Newsletter:Choice points.

Our world is changing so rapidly now that it's almost overwhelming at times. The economy, relationships, weather patterns to name a few. With each change comes something I call choice points. Choice points are moments in your life where you have to make a decision on which direction you will take. BTW, choice points aren't only when disaster hits. They are part of our daily life. We have approximately 60,000 thoughts per day. That's 60,000 choice points!

In one of the Sanskrit scriptures, the Katha Upanishad, two words are used to describe choice points. Preya and Shreya. Preya refers to immediate gratification, the pleasure principle. Shreya means choosing the best consequences.

Let me give you an example. You know you have to go to work on Monday morning yet you stay up really late on Sunday night. At that moment you've created a choice point. That choice is probably directed by preya or immediate gratification. This decision creates a domino effect of other choice points. You wake up a little late so you skip breakfast at home and grab something at Dunkin Donuts. That creates a sugar rush in your body and you eat more carbohydrates during the day to get the energy. You're running a little late so you speed which raises your stress levels. By the time you're at work, you're wired and cranky.

What if you chose Shreya, the best consequence. You went to bed on time, woke up early enough to eat a health breakfast and pack a healthy lunch. You get to work in a relaxed state which sets the tone for the day.

Now this is a very simplified example. Yet, these choices points add up very quickly. If they're out of balance, they start creating bigger more desperate choice points.

Ask yourself this question, "How will I use the 60,000 choice points I have today?"

Best wishes,

Mona