Hello all,

As a society, we are more concerned with our personal gain than with our internal condition, the condition of our soul.

We are more concerned with climate change and global warming than with changing the conditions and thinking inside ourselves that created the environmental disregard to begin with.

We talk about world peace and yet we go to war over the smallest of differences... mainly religious, while we all worship the same GOD or Universal Force that created us.

Until we comprehend the idea on a soul level of embracing each other despite our differences, everything we wish to change will elude us.

If each of us decided to do this one simple thing we could help change the world. To change from being reactive in a moment, to making the proactive choice to love each moment no matter what it may bring, that one simple yet most challenging change will change the world.

How can we do this you ask? Or better, as I ask this of myself, how can I do this?

I work to notice the thinking that has me reacting to life instead of being proactive. Proactively making new choices that rise above my ego.

To help me become more proactive I have created a simple four step process.

First. Breathe. Wow, inventive huh? Breathing... who'd have thought?

If I take a moment and breathe before I let those angry words come out or if I breathe when I notice my thoughts are filled with resentment or anger... breathing relaxes me into the moment long enough to do step two.

Second. I ask myself... "what would be a new choice for me here, with this person or situation?"

I take a moment and notice what I am feeling... I notice too, what my ego is urging me to react with. I continue to breath, which creates the space for a new choice to pop into my head... or to appear as an option. Which allows me to go to step three.

Third. I notice which of the options are making me uncomfortable or a little fearful and I go to those options and make my choice. The reason I look for the uncomfortable choices or the ones I am a little afraid of saying or doing is this simple rule that my coach taught me.... "you cannot have a future unlike the past if you are not moving into what makes you uncomfortable or fearful."

Wow, what a concept. If I make a choice that I would not have ordinarily made because I was too busy reacting (probably to be right)... I will have a new future... otherwise if I keep doing what I am doing, I'll keep getting what I am getting. So I make the choices that make me uncomfortable or the ones that I notice I am afraid of saying or doing.

Now I am ready for step four; I breathe and get ready for step one all over again.

It's such a simple process... and it keeps me awake to be proactively creating my life and the changes are amazing.

And I have a secret... well, it won't be a secret after you read this... I do not always stay awake enough not to react. I am challenged to do this ten times in a day and some days... challenged to do it even once.

It takes a force of will to wake one's self up in one's lifetime, my ego loves it when I react.

I love the life I create when I am awake enough to be proactive in my choices.

It only takes the simple four steps above and I wish you all the best in making it happen.

Try it for a few hours the first day... and then do for longer. Tell me about your successes and lessons.

I will continue to write and speak about this topic as it helps me to stay awake.

Anyone of you who have worked with me or may have been in one of my classes knows this one thing about me... I am teaching that which I need to learn the most.

Happy New Year and I am grateful that you have taken this journey with me.

Gratefully yours,
Steve