There is no limit
to number of OPPORTUNITIES you are given each day
to learn things about yourself that are important
for you to know in order to move
beyond your fears – beyond your anger, jealousy,
judgments of yourself and others, need to over-eat,
smoke, shop, gossip, watch pornography, and other
ways that you find yourself out of control. You
can use each of your painful experiences, and the
painful experiences of others that you see, to change
yourself from someone who reacts automatically to
his/her circumstances without thinking (and creates
consequences that are difficult) to someone who
responds consciously (and creates consequences you
want to live with).
Notice the next
time you find yourself reacting automatically (for
example, shouting when you become angry or withdrawing
emotionally when you become jealous) and while you
feel the impulse, however strong it may be, consider
that you have the OPPORTUNITY to respond differently.
Then experiment with responding differently (for
example, not speaking instead of shouting or staying
present instead of withdrawing). This takes a lot
of courage. It is the spiritual path.
Make a list of
the first thirteen OPPORTUNITIES (click here to
see/print them) and then use them as appropriate.
Each time you do, think about how else and what
else you can learn about yourself that will make
you more aware, sensitive, and kind. With practice,
you will find yourself looking for OPPORTUNITIES
all the time.
