By Susan Kramer
When we are able and willing to make
the choices and carry through on what is best in each situation we maintain
or regain harmony in our lives. We develop a discerning mind by first following
the guidelines that religion and society have laid out for us—basically
the golden rule extended. 'Do unto others as we would have them do unto
us' and do unto ourselves what allows us to preserve our personal peace,
happiness, and health.
Developing willpower only comes when we are mentally convinced of what we want. Because it is harder to walk a straight line than a wide road we must be more than convinced to follow through on a plan. We must diligently apply ourselves to our plan all day long. An example of using the combination of discernment and willpower is with ending the habit of cigarette smoking. We first use our discerning mind to consider the pros and cons of cigarette smoking on all aspects of our life. As we all intellectually know that scientific research has shown cigarette smoking is dangerous to our health, it is up to us through the use of our will power to quit smoking.
It is in the combination of discernment and willpower that we upgrade the quality of our life and make space for our consciousness to expand. There is a certain degree of refinement needed before the more esoteric thoughts and experiences can flow through our minds—taking shape through our actions.
Recuperating from a difficult experience by taking on a positive attitude toward the future—a positive attitude producing positive thoughts, and their subsequent productive actions.
When we go through an especially tough time we can again pull ourselves back into light—lightheartedness—by our decision to be good and do good in our daily lives. Like attracts like, and actions from an enlightened point of view for the best of prevailing circumstances produce the most harmony, and therefore the most happiness, in our lives.
We all suffer losses in living. But, it is up to us by our willpower, to make lemonade from lemons.
These aids help me recoup and regroup:
1. Prayerful surrender
to the best resolve in each situation presenting;
2. Meditation,
to help me recover my emotional-mental-bodily balance;
3. Assuming a positive
attitude, and actions of productivity, rather
than languishing in self-pity;
4. Keeping myself
well-nourished and exercising regularly;
5. Reading something
uplifting;
6. Talking with
friends who have a positive attitude toward life;
7. Doing something
kind for another person.
The recovery process from a long-standing bad habit—a detrimental habit—may need making a daily decision for positive change. The original 12-step program for alcoholism has been adapted for many addictions and detrimental habits—in my area, information on available programs is found in the front of our local phone book and in the county libraries. There is strength in numbers, so the self-help groups have that advantage over trying to recover by one's self.
The journey of recouping from anything, and regrouping for a more positive and productive future is also a spiritual journey—in that we are growing in consciousness by holding positive attitudes and thoughts, and being good in our lives. Getting to know the positive side of our mind—coming to know that individually, and personally, we make the choices for positive growth—leads to expansion of our capacity to live harmoniously in the world. And, living in spiritual consciousness is really living with an expanded consciousness of how we can find and use harmony in our lives.