The Right to Pause

"Take a mental pause every time you are faced with a decision,

and ask yourself what the potential outcomes might be.  While

you  may not be  able to accurately  predict every scenario, you

will be able to get an idea of which choices will benefit you the most."

Madisyn Taylor

Daily Om

Too often, our yes button is on automatic pilot.  We agree out of obligation, social pressure, or guilt without consideration to reply with a simple no.   Yes and no are of equal value, both reflecting a choice.  Yes is not the 'right' answer making us the good person and neither is no the 'bad' response making us appear in negative light.  

No matter how simple the decision, it is helpful to pause and check in with ourselves, giving our schedules consideration.  The response of no can be laced with fear of disappointment; but, in reality, by saying no we may enable a new person to step up to the plate with a fresh outlook.

When we take pause before committing, we can get a quick glimpse of what is being asked:   quick project; long time commitment; sincere interest; and can my time be better spent in a different area of my life?  Saying yes to multiple small requests can be just as draining as a seemingly large request.  Exercise the personal right of choice, after  indulging in a brief exchange with the heart.

The Driver's Seat

"Simply going through the motions 

of life puts us directly in the passenger seat

when we should really be in the driver's seat."

Madisyn Taylor

Daily Om

Visualize a vehicle as a symbol of our body in life. Take notice if tires have been rotated, oil changed, condition of interior and exterior.  Where we are sitting or who is actually driving the car? The answers to these questions reflect how we are taking care of ourselves and if we hold ourselves in top priority.  

The interior and exterior of our symbol of a car,  can reflect radiance and shine or a dull and damaged finish.  Do we meet recommended inspections, fix repairs, and shield from harsh weather?  It is important to be steering towards our goals and not to be in the back seat shouting directions to someone who believes they are our chauffeur.  

To navigate through life, we need to be well rested, eat properly and exercise appropriately.  We  generously accept responsibilities of our family and career, but are we in the driver's seat?  Is someone else altering our route to fulfillment or success?  Life is hard, and if we are just going through the motions, we really need to shift gears!  

What We Want To Hear

"Alternatives that benefit us mightily in the short-term 

can often interfere with our long-term progress, 

while choices that will help us achieve our larger purpose 

may not always add value to our day to day existence.   

Madisyn Taylor

Short-term experiences may be a simple distraction from our main path, or they might be a piece needed later to form our greater picture.  Choosing a distraction for simple pleasure can be good for us if we have been working too intensely and harming our health.  On the other hand, if we have not been focused, our choice of pleasure can interrupt momentum causing  us to lose the thread of invention.  

Freedom of choice comes with responsibility and contributes to our integrity.  It takes courage to keep moving forward when we are tempted by random instances.  If we pause to give consideration, we can make decisions for our higher good more easily.  

When we find we cannot stand back far enough from a situation, we can quietly contemplate what would be in our best interest.  We can remain still, requesting guidance and then remain alert for an answer to appear.

Guidance appears in many shapes and forms, so we need to keep both our hearts and minds open. If we endeavor to recognize synchronicity, answers may fall readily into place.  Unfortunately, as human beings, we tend to ignore the answer completely if it is not what we want to hear.