“When you have a choice to make and don’t make it, that in itself is a choice.” — William James
Through a very poignant conversation several years ago with a good friend, the phrase conscious choice of will was an integrally interjected point. At the time, I was intrigued with the phrase and later began to contemplate the many layers of its meaning. Since that conversation many years ago, innumerable choices and changes have occurred. As life continued to evolve, my friend passed away . . . but those weighted words involving a conscious choice of will never have. I have come to understand those words were timely, appropriate, authentic, honest, truthful and a gift to be shared. Stephen R. Covey puts it another way . . . “Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.”
We have all heard that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. And the opposite is extremely true as well, when the teacher is ready the student appears. I can tell you without equivocation as an educator . . . that last statement is absolutely true. As a performing artist, I have had the experience of receiving from audiences an imperceptible energy of acceptance where time is erased and consciousness becomes one.
Recently, I understood how — like attracts like energy — and the rest dissolves away. When you’ve done your homework on yourself, and finally understand who you really are accounting for your fears, addictions, foibles, egos, sensitivities, attitudes, failures, successes, hopes and dreams . . . you will begin to comprehend what you really want. Sometimes it’s necessary to plow through days, months, years and decades of making wrong choices, taking incorrect turns while experiencing failures in career aspects, relationships and on and on. Painful . . . of course, and part of necessary growth. Ultimately, we do reach a plateau knowing we are worthy, realizing our conscious choice of will has become more refined, defined and clarified. We have always had this within us, unfortunately we have not always understood how to get there. Once you open that door, it cannot be closed. Why would you want to? The road may be rough, but worth the journey, because you’re worth it and once you come to terms with that truth . . . Stephen R. Covey shares this, “Happiness, like unhappiness, is a pro-active choice.” The possibilities are limitless, you are now awake, alert and active to make that conscious choice of will.