589. What You Are Today

You are today, the sum total of all the choices and decisions you made in the past. You have no-one to thank or to blame but yourself. It is good to remember this when taking new decisions.

435. Can't or Won't

Contrary to popular belief, there is very little that we cannot do. The real choice is between "will" and "won't". People usually say a thing can't be done in order to disguise the fact that there is a choice. What they really mean is that they don't want to do it or don't want you to do it.

305. Circumstances

Do not quarrel with your circumstances for this is to rebel against Nature and Nature includes your own Nature. So quarrelling with Nature leads you to self-hatred and ultimately, to your own destruction. If you do not like the circumstances you find yourself in, then study the causes and seek to change them. Then your circumstances will change. Your choices increase with learning. The causes of your circumstances are always within yourself. You must learn to BE the person who can DO the things that allow you to HAVE things the way you want them.

297. Education and Freedom.

Education is the door to freedom. Without it, your choices become very limited indeed.

296. On Vegetarianism and Imposing your Views

Vegitarianism like everything else is a choice. If there are moral reasons then there are. The problem is when those that take certain choices seek to impose their views on others. This is called fascism !

166. Setting Boundaries

When you set boundaries, you keep other people's problems out of your life.This is being responsible and happy rather than being responsible and miserable.Taking responsibility does not automatically lead to misery. By setting your boundaries you are taking responsibility for yourself and teaching others to do the same for themselves.

In the spiritual world, your boundaries are always real but often intangible. They can increase your love and save your life. Such boundaries define your soul and help you to guard and maintain it.

Know your boundaries. Define what is me and what is not me. Know what things you take responsibility for and what things you don't. This gives you freedom and opens up more options for you, more choices.

Learn your parameters (boundaries) and keep them clear in your mind. Do not become confused. Write them down. Remember that you are not responsible for other people. You do not control THEIR behaviour and it is a waste of energy to seek to do so.

"Cast not your pearls before swine." Boundaries keep your pearls inside and the pigs outside. Boundaries guard your heart and your treasures. Your boundaries should have "gates" in them in order to let in the good and let out the bad. You should consciously control the traffic through these gates.

Basic boundary maintenance requires that you clear about your Yes and your No. No is the most powerful tool in your boundary building chest.
No is confrontational.
No sets limits.
No prevents abuse.
No is powerful.
No is used in self-defense,

When asked, do not give reluctantly or under compulsion. Give generously with an open heart or do not give at all.

Your words let people know where you stand. If you do not like the way you are being treated, look at the words you are using. People will treat you the way you teach them to treat you.

154. Choice

There is always choice. You can always choose. There are always better and better ways to live. The choice to live better is yours.

67. Giving

The more you give away to help provide for the basic needs of all human beings, whoever they may be, the more you will receive in return.

The more you do nothing but expound on how terrible things are, the more nothing comes bac to you by way of an empty feeling of powerlessness.

The choice is always yours. Here is a link to a video about choice : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTUKHMlbYGA