A Holiday Tip for a Peaceful Experience

A single decision made from the heart has a cascading effect on you and the people around you. I want to suggest that you imagine the very next situation that requires a choice. It shouldn’t take long. Our choices are like waterfall’s – always flowing.

Do I get to the bathroom now, or finish reading my email. Juice? Or water. Brush my teeth before I eat or wait until after. Looks cold outside, shall I wear multiple layers for my walk or throw on my winter coat? Maybe I won’t walk at all! Shall I Christmas shop for my co-workers now, or the day of our party?

These considerations are like a DVD with multiple endings. Take a look at the options in your situation and imagine the outcomes plugging in the different choices. What does it look like when you choose from your heart? What does it look like when you choose from wanting to be liked? How about when you want it to be easy for everyone else but it’s really hard on you? Who benefits from this choice? Who is potentially hurt? Who is elevated?

There is a principle in nature and explained with eloquence by Dr. Deepak Chopra in his book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, that can assist us with our decision making skills while increasing the happiness factor for everyone. This principle is the Law of Least Effort. It suggests that we achieve maximum benefit with minimal effort. Not the kind of structure our parents would have suggested, for sure. It seems to suggest laziness. Not so!

As an example of how this looks, I recently made plans to attend a friend’s concert in New York City. I love her music and I love the people I would be traveling with, however, I found myself noticing a tug inside my body. I know myself well so I stopped to ‘check in’. I reviewed my choices and observed how I felt with different decisions. The following day was a scheduled book signing which would require me to be present for several hours of fun – or several hours of a dull mind, trying to have fun. I realized that to attend the show in NYC and get home at 3 in the morning only to rise a few hours later would be quite a bit of effort.

In the end, I choose a good night’s rest. I had a wonderful time at the book signing and even enjoyed some other planned events in the town that sponsored the authors. My choice worked for the group that traveled into the city as well. One of our friends lives in Manhattan and had an 8 am appointment in the town where I live. My decision to remain home left an empty seat in the car and he traveled with friends instead of on the bus.

The Law of Least Effort asks us to check in from our spirit – not our ego. Spirit follows the heart and spirit follows love. Love is accepting of moments as they are, not as we think they should be. As they are in the NOW is effortless.

Deepak suggests three behaviors to experience the principle of Least Effort in your own life:

* Accept all situations, people and circumstance as it is – as they are, remembering that perceived challenges are simply disguised opportunities.

* Accept responsibility for your situation without blame, INCLUDING YOURSELF!

* Give up your need to argue your point of view. When your mind is busy creating award-winning debates about how right you are, it is quite difficult to allow yourself the vision of other points of view and the bigger picture.

Now is a wonderful place to start. The Present moment has it all! So for the holidays and every day, I wish you maximal benefit with minimal effort. Practice this principle and you will know Peace.

I also wish you Peace, Love, Light and Laughter in 2011 and beyond.