The ABC’s of Positive Choices
As I’ve mentioned previously – your PATH to giving wings to your dreams begins with positive choices. But what does that look like? What does it feel like?
Here are 26 concepts, wrapped around the ABC’s, to consider as you continue on your journey!
Act – take actions and know that one of two things will happen. Either it will move you closer to your destination OR you will learn from it. Even something that looks like a “failure” is often a step forward.
Remember, if you try something new and fall on your face – you’re at least 3 feet further along than before you started!
Believe – believe in yourself, believe in others and believe in the good. It is so easy to let the news and negative media crush the ability to have faith and know that there is good in the world. Surround yourself with beauty and positive so that you can give that back to the world and you will be blessed.
Choose – we ALWAYS have a choice. It may not feel like it. The choices may not be readily visible but, there is always 1 or MORE choices for anything that is happening in our life. And, where we are is a direct result of the choices we have made up to this moment. So from this moment forward, choose FOR your greatest good at all times (this will generally be the greatest good of those around you too) and see what a difference it makes.
Decide – get off the fence, quit worrying what others might think (they are too busy worrying about themselves anyway), stop saying “whatever you want” or “I don’t care” and make a decision. If you aren’t sure what you want…explore, pray or meditate and find out!
Engage – being an introvert the idea of being on an island alone for long periods of time sounds good, but it doesn’t allow for the interaction and growth that happens when I engage with others. Take the time to engage with and get to know people, your surroundings and yourself.
Forgive – stuff happens and holding a grudge, anger, resentment or fear keeps YOU stuck. You don’t have to carry on a relationship with someone who has abused or mistreated you, but for your own well-being, forgive them so you can move on.
Gratitude – a day spent in gratitude is a day filled with success. Amazing things happen when you start and end the day with thoughts and acts of appreciation and gratitude.
Honor – as we mentioned before, honor encompasses many aspects of all that is good. When we act with honor, our word is as good or better than any “iron-clad” contract, our name is synonymous with positive results and when we are ready for sleep, we know that we have given the best of our service to ourselves and those we encounter.
Inspire – when we first seek to inspire ourselves then it will spill over and create positive energy for those around us. When teaching children or adult students if we can remind ourselves “what’s so good about that” it will translate to passion and purpose for ourselves and others.
Jubilant – be joyful, try to maintain that childlike wonder and jubilant attitude toward the activities you choose to engage in regardless of their nature and see what happens.
Kindness – one of the attributes that need little explanation.
Listen – we were given 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason. Check your usage on a daily basis and see if you are really hearing what the other person is saying. Listen also with your heart because words said in “anger” are often words said from a place of fear.
Meditate – take the time to go inside and look for your own “truth” or “answers”. Remove yourself from the frenetic energy in the working world, on the roads and in the marketplaces to connect and nurture your body, mind, and spirit.
Nurture – on any plane ride passengers are instructed to place the breathing mask on themselves before trying to help ANYONE else (this includes children). We can not help someone else when we can’t breathe. If we are always giving away our energy and never replacing it – we soon find that those that need it the most are going to have to go without because we have nothing left. While love is endless, our physical bodies are not. Take time to care for yourself so that you have time to care for others.
Opportunity – one of my favorite quotes is along this lines that opportunity is often disguised as work. Stay open and receptive to opportunities that come your way. Look beyond appearances when making decisions to ensure that the “downside” isn’t simply because you have some growth to work through and fear isn’t driving a negative response.
Persist – KEEP GETTING UP! You will succeed. Like Colonel Sanders – your success is more about the belief, faith, and persistence than the brilliance or perfection of an idea or service. The story goes that he received 1009 rejections before someone was willing to move forward with his chicken. How many give up with 1, 10 or even 100? How much do you believe in your dreams?
Quest – stay committed to your journey, YOUR quest for your dreams and never let anyone take them from you!
Relax – remember to live and work cyclically. Just like a time for working and pushing forward, there is a time for rest and relaxation. Additionally, step into the place that you know it will come together. Often the moment of accomplishment happens when we relax and let the universe or God bring all the elements together, far better than our individual efforts ever would.
Smile – it makes everything go better. 🙂
Trust – like relaxing and believing, trust that all things are working FOR your success.
Unique – take the time to uncover your unique gifts, your unique soul purpose. When you know your purpose and own what makes you unique the world becomes a better place and you will find you fit perfectly.
Victory – recognize the many victories you have accomplished, the ones you accomplish daily and the milestone victories you’ve had along the way. As you proceed toward a lofty goal or dream (the next major victory), these past victories or successes will support you and give you the energy to continue when things “go pear-shaped” as they are sometimes known to do.
Wait – on occasion, once you’ve been clear regarding the needs or expectations, it is beneficial to wait and let the task you’ve delegated or the deal you’ve proposed come through. Type A’s, you know what I mean. In the beginning, it’s not always easy but it will help establish better relationships and business.
Xenodochy – I did have to search for a real “x” example and the search paid off. The definition is “the reception of or extending of hospitality to strangers or foreigners”. While many adults tell children “not to talk to strangers” I propose that if we ONLY speak to those we know intimately, our world will be small indeed. Consider opening up and trusting your intuition to guide you when in the presence of strangers and trusting that “the will of God will not lead you where the hand of God will not keep you”.
If we look for the good we will find it ~ A. Lincoln.
Yes – just say YES – open up and be a part of the miracles that happen every moment of every day.
Zest – have a zest for life. Do the things you need to to make it so. Wake up and take action with purpose and intention making the most of your gift to the world while creating your dream life!
Namaste,
Kira PW