MUSIC: “Heart Song” by Alexander Bell

Life is full of choices. In fact, the choices you make completely define the life you will experience. For example: what you choose to think about, what you choose to believe, what you choose to eat, where you choose to live, how you choose to behave, how you choose to feel…

It is quite easy to see that this vast array of choices – many of which we make daily – literally shape what kind of a life we experience. For example, consider someone who may eat a lot of organic fresh fruit and vegetables, juices and smoothies, and who spends a lot of time in nature, perhaps meditates or practices yoga daily, has many healthy, positive relationships with the people in their life, and most importantly, a loving relationship with themselves.  Now consider someone who eats a lot of fast food and junk foods (crisps, biscuits, bread etc.), drinks a lot of alcohol daily, smokes cigarettes, spends a lot of time sitting indoors slouched in front of the television, who doesn’t really care much about others. Who would you say has a healthier lifestyle? Who has a more life-affirming lifestyle? And who – generally speaking – is likely to live longer? 

Now ask yourself this important question: which kind of life would you rather have?

Many people would surely answer: ‘Well, somewhere in between would be best for me – not obsessively healthy, but definitely not the life of a slob!”

Well let me ask you this: “Has there ever been anything in your life that you had to achieve through self discipline? (for example learning a difficult instrument, or running a marathon etc.) If so, then you will know that without self-discipline (which really means keeping your behaviour within certain necessary parameters) it is very difficult to achieve certain tasks, or to attain certain goals. 

What we are speaking about here is achieving a specific goal with your mind and your body, which work in tandem to support each other and empower each other. A focused mind is necessary. A healthy body is necessary. A happy heart is necessary! There is no bad news here, there is no cause for struggle, denial, and there are no unpleasant surprises around the corner. Only positive, life-affirming choices. Does that sound bad? If it does, you may want to reconsider whether you want to be the person slouched on the sofa!

Positive, life-affirming choices are vital, every day of our lives, in every action we perform, in every word we choose to speak, every thought that we choose to engage with. Without positive, life-affirming choices the ego takes over our life, we become more selfish in our decision making, only thinking what would benefit us most, rather than what would be mutually beneficial. This, in my opinion, is the worst disease that humanity is currently afflicted with – selfishness. What would the world be like if selfishness vanished? Can you imagine if the world operated on generosity, kindness and giving instead? Which of these realities seems more like heaven on earth to you? 

We don’t need selfishness on this planet. What we need is kindness, generosity and unconditional giving. Then we will have a real paradise on earth. And the best news of all is that we don’t have to wait.
Mahatma Gandhi said: “Be the change that you want to see in the world” and the meaning of this is obvious – If you want change, then change! If you choose not to change, then you will never see the change that you wish to see in the world. 

It is like you have a seed in your hands, and you have a choice what to do with it. If you choose to find some fertile soil, plant it, water it and nurture it then it will grow well and strong, it will blossom and bear beautiful fruit in such abundance that all may enjoy freely. And when the people around you see what wonderful results you have had, they will remember their own seed, and they will find it and plant it, just as you did.

This is the power we have in our hands – the power to create a beautiful future together – abundant and joyful. So what is the seed? It is your next action, your next word, and most importantly, your next thought. And the good news is that they keep coming, each one an opportunity to create something beautiful. A kind word to soothe another, a kind action to restore hope in the heart of another, a kind thought to inspire and motivate you into action. This is what Life is presenting us with all day long. They are the greatest gifts imaginable – the seeds for the future. What do you want to see growing and flourishing on the earth? Then begin planting your seeds now…

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