Life is like a road.

There are long and short roads; smooth and rocky roads; and crooked and straight paths. Some roads lead to a life of single blessedness, marriage, and religious vocation. Some roads lead to fame and fortune. A wrong turn can lead to isolation and poverty. Crossroads can lead to happiness or sadness, victory or disappointment.

Just like any road, there are corners, detours, and crossroads in life. With four roads to choose from and with limited knowledge on where to go, which road will you take? What guarantees do you have that will allow you to choose the right one? Would you choose or just stay where you are — in front of a crossroad?

There are no guarantees.

This is one of the most important things you need to realize about life. You will never know where a road will lead you until you take it. Nobody said that choosing to do the right thing all the time would always lead you to happiness.

Loving someone with all your heart does not guarantee that it would be returned. Gaining fame and fortune does not guarantee happiness. There are too many possible outcomes, which are beyond your control. However, you still have control over decisions that you will make and your reactions to different situations.

Wrong decisions are always at hindsight.

Had you known that you were making a wrong decision, would you have gone along with it?

Perhaps not, why would you choose a certain path when you know it would get you lost? Why make a certain decision if you knew from the very beginning that it is not the right one. It is only after you have made a decision and reflected on it that you realize its soundness. If the consequences or outcomes are good for you, then you have decided correctly. Otherwise, your decision was wrong.

Take the risk: Make a decision.

Since life does not offer any guarantees and you would never know if your decision is wrong until you made it, then you might as well take the risk and decide.

It is definitely better than staying at the crossroads. While it is true that a wrong turn could get you lost, it could also be an opportunity for an adventure or could lead to more roads. It is all a matter of perspective. Make wise decisions. Taking risks is not about being careless and throwing caution to the wind.

Here are some tips that could help you choose the best option in the face of life’s crossroads:

1. Get as many information as you can about the situation.

You will not have the confidence to make a decision when you are armed with limited information. Just like any news reporter, ask the 5 W’s: what, who, when, where, and why. What is the situation? Who are the people involved? When did this happen? Where is this leading? Why are you in this situation? These are just some of the questions to ask to know more about the situation.

2. Identify and create options.

What are your options in a given situation? What do you do when you think that the situation offers no options? This is the chance to create your own option.

3. Let your creative mind work.

Entertain all ideas. Do not shoot anything down when an idea comes to your head. Sometimes the most outrageous idea could prove to be the right one in the end.

4. Weigh the pros and cons of every option.

Assess each option by looking at the advantages and disadvantages. This way, you get more insights about the consequences of each option.

5. Trust yourself and make a decision.

Now that you have assessed your options, it is time to trust yourself. Remember that there are no guarantees and wrong decisions are always at hindsight. Decide and believe that you are choosing the best option at this point in time.

Now that you have made a decision, be ready to face its consequences. It may take you to a place of promise or land of problems. Nevertheless, the important thing is that you have chosen to live your life instead of remaining a bystander or a passive audience to your own life.

Whether you made the right or wrong decision, only time can tell. Whatever the outcome, learn from it and remember that you always have the chance to make better decisions in the future.

Keep this thought in mind: You always have a choice between being a lost traveler or an accidental tourist of life.

Blessings,

Gary

Well I finally did it.  I finally put an ebook together.

Yep, I finally did it.

The ebook is entitled Spiritual Musings and is a collection of my writings up to December of 2007.  I created this ebook after having been asked by some if there were one available.  So after being asked enough times, I decided it was time I created an ebook with my writings.

You can grab a copy of my new ebook Spiritual Musings, by clicking HERE.

I must tell you that I really enjoyed putting this together and writing the material within.  Many times while reading, listening to an audio, watching a video, or just pondering my existence I have had great moments of clarity and I share them with you in this ebook.

So get your copy today!

Blessings,

Gary

 

 Are You Living In Heaven Or Hell [7:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (393)

Did you know that we have the power to create Heaven or Hell? And that this is the true Heaven or Hell that we learned about through our religious teachers?

We are told that the afterlife will be either Heaven or Hell for us, but in reality the Heaven and Hell spoke of in The Bible is actually here right now. This time, this place. By your own choice you live in Heaven or Hell.

The Hell that people live in though is the Hell created by the negativity they allow themselves to be ruled by day after day. The negativity that wanders around in our brains, telling us that we are not good enough, that we don’t deserve this or that. This negativity can also take the form of an overinflated ego that makes one believe they are better than others.

On a daily basis, our ego plays its scripts over and over in our heads, repeating old phrases to remind us of “who we really are”. But the ego lies. You are not your ego, so do not let it keep you in your self-made Hell any longer. Free yourself from its grasp so that you can finally live the life you were supposed to live.

Become the person you are to become and life will open like a delicate flower for you, exposing its intricate treasures that lie within. Life can truly be like that. A wonder to behold. An inspiration in itself.

When you can approach the world without ego, you will find more love, more beauty, and you will also experience miraculous events. Events that will awe as well as inspire.

Would you like to live that kind of life? I live it every day. I am a walking miracle.

Most of you do not know that I survived a possibly life threatening illness that many who are diagnosed are never cured of. I was diagnosed with it in June 2001, with no symptoms. The diagnosis came from a routine blood test during a yearly physical. The disease was Hepatitis C. (And yes, I attracted this disease to me by my actions way back in 1979 and 32 years later they came back to bite me in the ass)

I went through the prescribed treatment of weekly self injections and swallowing 6 large pills every day. During this time I had returned to college and one of the classes I had was Introduction to Philosophy. This started me on my spiritual quest.

The entire time I was on medication I kept a positive attitude. I was already slightly aware of the side-effects of the medications before I began the process so I was a bit prepared for them. However, I was not that prepared.

Daily I had to fight to keep from being depressed. Attending college helped with that, as well as working a full-time job. It was tough, but I was able to maintain a somewhat normal life.

During all this time I began searching in earnest for answers to the questions that were arising from this whole experience. I guess you could say I was pondering my own mortality. But what really happened was that I began a journey at that point and it has led me down many paths.

I began reading more “New Age” books and books on Spirituality, and began wondering about the things I read in them. I then looked at the world through different eyes as my spirituality was awakened and I became a seeker of spiritual truths.

I say all this to make a point. I could have lived through Hell during this period in my life, but I chose not to. Instead I chose to live in Heaven and although it was very trying at times to say the least, I created the reality I was living. I created my own Heaven out of the Hell that I was experiencing, and was better off for it.

I have met many new people during my journey and several I have brought along with me. One thing that it has all taught me is that we truly are creators and we create the life we live, be it a good life, or a bad one, it’s ultimately our choice.

By this choice, we are creating either Heaven or Hell for ourselves.

Many, many people, and we see them daily, appear beaten down by the weight of the negativity they focus on. You’ve seen these people, I know you have. You look at them and you just want them to wake up to the true reality that is right in front of them. To wake up to the beauty that they are missing.

But alas, they do not wake up and continue to live in the Hell of their choosing.

So where are you living? Are you living in Heaven or are you living in Hell? Remember, it’s your choice where you live.

Peace, Abundance, and Blessings,

Gary

 

 Happiness Is... [8:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (176)

Here are my thoughts on Happiness. Please click the arrow below to listen, or click the download link to save the podcast to your hard drive.

You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes. Click HERE to do so. If you do not have iTunes you can download it HERE.

 

 Attitude Is Everything: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (242)

My wife received a message in an email the other day and shared it with me this past weekend. I was so moved by the email that I had to include the message here as my first podcast.

Hope you enjoy it.

Peace, Abundance, and Blessings,

Gary