What prompts you to say, "I don't know?"

More often than you realize, you know what you want, how you think or why you behave as you do.  Yet, as people ask you about your dreams or plans, part of you will still reply, "I don't know."  Where did you pick this up? How can you learn to read between the lines?

You may be walking down the street and come across a shop by a vendor who is selling products or services you dream about doing yourself.  People with you might snicker as you linger or, tell you that such a plan is not the right thing for you.  Do you listen?

Then there exist times when a someone you know asks you why you did not make a certain decision, why you did not take advantage of a particular opportunity they would have wanted for themselves. If this kind of interaction prompts you to reply, " I don't know?," then what are you really saying? Why hesitate to accept what you know?

Whenever you choose to be tentative or, indecisive, then you lack self-confidence or faith in what your spirit desires.  You may place too much importance on external approval or social acceptance.  If this is the case, then you are not listening to your soul.

Think back to a situation where you sensed you knew something.  How did that feel? This is a situation when you had no desire to question your view or belief.  You had an unwavering trust in something or someone.  To utter "I don't know" can reveal you were let down or betrayed and are reluctant to trust.  You may hesitate to take a risk because doing do did not work out for your before. History does not have to repeat.

You always have the option to decide to raise your awareness and remember what you know. This will evolve as you feel more comfortable expressing what you believe to people who may not share your views.  It is okay to agree to disagree.  It is also okay change your mind and realize you know more than you thought. People will tell you what they think. You choose what to believe.  You evolve to understand why you think as you do.

Why reserve time for yourself?

People speak of projects, commitments, responsibilities and attachments to what is going on in the world around them.  You exert energy for your work, for your family, for people you know and strangers.  Yet, how often do you sincerely reserve time for yourself?

In order to enrich your life,  it is necessary to be aware of what you are doing and whether you feel  balance inside.  That is, are your efforts reciprocated? Is there a sense of give and take in the relationships and endeavours that define your life? Or, do you feel drained physically, emotionally or otherwise? Each feeling sends you a valuable message. 

As you choose to reserve some time for yourself, you can learn to listen to what goes on inside.  This differs from what people around you say and what noises are distracting you.  Taking time for you simply means doing things that enable you to feel good.  You learn to slow down and just be.  Some people believe this is easier said than done.

Why laugh at yourself?

Every human being goes through experiences that daze and confuse, and even seem to throw their lives in turmoil. But wait! Your experiences depend on your level of awareness. What you thought was funny at a given moment, stage or age, changes. Why is that? Why are certain cartoons, situations funny and then you get all serious?

When was the last time you reflected on something you said or did and laughed yourself silly?You would notlikely repeat allthings you did in your lifetime. Yet, you can laugh at many of your previous choices, because of what you know about yourself now. Your self-awarenesschanges. Laughter releases tension and gives you amuch widerperspective.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like if older people became younger and younger people grew older only because they were maturing? Individuality is what makes you who you are inside. You conjure up reasons for aging, shrinking, growing, expanding, and for other perceptions. You are given repeated opportunitites to fulfill yourself. The ability to laugh is part of it. Not everyone takes opportunities to laugh and relax the mind.

Ask yourself what laughter teaches you about your own life experience.  For one thing, nothing is as bad as you make it out to be at a given moment. As you stand back from stages of your life, you begin to realize laughter is a dependable friend. It enables you to detach fromyour perceived problems and ailmentsin the physical world. It enables you to change or expand your outlook in positive ways. How much have you laughed today?

What are they really saying?

During a given day, you are consciously focused on completing a series of tasks.  You also react to what life throws you. Part of you reacts instinctively and other parts react based on conditioning.  What are your mind and body really saying?  Is this all a dream?

Think about your workplace. It is entirely likely that you periodically encounter disgruntled people.  This could be on the phone, across the counter, in the staff room, or  in some other interaction. You may evolve to see each encounter as a test for your patience, understanding, and ability to shake off the small stuff. How do you fare?

Think about your home life. When you leave and return, you leave with one set of emotions and return with the emotional results of your experiences. Do not assume that people around you will bring about much-needed changes in you.  As you become aware of what mind and body are telling you, then you choose what to retain and what to let go.

While at the gas station, I recently opened the door for a man who had his hands full of groceries.  Although he appeared surprised, he smiled and thanked me as he walked past.  The cashier was gob-smacked.  He confided to me that he had never before seen a female open a door for a male.  He also shared how he had almost given up on opening doors for women.  So many had reacted negatively to him, as if to say they were fully capable of doing it themselves.  My mind and body tell me what feels right. Regardless of external reactions, I rely on myself and have faith.  Do what makes sense to your mind and body.

You may ask, what ever happened to chivalry? If you choose to find anything in life, then you create it.  You may have heard someone say they expect dismissive remarks.  That is precisely what they experience, over and over. Positive, uplifting things are alive and well for those who invite this energy and are receptive.  What do you really say now?

Choose your battles wisely

Throughtout your life, you encounter obstacles and perceive battles.  You will meet people who disagree with you, who express themselves as if to taunt you or challenge your principles, values and inner peace.  You may ask, "what is it with that person?" Yet, they continue efforts to discourage or bring you down.  They have an axe to grind.

Your reflex may be defensive.  You may act to prove you're right and they're wrong.  You may have had it 'up to here' with their attitude, jealousy or anger.  Yet, how often do you decide conflicts are not worth the energy? When do you nod and smile, send sincere love and forgiveness or, deliberately turn away? Choose your battles carefully.

One perspective of the honourable thing to do would be to turn your back on provocateurs, to walk away or, to ignore them.  Choosing not to be disturbed by criticism, scepticism and misunderstanding, is a way to raise your energy vibration. 

When people approach you and seek to pick fights, you have options.  You can baffle them by choosing to agree with them.  You can behave in ways that do not permit them to disturb your peace of mind.  As you do, they cannot drain your energy.  In fact, they go away to bother someone else.  Like-minded people are drawn to you instead.

Nonetheless, you will still encounter situations where learning or applying assertiveness is warranted.  Only you determine when the result you desire is worth your attention.  Worry, fear, anxiety need not be perpetuated.  That would dissipate positive, beneficial energy.  This is useful as it raises your awareness, prompts inner expansion and growth.

Amidst your relationships, you will learn what it feels like to encounter opposition.  You will also have opportunities to strengthen your inner self and opportunities to discern the service you can bring to another.  If you choose to vent negative energy, then this is a disservice, and an emotional cyclone.  It obscures or distracts you from true priorities.