dailydatewithgod

It may be difficult to imagine that our perception sets up our reality.  We like to think we do not have that kind of control or impact on our lives. We like the idea when we have a positive perception but don’t like it when we have a negative one.  We like to think it is because of the outside circumstances that we are frustrated, worried, angry, or happy.  It is convenient or at least familiar to view ourselves as victim’s of our circumstances.  I didn’t turn all the stop lights to red on my way to work this morning which caused me to be late.  I didn’t cause that person to yell at me or cut me off.  What could I have possibly done to stop it from raining?  Yes all those things happen to us but we are not victims.  We always have a choice in how to see them.  We can choose to assume that the experience is meant to invoke negativity, complaining, dissatisfaction and frustration but that is our choice.  It is like the expression, one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.  When we are in a good place we look to cultivate experiences of more good. When we are in a negative head space we hunker down and just hope it doesn’t get any worse.  Yet barring up the walls around our heart out of a sense of protection blocks any opportunity for love to come in.  Therefore, we end up experiencing more of the same.  If we opt instead to pause and take stock of the mindset we are evoking through our interpretation of the events, we can choose a different path.  Gratitude is one of the easiest ways out of this. I can be grateful to have a car to drive to work.  I can be grateful that I saw the person cut me off instead of crashing into them.  I can be grateful that the soil is getting much-needed water.  It is not about discounting or numbing out from the frustration.  It is about seeing it as the interpretation of what is happening and recognizing we can stay there or evoke a different experience.  It is not easy, none of this is.  However, it is not as difficult as it seems.  It is different.  It is our default to react to life.  Reacting allows us to survive.  Responding is what encourages us to thrive.  Sometimes I cannot get my head out of the angst or frustration to save my life.  My perception is so wedded to the idea that it is not going to get any better.  This is when I reach for God’s hand. God, help me to see this differently.  God, I need you to evoke a different perception to place in front of what I am currently feeling.  God, this sucks but I trust that love is present somewhere in this and it can evoke in me the eyes to see it, help!