sorry" and meant it?When was the last time you had gratitude?When was the last time you liked what you saw in the mirror?When was the last time you prayed with conviction?When was the last time you stood up for yourself?When was the last time you paid someone a genuine compliment?When was the last time you avoided gossip?When was the last time you were happy with your weight/hair/skin/clothes/job?When was the last time you hugged your child?When was the last time you told someone you love them?When was the last time you silenced your inner critic?When was the last time you focused on your strengths instead of your weaknesses?When was the last time you did something you love?When was the last time you took a nap in the afternoon?When was the last time you shared in someone else's success?When was the last time you patted yourself on the back?When was the last time you took care of yourself?When was the last time you had a complete physical?When was the last time you went to the dentist?When was the last time you took a day off from work?When was the last time you felt satisfied with your life?Marie Magdala Roker is a Personal Development Coach an Author of Successful Thinking for a Successful Life: How to Banish the Unhealthy Thoughts and Habits That Limit Your Success. Her Successful Thinking? Program is an affordable coaching resource that offers support and encouragement when there are roadblocks to success. Change Your Landscape by Seeing with New Eyes A Story (Source Unknown) - One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be poor. They spent a few days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. Information -- Schminformation, Enough Already! We are drowning in it, our grey matter is swollen with it, half the time when we need a piece of it and we know it is "in there" somewhere, we can't access it because the poor Grey Matter Computer is so jammed it takes forever to search for the file and then it's usually "just lost" or was mistakenly deleted. And that's just our brains. Anam Cara - Losing your Religion I am sitting before a window of morning light "losing my religion."I feel fine about this. Put To The Sword Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 23, 2002My girlfriend has an aggressive sense of humor. She teases and likes to parry put-downs. How To Walk On The Path Of Peace (Part 2) If you are praying daily for wisdom, for peace, a fuller realization of Truth, for happiness and that which you are praying for is still far from you, then you are praying for one thing while living out in thought and action something else. Begin to think and act in the spirit of that which you seek, and expect it. Escape into Reality and Find Love The early months of this year brought major challenges, as well as blessings, for many folks. They certainly brought many unique challenges and blessings for me. You Are a Beautiful Person I wish that I could tell every person that I meet that he or she is a beautiful person--and have them believe it. I wish I could look them in the eyes and tell them of their beauty and have them accept the words for what they truly are--the truth, plain and simple. Rocking The Boat I work in a factory, and we have supervisors who play favorites. They have about six girls who can do no wrong, and they have easier jobs than the rest of us. Keeping Your Attitude Up When Circumstances Are Down Everyone knows that a positive attitude is key to the successful life. But what happens when things go wrong? What happens when circumstances deal us a blow? We have a tendency to let our attitudes take the dive along with our state of affairs. Ctrl-Alt-Delete Your Life Ah, the good old "Vulcan nerve pinch", the three-fingered salute, the one-handed solution to many backhanded aggravations. How simple, how effective, how instantaneously gratifying to the mind behind the mouse. Recipe for Success "Desire is a tremendous force, and must be directed in the right channels (to work). - Florence Scovel ShinnTake one cup of Desire,Mix well with a heart full of Passion,Shake in a tumbler of Willpower,Add a full cup of Thought. On Track Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 27, 2003I have been involved with a married man for a little while. I am married myself, but it was an arranged marriage and I am very unhappy. |
|
You are here |
|
| Inspirational Tips Home | Inspirational Tips - Complete list | |
|
| Main Home | | Meditation Corner | |
|
|
| Recommend us | |
|
[About
us] [Contact] [Privacy
Policy]
Copyright 2006, Meditation
is Easy.com, All
rights reserved