Discern, Determine, Decide

In every moment, we always have a choice.

Upon reflection, this statement seems self-evident, but for many of us, life is a continual stream of activity—maybe even more like an endless to-do list—and we get so busy that we may end up making most of our choices without really thinking about them. In fact, we can get so involved in the mundane that we completely forget about our power of choice.

And then, without warning, the universe decides to deliver something that seems to come from way out in left field, and we are totally unprepared. Challenges, upsets, even full-blown crises—we all have to deal with them in our lives at one time or another. How we respond to these situations becomes a testament to our character and emotional fortitude.

When problems arise, it’s not uncommon for instincts to kick in, and they’re not always as helpful as we might imagine. Our fight-or-flight response can sometimes turn into a “freak-out-and-flail” response, which obviously doesn’t solve anything. But fear not, because here’s where the power of conscious choice swoops in like a caped superhero to save the day! It’s like having a wise old mentor whispering in our ear, “Hey, take a deep breath, you got this! Just observe, assess, and choose wisely.”

This month, the Soul Empowerment team is looks at the idea of conscious choice in quite a bit of detail. Check out the recording to learn some of the things we discuss (and please leave a comment in the space below!):

Problem-Solving Paradigms

How do we solve problems that come into our lives, whether they show up at work or within our family, or whether they just obstruct our life journey? They may be small matters we deal with on a daily basis. They may be huge, overwhelming, emotionally draining, life-altering decisions. How we engage reflects our evaluation of our lives, our place in them, and our perspective in approaching the problem to be solved.

Discernment

Is there really a problem or is it just a matter of perspective? If we change our point of view, how does the problem change? What are we seeing? Is it something that has to be “fixed”? The ego-mind is constantly evaluating, assessing, and judging; sometimes, it makes mountains out of mole-hills. Raising awareness can help to release our attachment to particular outcomes and avoid the disappointment of unrealistic expectations.

Determination

What do you do when you are given lemons? Do you accept the lemons as they are? Do you give them away? Do you sort through the lemons to separate the good ones from the rotten ones? Do you make lemonade or lemon meringue pie? Each of these questions suggests a particular choice to be made. And each choice can lead to more choices. It is wise to review the situation—that is, to “re-view” it and see it from different perspectives. Pick it up and turn it around; observe it dispassionately from all angles, so that the ego-mind is less inclined to make snap judgments. Breathe into the moment with awareness.

Decision

Sometimes, the best approach is to select one option and eliminate all others. We are often held to standards of “I have to” by the ego-mind. Let’s explore what happens when we change “I have to” to “I can” or “I get to”. Viewing problem-solving as a conscious choice and making decisions based on awareness, presence, and opportunity usually invites more desirable outcomes. It can take seconds or months depending on how big the decision; either way, making the decision from a place of heart-led understanding allows us the opportunity to transcend the ego-mind and live fully in grace.

Ultimately, in the face of challenges, it’s our conscious choices that become our superpowers. They give us the courage to face life’s unexpected plot twists with a knowing wink and a “challenge accepted!” attitude. So, the next time life hands you lemons, just remember, you’ve got the power of discernment, determination, and decision-making in your back pocket. With a dash of humor and a sprinkle of wisdom, you can turn those lemons into lemonade or maybe even a lemon meringue pie. Hey, who said challenges couldn’t be deliciously rewarding?

About the Team

Scott Holmes: Reiki Master, Polarity Therapist, RYSE Practitioner, Theta Healer Practitioner, and Author who empowers clients to transform and grow through multiple modalities of light, deep touch, sound, intention and crystals. www.RScottHolmes.com

Sara Jane: Vocal Reiki Master Teacher & Practitioner. Having worked on herself and healed her own early years trauma and hurt, Sara now supports clients, from her own experiences, to heal their own trauma and live a more fulfilling and happy life. www.VocalReiki.com

Gayle Nowak: Visibility Coach who shifts world-changing healers, lightworkers and New Earth leaders from outdated patterns into new possibilities. She weaves multiple modalities to guide clients and audiences into their truest expression so they can honor and carry out their soul mission. www.GayleNowak.com