Who am I? What is my purpose? What do I really want?  Why am I here?

The most basic choice we have in life

Is whether to expand or contract,
Whether to bring our creative and expressive energies
Out into the work in positive or negative ways.
No matter what our circumstances,
we have the power to choose our directions.

In each of us are heroes;
Speak to them
And they will come forth
Anonymous

Most creatures on Earth have a relatively narrow range of conscious choices; they work primarily through instinct and adaptation. In contract, we humans have far-ranging powers of choice. Our daily lives consist of a series of choices and exercises in free will – whether to get up or stay in bed, what to eat for breakfast, what to do with our day, whether to change careers, go back to school, or continue a relationship, and so forth.

Depending upon our circumstances, we may experience many choices or few choices. Mental illness or other incapacitation may distort or limit our power of choice; clarity of mind enhances it. Clearly, we don’t all have equal choice over our circumstances, for example, if we have wealth, we can choose to fly to Europe for dinner; if we live in an impoverished country, we may choose to eat but find no food available. If we are bedridden, we may choose to fun through the hills but find ourselves unable to do so, except in our imagination. Physical circumstances can indeed limit our physical options. The Law of Choices, however, addresses our power and responsibility to choose how we respond to our circumstances- a power we never lose as long as we live.

We have to live and we have to die;
The rest we make up.
Anonymous.

Sometimes we feel as if our choices are made for us by our family, by our employer, by our friends, by our circumstances, or by God. If, for example, our employer tells us, “you have to work overtime or we’ll have to let you go”, we may feel that we don’t have a choice. But of course we do; we make conscious choices by recognising that every choice has consequences.

We can each choose an easier path or a more difficult one. We rarely choose to take the more painful path unless we believe it will bring us pleasure in the long run or get us to our goals more quickly. The fewer distorted or limiting beliefs we have, the greater our power of choice.

We also need to trust the intuitive messages from our subconscious, which may choose experiences or attract people into our life with results that we don’t consciously want but that we may need for our highest good and learning., The more we honour the Law of choices, the more clearly we can live our life on purpose and by choice, taking responsibility for our direction rather tan viewing life as something that just happens to us. For example, instead of wandering through life, wondering if we are on the right path or with the right person or doing the right job, we recognise that we have chosen these people and choices, to take responsibility for our life, and perhaps to make new choices. If we ever feel powerless in a situation, that’s the time to remember our power of choice.

In context of our life purpose, and life path, we can choose to expand or contract, build or destroy, in the two key areas of creativity and expression.

Each of us has creative life energy. We also have the ability to express ourselves. We can choose to create and express in either more positive or more negative directions. We may not always feel as if we have a choice; sometimes we may feel that our creativity and expressiveness are suppressed or that we lack these energies. We may feel afraid or blocked. Yet the more we appreciate the power of choice, the more we take charge of how we channel our creative energy and how we express ourselves.

Creative choice
We create in constructive ways,
Or we create in destructive ways;
Either way, creative energy find expression.

Everything that exists is made of energy, and energy can manifest itself along a spectrum from positive to negative. For example, Money is energy, we can use this energy in positive or negative ways, such as donating to charity, taking a needed holiday, or, for example, hiring someone to perform a crime.

Creative energy has a surging, dynamic quality, it needs to find expression’ it exists to flow and to be used. This energy acts as a two edged sword, if it is not used for constructive purposed, it gets discharged in destructive ways. If our creative energy gets blocked altogether, like water surging against wall, it turns back upon us and creates pressures that we experience as painful symptoms at physical, emotional and mental levels. Excessive weight for example, often reflects blocked creative energy with nowhere to go.

Examples of creating in the positive include the fine arts- music, painting, sculpture, writing, drama, film and so on- but creative energy can also be expressed fully through having and raising children, coming up with innovative solutions to business problems, working with plants, and growing things, or taking care of animals. We can apply creative energy to any field, including healing, crafts, interior design or a thousand other endeavours.

Paul may become a creative artist, Theodore may create counterfeit money, Katrina may apply her creative energy and deft fingers to playing guitar. Gillian may become a pickpocket. One person may create with language to tell stories; another may use language to elaborate lies. All of these examples reflect creative energy, used in constructive or destructive ways.

Many prison inmates are extremely creative; they can draw, paint, sing, act and write beautifully, but they choose to direct their creativity into negative directions. They planned creative robberies, conned people out of money, lied and so on.

Blocked creative energy either manifests as physical maladies and symptoms such a back ache, or gets discharged through abuse of tobacco, alcohol, other drugs, food or sex. When such release becomes repetitive, compelling or chronic, it may expand into full-blown addictions, which take away our choice and right to choose.

As we recognise that we have, on some level, chosen how we channel our creative energies, we can learn other ways to open up our energies and channel them in direction that inspire or help others and bring rewards instead of punishments. No matter how destructive or blocked our creative energy may have been in the past, this can change once we apply the power of choice. By choosing to express our creative energy in positive, life-affirming way, including daily exercise, we can literally change the course of our life.

Experiencing Creative Choice.

Consider how your creative energy manifests.
 Is your energy flowing into creative projects or activities or is it blocked?
 If your energy feels blocked, do you experience physical symptoms?
 How might you use the energy in an enjoyable and constructive way?
 How do you balance, ground, or release creative energy when pressure builds up?
Do you exercise?
Do you smoke cigarettes?
Do you talk a great deal?
Do you drink alcohol or use other drugs?
Do you overeat?
Do you feel pressure for sexual release?

No moral judgements are implied here, there are only more or less constructive ways to use creativity
 How will you choose to use your creativity in the future?
 Will you apply the power to choose?

