Month of Miracles - December 9, 2010

With my own idea in the back of my mind (that everything is a miracle if you choose to look at it that way), it seems that even more miracles happen every day. Whether this is because I choose to look at these occurrences as miracles, or because of the fact that I am consciously paying attention to meaningful (at least to me) events, which I would have missed if I weren't paying attention, it doesn't really matter. The only thing that is of real importance, is the realization that I am the only one who can make my life more miraculous, more eventful, brighter, happier and anything else that I consider "good" (as opposed to not so good..). You might think that this (taking responsibility for your own life) is easier to say, or write about, than do. Well... keep reading.

When I spoke to a good friend on the phone the other day (who used to work at a law firm 4 days per week), she said: "Oh, you know, I was always complaining that I didn't have time to do the things I really love. I always thought that when I didn't have to go to the office any more, I would do yoga everyday. And I would meditate twice daily and do something creative. And now I am home every day and I still don't do my daily yoga practice, nor do I mediate or do something creative". Since it always seems easier to see other people's patterns than your own (at least it is to me), I said: "So do you realize that the fact that you do or don't do yoga (or anything else that you love, for that matter) has nothing to do with the amount of (free) time you have? The only way to have time to do yoga is when you decide that you have time for it and consciously choose to do it."

Other than time, another big issue for most people seems to be money. I think that many of us think along the lines "Oh, if I only had more money than.. (you can fill it in: I would be happier, my life would be better, etc.) ." When I am not paying attention to my thoughts, I do that too. I tend to think that everything would be easier if I had more money and that I wouldn't have anything to worry about. Well, is that really true? If I had millions in my bank account, a Porsche, a BMW and a yacht in Monaco, would I be worry-free? Most likely not. Because, guess what?: I would probably be worrying about the amount of taxes I would owe, if no one would make a scratch on my shiny cars or if these guys in the south of France know how to take care of my boat the way I would. And to give you a more close-to-home example: every time a financial miracle happens (and yes, they do happen all the time) so I have just the right amount of money I need, I worry if next month such miracle will happen again.

I hear you think. "So what to do? If nothing changes, why bother? If I won't be happier when I get rich, why would I still aspire to be so? Or what about people that actually don't have anything to eat and are really miserable, they would feel better if there circumstances were better, right?" Let me tell you this: the only thing that will actually change anything for the better, is the way you think. The "better" (i.e. happier, less miserable, relaxed, time to do what you love) can only come from inside yourself. When you feel and experience your life as that "better" (take your pick), there is no need anymore to think about more money, more time, more of whatever. You will have everything you need and probably everything you want too. Isn't that a miracle? I think it is.

I know that the next question is "How do I get to feeling "better"?" It is very simple: just change the way you think. "Really? That sounds like a miracle". And it is. To be continued...

Happy miracles to you!

Stay tuned.
Marije