We Always Have A Choice

Every moment of every day we are making choices about what to do, think, and feel. While it doesn’t always seem like we have a choice, particularly when something is out of our control, how we think about a circumstance or event is always within our power. We can choose to be unappreciative or grateful, miserable or joyful, irritated or patient, angry or hopeful . . .  

Maya Angelou wrote, “If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”

Right now, you can’t turn on the television, open a newspaper, or scroll through your Facebook or Twitter feed without being assaulted by disturbing news. There are a few feel-good stories and videos of cute babies, puppies, and kittens, but for the most part it’s political furor. We are living in a time of great divisiveness where misinformation and disinformation has replaced good science and common sense. 

While I choose to be informed about what is going on in the world, I also need to keep enough distance to maintain emotional balance in my life. Never before have I had to practice as much patience as I do now when it comes to public opinion. It feels as if the world has gone mad and the collective frustration is palpable. I get it, I feel frustrated too. Yet, I don’t want to be stuck in frustration.

There is much I cannot change about the news I’ve been reading, but I can choose how I think about it. At the moment, I am doing my best to feel hopeful. It is my hope that “this” (this moment in time, this history, this feeling) will have a happy ending. If anything, I pray that being optimistic will allow me to enjoy the lighter side of life despite all of the darkness lurking in the shadows

I wish that for you too. 

Traci L. Scheepstra, Ph.D., is the CEO/Founder of Embodied Learnings. Want to know more about her work in education? Read here!