Application of Creative Choice
 Make a list of the more constructive and less constructive ways in which you make use of your creativity.
 Contemplate your list and consider the life you would like to create for yourself. You may choose not to make any changes, or you may decide to take a risk and try something new.
If you are dealing with abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, or abuse of food or sexuality, consider the following

 Find a twelve step program or other self-help group, in the case of addictions group support is essential.
 Commit to an exercise program to balance and release addictive pressures constructively.
 Find a counsellor or psychotherapist to help you work through underlying issues.

If you have avoided learning creative skills, or arts out of insecurity, or a feeling that you might not be good enough, explore new possibilities, take a leap and express your creativity.

 Take an art or drama class; make up short stories, or write a daily journal, take up a craft or hobby, martial art, rearrange, redecorate, or redesign your home or choose a new image and redesign your look. Help someone solve a problem, work in the garden, or do volunteer work.
 Any of these are positive examples of creativity.

Expressive Choice

We express ourselves in constructive ways,
or we express ourselves in destructive ways;
either way, expressive energy manifests.

Expressive energy demands release. We express ourselves and our emotions most often through talking, but performance and arts and crafts also give other avenues of self-expression.
Expression entails more than just talking or passing out ideas or information. Expressive energy is emotional energy, or feelings, these feelings may signal anger or sorrow or fear that needs to be released, these feelings may evoke joy, and inspiration, which demands expression.
If we block the expression of our feelings, this block contributes to sore throats, ulcers, other abdominal tensions and problems, lower back pain, fibroids, prostate problems, headaches, muscular tension and stiffness or other symptoms and maladies. One reason the elderly tend to have more problems in these areas is that they have had more years to store up and suppress unexpressed feelings. We can, however rejuvenate and invigorate ourselves by taking appropriate steps to heal our body and at the same time to form new habits and create new avenues of free and open self-expression.

Creative energy can be channelled in isolation, such as through painting pictures or building models by ourselves, but expressive energy entails relationship – someone else who receives our expression, someone willing to listen, to watch our performance, or to appreciate our expression or expressive craft. Our audience may be adults, children, or even animals with whom we’ve established a relationship (and who listen well without judgement or blame. This is why someone’s attention is worth more than gold, and can bring a sense of great relief and release.

Expressive energy is so strong in some people that it may come out at first in one-on-one situations, but as confidence grows, the expressive drive often expands to include groups in one form or another. Whatever form our expression takes – symphonies, speeches, or soap operas- it can convey, stimulate or inspire feelings, stirring our emotions.

Positive expression manifest as inspiring, enthusiastic, constructive, uplifting communications, such as speaking, singing, acting, music writing etc. Negative expression manifests in bad-mouthing, complaining, criticising, or bragging or whining. It tears down, hurts or destroys, and it can cut people to ribbons.

Those of us who have a great deal of expressive energy have the power to either uplift or tear down. Once we recognise our ability to uplift or tear down, we can learn to channel this energy in responsible constructive ways.

Whether our feelings seem “positive” or “negative”, we can all appreciate the value of expressing them in constructive ways. Getting in touch with and releasing our authentic feelings can generate new levels of energy, integration, and healing. In valuing positive expression does not mean we should deny our anger, or fear, or sorrow, nor do I recommend repressive strategies, in the name of staying “cool” or above it all. We can express even anger, fear, sorrow, or any other “negative” emotion in negative or positive ways. For example, if we feel angry, we can call someone names, or we can say something like, “I feel really angry right now about what you did, and that puts a wall between us, which I don’t want”.

The Law of choices when applied to expression, reminds us that in the long run, honest express of all of our feelings benefits both ourselves and our relationships,

It is said the “pen” is indeed mightier than the sword. Misused expression has allowed dictators to take over and manipulate whole nations; it has slandered and destroyed lived. At the same time, the most moving works of art, and the most eloquent speeches of history stand as glowing examples of the power of expressive energy to bring beauty into the world and to inspire us to action and to change.
Even in everyday life, the way we express ourselves can make a tremendous differences to our health and in the quality of life for ourselves and those around us. The choice is ours.

Experiencing Expressive Choice Exercises

Consider the following questions:-
 When did you last express something in a negative way to someone?
 When you express something in a negative way (a criticism or complaint), do you notice that you feel fully justified at the time?
 How do you feel during and after you criticise or complain, or express in another negative way?
 When did you last express something in a positive way to someone?
 When you express something in a positive way (giving someone a compliment or expressing angry feelings in a constructive way that honours the relationship), do you notice the way positive energy comes back towards you?
 How do you feel during and after you compliment someone or express your feelings in another positive way?

As you reflect on your answers to these questions, you might want to imagine or even
Mentally rehearse more positive ways to express your feelings.

Application of Expressive Choice

1. Write down or recall the last one or two times you expressed something in a negative way.
2. Consider that when we criticise, we don’t usually express our feelings; we turn what we feel into judgements of another. How about you rewrite how you might have phrased your feelings directly and honestly. HINT: instead of using “he” of “she” (“He makes me crazy!” or “She always….”) use “I feel” (“I feel angry when…..”)
3. The next time you have a chance, put what you have learned into practice.

Happy choosing!!

Why not visit our new website www.soulminding.com and join any number of groups that are starting to discuss and apply the lessons you have learnt in these exercises. Soul Minding is a new course drawing from many concepts taught by some of the greatest teachers of our time, and from many disciplines, cultures and learning from across the “Mind Field” of modern thinking. Now is the time to mind your soul and plot your way through your own individual “Mind Field”. Join small groups, either working together, or with gently guided one on one sessions with Samantha O’Connor. Please call for further details. 07771 926680 or visit the website.