A WONDERFUL QUOTE ON CHOICE

Another word for choice is 'commitment':

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred, A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. 

W. H. MURRAY

(PS there is some confusion about whose quote this is. Some attribute it to Goethe 

AN EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS BEING A CHOICE

Success and failure are very relative terms, and the person who determines what they mean is YOU. Let me give you an example. I have come to the realization that success in my writing means writing -- not how many publishers want me, not what awards I get, not how many people read me, but, WRITING. The act itself. And when writing is not happening, then success for me means sitting at my desk and editing, researching, cleaning up my study, preparing for the muse. As one of the Buddha's quotes says: The greatest prayer is patience. Yes, cleaning and organizing my study and preparing for the muse is success. Giving my heart to Word, is success. Shopping for groceries for my diet is success; sitting, cup of tea in hand, when no nothing wants to happen, and watching the clouds move, is the greatest success of all, for my purpose, I have determined, is to move consciously, with appreciation of the beauty of this planet. If I can do this, I am successful at every moment of my life!

AN EXAMPLE OF FUN BEING A CHOICE

You simply have to wake up and affirm life, your life, which you have been fortunate enough to have. A friend died over the weekend, and that enhanced my sense of life. That, in a way, is one of the purposes of death for the living. Death, too, when it comes, is a gift, but is one, too, a great gift. I choose to live it fully, fun fully, with joy. I don't have to go outside my home to have fun, I have it right here and right now, wherever I am.

AN EXAMPLE OF HEALTH BEING A CHOICE

After long bouts of illness, I have chosen to take care of my health: see a naturopath (since the traditional way wasn't working), go on a diet -- the Paleo Diet. As soon as I made the choice, a friend recommended the naturopath, and another mentioned the diet which the naturopath endorsed. I'm feeling better already!

AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE BEING A CHOICE

Over and over in our relationship my mother's behavior /words could have alienated me. But I choose not be alienated. The consequence, we are closer than ever, and her heart has opened to me in love.

PEACE, SUCCESS, FUN, HEALTH, ARE ALSO CHOICES

No kidding. We think, shouldn't there be a Power outside of ourselves that should be bestowing all these on us? Aren't we helpless here, in the grip of forces beyond us? Here is a quote from Payson's poem and one of the Buddha from the short film on the Ajanta Caves that Payson is making these days:

Payson:

Life is all suffering . . .
Or not . . .
The choice is yours.

Buddha:

No once can save us but ourselves.
We ourselves must walk the path.

LOVE IS A CHOICE

Let me clarify right away: A choice is not an act of will, a power muscle sort of thing: I WILL love. No, it is a gentle turning towards, no more than an internal gesture, a quiet assent (the root of which words means "to join in feeling.") Let me always qualify that the space and time between the choice is the place for labor, prayer, and Grace.