I've pursued non-traditional studies since 1975. I consider what I do to be a body of work. A synthesis of all that I have learned and practiced over time. I draw from the following training and experience...
I had studied Fine Art in College but soon found that I could not commit to matriculation. I innately knew that I wanted the knowledge that you can't get in College. So, shortly after that, I began studying Self-Knowledge, Truth and Consciousness with Master Teacher, Prem Rawat. My connection with Prem is ongoing.
The Significant Power
of Choice
By Grace Karen Sweet
Wouldn't it be amazing to have Aladdin's Lamp?
Just rub it and the Genie comes out and says,, "Your Wish is My Command!" And wha-la...you have whatever you want.
What if the Universe could be kinda like that for you? Would you take advantage
of it?
Would you even believe it?
Ok, most people wouldn't believe it!... But, before you draw any conclusions on that, let me change gears from fantasy to reality for a minute.
Everything in this world has an upside and a downside to it. But generally, when it comes to making choices or decisions, the topic is one that many of us would rather not deal with. Especially if the stakes are high or it's an emotionally important decision. Having to make choices can be daunting and make us feel uncertain.​
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We can easily make simple, everyday choices like what to eat for lunch, or which scarf to wear. But we don't want to think about the difficult choices. Hard choices can easily become frustrating riddles we can't solve, and no one likes feeling frustrated. A difficult decision can also cause us conflict and when it gets complicated, we can be overwhelmed. We avoid having to make choices by setting things up in a certain way so that when the choice making comes around again, we don't have to make it. Or, we might avoid a situation and end up not making a choice at all. Not choosing, of course, ends up being your choice by default. And unfortunately, default choices often cause consequences.
The world we live in continually causes us to make choices. At every intersection of every metaphorical mile we've ever traveled, we've had to make a choice. Choice is part of us and it's actually an opportunity. Have you ever thought of it as an opportunity?
So, with that in mind, let's look at choice another way. Since we have been given the ability to choose, and we have continual choices to make (even if some of them are merely by rote), wouldn't it be much more comfortable, even easier... if we looked at choice in a fresh way? How about thinking of it as something that we can actually use to our benefit?... And how would it be if that were true, more often than we think?
Seeing it that way is to understand it from a personal perspective, because it becomes more obvious that there could be potential for our life experience in the best way. For example, if we find ourselves in the midst of a chaotic situation, we almost always think we have zero control. Wouldn't it feel great to realize that we actually do have control?
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So, with that in mind, let's look at choice another way. Since we have been given the ability to choose, and we have continual choices to make (even if some of them are merely by rote), wouldn't it be much more comfortable, even easier... if we looked at choice in a fresh way? How about thinking of it as something that we can actually use to our benefit?... And how would it be if that were true, more often than we think?
Seeing it from that perspective is to understand from a personal prespective, because it becomes more obvious that there could be potential for our life experience in the best way. For example, if we find ourselves in the midst of a chaotic situation, we almost always think we have zero control. Wouldn't it feel great to realize that we actually do have control?
Unless fear, anxiety or confusion blocks our reasoning, we usually figure out what our choices are, in most situations. The biggest problem is that sometimes there is a contradiction. On one hand, one choice could unequivocally be the best and easiest thing to resolve the situation. But on the other hand, we don’t like what comes with it and we definitely don’t want it. Or you have two choices and you don’t like either one. When we are faced with this kind of dilemma it’s the time to use choice to your benefit. Can you find a neutral place, of trust to help you move through it? If you can, you’re using it for your growth… for your best and highest good. Making a choice with wisdom, courage and clarity will always lead to the best outcome.
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So, what is my choice? Instead of getting run over by the chaos and confusion of the world, we can choose to pay attention to something better. That something better can be realized by accepting that choice is something you have been given for a reason. Combine that thought with understanding that it can be a great benefit to make a choice - when we think you have no choice. The key is accepting the best you have and owning it. That gives you a feeling of control. So, can you imagine realizing you have control at any given time, simply by asking yourself the question, "what is my choice in this situation?"
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So, we don't need to be caught between the two extremes of agonizing over making impossible choices, and how good we'd have it if we had Alladin's Lamp. In other words, you already have your own, built-in personal comfort zone when you use choice as a personal strength.
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Understanding that choice can be a tool to use for our own benefit, we might begin to see that there could be benefits possible from using choice in many situations. It can help us to realize that we actually can be in control of our life
by using it, and not letting it use us!
You Can Achieve Control in Your Life by Choosing to Use
Choice as a Tool!
This is a story about the personal power of choice. It's called Buddha's Bowl, as told by Prem Rawat.
One time Buddha was walking with one of his disciples. And everybody in town was criticizing Buddha, saying, you know, “You’re no good; you don’t do this; you don’t do that....”
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And so his disciple said, “Buddha, doesn’t that bother you, all these people saying all these nasty things about you, criticizing you?”
So when Buddha got back... his disciple was sitting there—and he took the bowl and he moved it. And he goes, “Whose bowl is it?” And the disciple said, “It’s your bowl.” So he moved it a little closer to the disciple and says, “Well, whose bowl is it?” He goes, “Yeah, it’s still your bowl.”
He kept doing that and asking him, “ Whose bowl is it; whose bowl is it?” And the disciple kept saying, “It’s your bowl; it’s your bowl.” And then finally he took the bowl and he put it in the disciple’s lap and he said, “Now, whose bowl is it?” He goes, “It’s still your bowl.”
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Buddha said, “Exactly right! If I don’t accept this criticism, it’s not mine!”
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And it’s the same thing—that if we don’t accept this gift, it’s not ours. And it just lies there dormant.
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And the beauty of it is that, whenever you decide to accept this gift, instantly it’ll become yours. So, it’s never too late! It doesn’t matter if you’re saying to yourself, “Well, I’m eighty-four. It’s too late for me.” No, it’s not! Or somebody’s saying, “Oh, well, I’m too young.” No! And, you can’t be too young; you can’t be too late with it; the day you accept it, it’s yours.
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Choosing Love
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Choosing Love is the best first step when faced with an important choice. Focus on grounding and breathing: 4 counts in through the nose, a hold 6 counts & 6 counts breath out through the mouth. This works well to get to a calm, clear place.
It's always more than a thought process, so allow the entire process to be organic and give it as much time as you need. The best choice emerges when we allow them to come, without trying to coax it. Be kind to yourself and let love be the foundation to support any decision, because feeling confident in your choice will always bring the best outcome.
Buddha's Bowl
