Did you ever read something and feel so fervently that it was written about you that not even one word would have to be changed to apply it to your life? Today I did. In my morning meditation I came across this by Tom Walsh:
"This is possibly one of the most liberating concepts I've ever been exposed to – one of the most simple and common-sensical. How much power do we give others to affect us in our lives day to day? How often do we feel bad or helpless or hopeless because of what other people have said or done? Quite simply, far too often – or at least that's true for me.
I can choose how I feel. I can choose my attitude towards events or people. I can choose how I react to actions or occurrences. I am not helpless and my life and feelings aren't simply reactions to events and powers outside myself. I am me, I am worthwhile, and I have the power to make my own choices."
At the end of the reading there are three questions. The first one tripped me up:
"Are you always aware of the different choices that are available to you in different situations?"
My answer: no. I'm not aware that I have a choice to override that hot flash of a feeling that comes over me and hurts and makes me feel so sad or angry over what someone said or did.
It happened yesterday. Through an accidental text I was made to keenly feel aware that someone was still clearly mad at me. It hit me. The hot flash came, but this time I stopped and stilled myself instead of reacting. I talked with a friend who made me aware that I did have a choice to how I felt. I realized that I have to stop being defined by what others think of me. I have to stop giving this other person the power to make me hurt or feel badly about myself. I was kind of proud of myself for just letting the situation go and realize what they think does not make me who I am. I chose not to hurt. I chose not to feel bad. I had choices. Who knew?
And so, as another day goes by, I'm going to keep that word "choices" front and center of my thinking, and…I have written.
Linda,
I learned a long time ago – you can please some people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
You can just be yourself and those who accept you, do… and those who do not, don’t matter.
Be well my friend.
– Bonnie