"I don't know, it doesn't matter." Is your internal power being drained away because you give your power of choice away? Every time we don't choose, or allow someone else to choose for us, we give a little of our power away. If it really doesn't matter to us, then choose anything. The act of choice gives us responsibility, which in turn, leads to respect and self-respect. Responsibility means the ability to respond. Not choosing is negating our ability to respond.

When we don't act responsibly, or use our ability to respond/choose, we send messages to others that we are not confident in our ability to choose wisely and that they are smarter, wiser and better that us. Every time someone mispronounces our name and we say, "It's okay", we are saying that the name we chose for ourselves is not that important. (By the way if you kept the name that your parents gave you, and you are over eighteen, accept the fact that you chose your name.) If you don't like your name - choose another name and legally change it. It is your choice.

As human beings we have the freedom to choose. Good or evil, sweet or sour, happy or sad, for better or worse, each and everyone of us choose how we are treated by others, how our relationships look, how our jobs and careers satisfy us. It becomes a simple choice of chocolate and vanilla.

Oh I hear it now. But, but, but. "I have family, I can't do it now!" "I'm too chubby, too skinny, too ....!" "But you don't understand!" No one needs to understand your choices. You need to understand that your choices are just that YOUR CHOICES. You have the ability to respond to each and every situation by choosing. If you don't like how things are going - choose differently. If you aren't happy in your present situation either choose to be happy, change your approach to the situation, look for alternative solutions, or get out of the situation. It is your choice.

Choice is not easy. Choosing from different opportunities can be overwhelming and perplexing. However not choosing is actually choosing. You're choosing to lose the opportunity. We often do this when we procrastinate and retreat.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent". When I first read this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt I chose to put it on my wall, simply because I didn't understand it. Why would I give someone else my consent to make me feel inferior? I often felt inferior, but they made me feel that way, didn't they? As I began to study how we build up our self-esteem and how responsibility, choice and seeking opportunity are part of our God given rights I began to understand Mrs. Roosevelt's quote.

We can choose to perceive others behavior in anyway we want. We can see their behavior as loving or destructive. We can see others as funny or annoying. We can choose to be angry or happy. It is our choice.

Lately I've found myself feeling angry. I wanted things to be different than they were. My response has been to be angry at the situation rather than choosing the situation to be as it is. In others words I've decided to choose a point of view that makes me angry and upset. Tonight, I choose differently.

Choice is both your right and your responsibility. Each time we exercise our ability and right to choose how we want our life to be today, we grow in self-respect. When we use our given power, when we use the talents and blessings we have been given we give the gift of self-love to ourselves. And with self-love we can achieve the greatness that each of us is destined to have.

Choose wisely. This is the only life you have!

The Motivational Times will offer monthly suggestions, quotes, try-its, books and kick butt actions that can take you steps-no LEAPS, into a positive today! Being alive, having the courage to try some of the techniques and being liberated from thoughts, actions, or beliefs that hold you back are the basis of this newsletter. I hope you receive as much from this message as I get from being able to share the message that has been given to me.

Pegine Echevarria, MSW, copyrights all material on this site. Information from this site may be reprinted or quoted by members of the media, provided a specific credit to Pegine Echevarria, MSW is included.
This site designed by Herbin Consulting©