Pat Holland Conner

Have you ever asked yourself the question “What in the world was I thinking?” regarding a previous choice you made (meaning if you only knew then what you know now)?

Well, you’re not unlike many others who’ve asked exactly the same thing. As you know, we can’t change the past.

Ever looked closely at your decision-making purpose and skills? Have you always followed the crowd because it’s always been done that way? Are your major life choices based on the luck of the draw? Whatever approach you use to evaluate your most important life decisions, are you willing to be responsible for the outcomes?

FACT: The Law of Action and Reaction responds to every conscious and unconscious choice, thought and decision. Like the Law of Gravity, whatever goes out will return. Therefore, whether you follow the crowd or not, your choices and their outcomes belong to you.

There is no one to blame (only the choice maker). Since you won’t know the outcome until some later time, are you prepared for whatever may show up? Ask yourself: What can I do now to prevent future discomfort in my life?

Stop, look and listen before you make your decision and ask yourself if this is your absolute and best option. Are there other possibilities? Does your choice hurt, harm or injure others? How would you feel as the receiver of the choice you made?

Life is not a game of chance, it’s an opportunity to express one’s free will. You create your reality by making wise choices and taking full responsibility for them.

Remember: You are the master of your fate and captain of your life. Choose well.

Human beings instinctively thrive from an evaluation of life experiences through their value-driven consciences and by viewing their relationships. In particular, notice the numbers of people in your life who find it difficult to keep commitments and seek only for selfish ends. Those who neglect their obligations and point the finger through hatred, rancor and anger express it mentally, verbally and energetically to both enemies and friends. Shaming, blaming and fault-finding reduces the level of personal inner peace as evidenced by the reflection of outsourced bitterness. Hence, the economy of existence is greatly damaged until a life review occurs with changes necessary to attract the greater Good. Look around and see—all are known by their relationships and deeds.

In my daily pondering I consider ways to enhance my life and grow. Recently I wrote journal entries on the concept of giving and receiving. In my attempts to live with sincerity, I’ve worked conscientiously without thoughts of service to others. Releasing the need to self-blame or contest my former thoughts and activity, I now seek discernment differently. To what extent have I produced value in the world or offered services in return for the benefits I’ve received during my lifetime? Surely I have wasted much time and useless energy on frivolity and foolishness. Seeking material pleasures held me captive for a long time until I recovered memories of my participation in service with deep humility, reward and self-understanding. I believe it takes a little of this and a pinch of that for balance…then we get to practice again and again for more of life’s progress.

Have you held longtime thoughts, feelings and ideas about something you’ve wanted most in your life? If you’ve answered positively and haven’t received it yet, the next step is to trust it’s already on the way to your life. Forget the years, weeks or days you’ve harbored sadness, disillusionment, lack of trust or fear in your mental vibration because the desire hasn’t manifest. Stop spending your time looking at what isn’t happening. It’s essential to remember the achievement of any desire requires: a strong will hosting the desire, the determination to achieve it and the belief you deserve it. Wherever you place your intention and attention, your mind, body and spirit will respond. We receive desired gifts when nothing comes between the desire and the deserving recipient.

When I’m willing to ask other people for help, they offer great support in ways I hadn’t thought possible. Almost everyone has a gift or talent to share. Today I’m reminded to check out why I fail to ask for help in my areas of need. When I do ask for help, I’m usually at the bottom of the barrel where conditions have worsened. Isn’t reaching out about allowing others to share their talents, skills and abilities? My limited thoughts and fears about asking for help bind me to greater confinement and isolation. I am reminded I do not live alone in a world of possibilities.

Ever thought about where Energy begins? I’m thinking about that now as depressed feelings have overpowered my thinking mind. I trust I have all the Energy I need to handle my life experiences, but often I fail to remember I can’t do everything at once. It takes planning and an energized thought dedicated to one idea at a time followed easily with action and accomplishment. My process for getting past frustrating thoughts includes helping others. During these moments of helpfulness, my attitude changes and I end up having greater Energy. Shifting my thoughts requires consciousness, choice and pays big personal dividends whenever and wherever I serve.

In writing my new book with the same title above, I’ve embraced new ideas through which I experience growth and hopeful progress. Forgiveness is more than saying, “I’m sorry.” Often our inner talk allows us to settle for less than the effort it takes to work through and remove heavy burdens. One who truly forgives others begins by expressing greater self-love and flooding the mind with thoughts of self-acceptance. Change your thoughts, change your life. We are spiritual beings having a human experience including our miss-takes. The paramount gift of forgiveness is loving oneself while making new choices in favor of the ones that didn’t work and accepting inner permission to move forward. We are obligated to give love and reconcile with our adversaries.

Meeting old friends and making new ones at the 2012 Virginia Festival of the Book was one of my most exciting experiences as an author. I am especially thankful for the opportunities to read, autograph my book and to share some of the themes within it. The primary theme is “It’s not too late to change the brokenness.” What else is happiness except feeling delighted and pleased within?