We all come to expect the lessons which life presents to us, but when it comes to assimilating them on a daily basis, that is another story. All too often we forget that we have a choice in how we respond. We may not always have control over our environment or our circumstances, but we do over our attitude and how we let events or people affect us.
To gain the most from our experiences so we may flourish, we need to be mindful of how we approach life. We need to lay a firm foundation.
“Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it.” Irving Berlin
In days of old, to build character and live a better life, we learned the four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance that are still of foremost importance. These virtues hinge upon each other for they work in tandem to aid us in developing a pure heart. The only way to become proficient in them is through daily practice for they are outgrowths of habit.
The same pertains to the Universal Laws of Nature. We need to practice exercising them on a daily basis to harness their power, so we may achieve what we desire.
As I considered each virtue individually, I saw their interrelation with the Natural Laws. Prudence and justice, which assist us in deciding what to do, go hand in hand with the Laws of Attraction, Deliberate Creation, Allowing, and Pure Potentiality. Fortitude gives us the strength to accomplish it, just as the Law of Sufficiency & Abundance and the Law of Pure Potentiality teach that there is more than enough for everyone so manifestation should not be a struggle. Temperance, or moderation, keeps us from excess and in balance, reminding us through the Law of Polarity that everything has an opposite or is at the other end of the spectrum, maintaining us in balance. The Law of Detachment also shows us not to obsess or fall into “needing” our desires but instead surrender and be flexible to the outcome. That is not the same as being indifferent. On the contrary, it is working towards our dreams without forcing solutions but letting them emerge, also invoking the Law of Allowing.
When we consciously live in the moment, we expand our awareness by dropping down to our hearts to reduce the mind’s chatter, hone our life skills, and better assimilate the lessons which life presents to us. Doing so aids us in not only changing what we do not like about our external reality but also choosing what we do desire in our lives for we can always course correct at any given moment.
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C. S. Lewis
When we live from our heart, we focus on BEING. We live from our essence, our truth, aligning our material needs with the desires of our soul, as well as permitting all to flow effortlessly. Most importantly, we learn to look to ourselves for our happiness and satisfaction for we are the sole creators of our lives. When we take responsibility for what is happening in our lives, we awaken to the Divine Creative Spark within us and the knowledge that we are all One. Being allows us to tap into our higher nature, changing ourselves to live life fully.
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
If we but realize that the lessons presented are valuable gifts which serve to bring us closer to our dreams, we would embrace them wholeheartedly. Success, after all, depends on our attitude, choices, and alignment.
Can you see its simplicity or are you turning it into a struggle?