Choices...

Every day in every moment we are making choices...even in not choosing we have made a choice (think about it).

Who among us hasn't felt like a small craft adrift at sea at one time or another? Finding ourselves at the mercy of the universe tossing our very being to and fro?  Fights with our spouses/children/friends that set our day off in the 'wrong' direction - to the unexpected repair bill - doctor's visit or speeding ticket.  What is so very important is it is completely our choice how we react to unforeseen circumstances.  How we choose to deal with issues is completely in our control. 

Once we realize that instead of choosing to give our power over to a circumstance, person, or thing/addiction (cigarettes/alcohol/drugs) we have the power to say, “no I will no longer feel that way or react that way"...our world begins to shift.  Where we felt out of control, we now can feel in control and more grounded/connected/peaceful (you choose the term that means the most to you)

A few months back I had a bracelet made for myself with the words "I Choose" to remind myself that I am in control of my life.  I choose how I react, how I interact, what I do and say is completely in my control. I have taken responsibility for me. No longer does it make sense to blame someone else for my 'bad' mood - in being in a bad mood I would have made a choice to allow another human being's actions to so influence me - that they are able to take away my peace of mind...seems silly, no?

The choices we make affect every aspect of our lives including our physical wellbeing.  Let's discuss addiction. Why would I excuse a hacking cough by placing blame on an addiction to cigarettes? The cigarette doesn't force itself into my mouth does it? The same can be said for being overweight.  If I can't pass up a dessert or a drive thru no one else is to blame except me. Now I am not dismissing or making light of physical/neurological need for a substance - be it nicotine, alcohol, even sugar.  Addictions are real but so is the choice to continue to feed them.

It is when we can honestly audit our lives and realize what the situation is that is making us unhappy and causing discontentment...when we identify, through self-reflection, what the source is, we can make a CHANGE through making a different CHOICE.

If someone would have asked me more than three and a half years ago if I felt I was strong enough, had a enough willpower, to change my life, I would have said no.  1337 days ago I took control of life.  I took responsibility for being overweight and unhealthy.  I was to blame for my lack of good health through the choices (there's that word again) I made...so I made different ones...and now here I am. Size 22 to 12 - but beyond that a sense of wellbeing that I own...because I made the choice to change.

I CHOOSE...I choose how I react and interact with my world.  I no longer feel like I'm waiting for 'the next shoe to drop'...because I KNOW if it does - how I allow it to affect me will be my CHOICE. 

I CHOOSE...I choose to be grateful for this wonderful body my soul gets to hang out in and to not pollute it with a substance addiction.

I CHOOSE to be happy.  I hope you will to.

May God Bless Your Journey -

Natalie