You Choose to React or Respond

Choices abound. Sometimes choices confound us, while at other times, certain choices are rather obvious. Any way you approach the subject, choices present opportunities to either excel or hinder. As human beings, we were endowed by our Creator with the power of choice. It is one of the factors that differentiate persons from animals. Some people make these choices or decisions more easily than others.

Each day, we must decide how we will spend our precious twenty-four hours and deal with all that the world presents to us. We choose how we will be affected by both everyday occurrences and those that are much more extraordinary. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we choose to either react or respond. These are not the same, for one is negative and one is positive. Which we choose may have a significant impact on our life and possibly those close to us.

Reacting to outside influences, usually beyond our control is generally a negative choice. Reacting implies that we have given charge of the situation to someone or something else. We surrender our input and any control in the matter. We are now at the mercy of the situation and are forced to be in reaction mode where we are constantly dodging bullets and expending great amounts of energy just to stay afloat. In reacting to a situation, we do not anticipate that which is to come because we are too busy handling the present. The future then surprises us and the whole mess begins again.

Responding to a situation is a positive choice. It is the opposite of reacting. It is proactive and anticipates that which is yet to come. Responding is preceded by thought and often prayer. In responding, we take charge and have command over how the situation impacts us. We also have control over how it affects us internally. We decide upon the level of personal impact.

Our lives, families, careers and other everyday activities and interests are operating at breakneck speeds and appear at times to be accelerating. One thing is for certain, the old days of sitting around on the front porch each evening listening to Mother Nature are gone for many of us. The pace of life in Mayberry, as healthy and tranquil as it would appear, is, unfortunately, a thing of the past. We live life on the fast track.

A major newsweekly magazine is currently featuring material devoted to stress and distress in our lives and their effects on our cardiovascular health. Although not totally surprising, this information is disturbing. How did we ever get to this point? Witness the number of television commercials and magazine advertisements for gastric distress, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, headaches and other ailments that are increasing in frequency. There are millions of prescriptions written each day for these medical conditions, most of which will find their roots in internalized stress and distress.

People spend many hours of their lives worrying. Worry is a senseless, energy robbing activity that has engulfed many. No one has ever benefited from worry, yet countless people engage in it. Worry is the opposite of faith. Worry is negative while faith is positive. There is no mystery here. Many books have been written on the subject. The conclusions are the same: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and "Stop Worrying and Start Living" are among the many themes presented. Good advice indeed.

Most areas of life present us with choices. We must choose either to respond or react to circumstances.  We choose whether or not to worry. Learn to be aware that you have a choice in these matters. Learn that there are ways that you can deal with everything either positively or negatively. Learn that your choices may influence your very health, both physical and mental. Learn that there will be costs associated with poor choices, worrying and negativity in general. These may include social, monetary, peace of mind and time costs. Certainly, the total cost associated with negative choices is too high.

Learn that positively responding to circumstances in life will significantly reduce or eliminate worry and contribute to your overall good health and well being. Find joy in life. Be happy.

By: Daniel Sitter
Author Bio
Daniel Sitter is the author of the popular, award-winning e-book, Learning For Profit. Designed for busy people, his new book teaches simple, step-by-step accelerated learning skills, demonstrating exactly how to learn anything faster than ever before. Learning For Profit is currently available at the author's web site www.learningforprofit.com and from numerous online book merchants. Mr. Sitter, having expertise in sales, marketing and personal development, is a frequent contributor to several publications.
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5 Tips to Take Control of Your Mind and World Using Affirmations

You are a powerful creator. We all are. Every day with the thousands and thousands of thoughts that run through your head, you are creating your reality. If you are not happy with any aspect of your life, you have the power to change it. That's right, you, and only you, have the power. So, why hasn't anybody ever told you this before? It certainly wasn't because above they were keeping a secret from you. Most likely, it was because they didn't know.

Don't think that you are capable of manifesting anything?

Think all the different thoughts you let roam freely in your mind. Those thoughts can range from "do they like me?" "Do the kids have any activities after school today?" "Oh no, I hope my co-workers don't ask me to go to lunch" or "why don't my co-workers ever ask me to lunch?" "I don't know why you got promoted, I deserved that promotion." Just think about what a busy place your mind is. Only you know the thoughts you have and never share with anyone. Most of those thoughts are ego based, I don't mean ego in a negative way. You are the center of your world so of course, everything revolves around you. If you are unhappy with any part of the world your chaotic thoughts have created why not simply create something better? So many people are unaware that their thoughts are creating the good and bad things in their lives, they simply let their world run on auto-pilot. Affirmations are just one way to bring clarity and positive things into your life.

Affirmations can help you to get clear on the things you would like to bring into your life. Once you start to focus on the positive, you will start to bring more positive into your life. Whatever you focus on, whatever you see, you will always draw more of that to you. For example, if you are constantly saying "I hate driving with idiots. Why is it that all the nuts are out when I'm driving." Guess what, that's an affirmation. Your mind doesn't hear sarcasm and so your wish is its command. Just like that you have created and successfully manifested for yourself just what your mind was focused on, driving with idiots.

Affirmations are positive statements about something you would like to bring into your life. You could easily affirm for yourself, "I am surrounded by courteous and competent drivers, at all times." I know which one I'd rather have.

It's easy for us all to focus on the negative. It's easy to run on auto-pilot. It's also easy for us to take control of our world, to see the positive in situations and then focus on that positive and draw more positive into your world.

The person who learns to control their thoughts can have and do whatever they can visualize for themselves; everything is there for you just waiting for you to create it and bring it into being.

Here are some tips to get you started with affirmations.

1. Always start your affirmation by focusing on the positive.

2. Your affirmation should only be about you. Why? Because we all have free will. You must never try to force or bend someone to your will. Respect other peoples choices (Yes, this can be challenging).

3. Whenever you say the words I AM, be aware of the next thing you say or think. I AM is one of the many names of God. When you say (or think) I AM you activate the God power within yourself and connect to universal energy. It doesn't matter what name you call God or if you even believe in God, it works just the same. Just like gravity, it works whether you believe in it, think about it, or not. Whenever you say I AM you start to create and bring what you have affirmed into your life.

4. Take control of your world and your mind by choosing your words and your thoughts carefully. Don't allow your mind to run on auto-pilot give it something positive to focus on.

5. Discover the power of silence, even in the midst of noise and activity. Just a few moments of silence with your eyes closed or open can relax your body and shift a busy mind into deeper peace. You may not always find the time to meditate, but you can still experience sitting in the silence at any time.

Even with your eyes wide open, you can mindfully rest in the presence of peace within. Focus on the easy rhythm of your breath and bring your awareness to the sacred space of your heart. By focusing on your breath and your heart you'll find you are only a thought away from inner peace. Allow yourself to drop into the silence and visit this holy sanctuary within your heart to find deep inner peace.

Try affirmations out for yourself become the powerful creator I know you are. Experiment with affirmations, gratitude and focusing on the positive and watch your life change for the better.

By Cyndi Pirog  http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Tips-to-Take-Control-of-Your-Mind-and-World-Using-Affirmations&id=9803526

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