UNCOMPLICATE MY LIFE, part 2

—for M. A.—

The power to make choices that reflect your true priorities and concerns is perhaps the most amazing gift any human can possess.
    --me, from part 1,  HERE.

There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart ... pursue those.
     --Michael Nolan

(NOTE: I don't know which Michael Nolan he is, but his thought popped up on my homepage while I was writing this article. If you like quotes, you can check out this ThinkExist homepage, too.

Also, this article is part 2 in an ongoing series. If you want more ideas about how to manage your life, CLICK HERE, and part 1 will open up in a new window. If you find this series useful or enjoyable, please consider leaving a tip of $2 or more in the Tip Jar at the top of this page. Thanks!)

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Our choices determine whether we succeed or fail at uncomplicating our lives.

The quality of the energy we bring to these choices is really important. To become more successful at uncomplicating your life, start by noticing when you make choices or act with partial energy.

"Partial energy" is present:

-    whenever we do things half-heartedly;

-    when we feel overwhelmed or "blocked" (especially when we cave in to pressure from others);

-    when we find ourselves wishing that we were doing something else;

-    when we are distracted (full attention is critical to success);

-    when we are high on alcohol or some other drug (that's always a bad time to make a decision, especially an important one, or one involving someone who loves and trusts us);

-    and especially when we are indecisive. You never need to make a decision when you are feeling indecisive! That would be crazy, wouldn't it?

In all of these cases, it is better to wait until the time is right. In other words, save your power for something you can focus on with your full energy. Bringing your partial energy to anything is a waste of your valuable time.

Remember that you own the right to change your mind about choices you have previously made. No one can take that away from you — unless you let them.

If you sign a contract, and then you change your mind, maybe you will have to live with the consequences. But maybe there's a way to break it! I have had to break contracts, and sometimes I had to be pretty pushy about it to get my way, but it was always worth it. Or maybe there's a way to change your agreement so that it is something you can live with. Really rich people do this all the time, and they get away with it; why shouldn't you? (Often their lawyers call it a "loophole.") You'd be surprised what you can change, once you bring your full energy to changing it. Sometimes a commitment turns out to be a bad choice. It complicates life in a painful way, and the only way to uncomplicate life and stop the pain is to break the commitment.

We all find ourselves faced with tough choices. When you are feeling the pressure of being at the bottom of the heap, sometimes any decision, however ill-advised, is better than making no choice at all, just so you can feel as though you are moving forward. These are usually pretty desperate measures, though. If you can step back and view your situation from a different perspective, even for a moment, you may help yourself avoid an even greater, less reversible disaster a minute from now.

In other words, kiddo, look before you leap! When you come to a decision point, you can think of a crosswalk. You wouldn't want to walk across the street without looking for traffic first. The bigger the decision, the busier the street. So be sure that you have checked carefully before you make your move, and then make it with your full energy. (Stop walking once you're halfway across? Yikes!)

There are many ways you can check out the street before you cross:

-    ask yourself which choice feels most right to you;

-    ask yourself about the best and worst possible outcomes that could result from your choice;

-    ask someone whose opinion you trust;

-    ask someone else, just in case they're wrong! Ha ha ha! But don't spend all day worrying about it. Most choices are pretty easy once we're being honest with ourselves. More on that in a moment.

-    wait for a sign (some kind of "green light" — for example, something you overhear, or read in the paper, or simply realize all of a sudden, by yourself.)

I need to talk about this idea of being "honest with ourselves," because "denial" has become such an evil buzz-word nowadays. It seems like if you want to disapprove of someone else's choices, all you have to do is claim that they're in "denial" about something. Now, I'm not saying that everyone does this manipulative kind of behavior, or that it's always an unjustified judgment call. Still, it has become easy to point fingers and substitute the "D" word for doing the harder but more rewarding work of thinking your way through a situation from the other guy's perspective. (Often we call this "empathy.")

Remember that you can't really control anyone else's choices for very long. That's a very good way to make yourself sick with anger and hate. Again, it is better to take this partial energy you are wasting on trying to bend someone else's choices, and move toward your own goals with full energy and unbending purpose.

If you want good role models for full energy and unbending purpose, try watching animals. Other species are seldom lackadaisical about doing anything! Our pets, such as cats and dogs, seem to indulge in this luxurious laziness more often, but that is probably because they have been unduly influenced by foolish humans!

Yet even we foolish humans can achieve our goals with the certainty borne of a clear mind and a glad heart.

So I leave you with this thought:

Whenever you can meet your goals and have fun while you are doing it, then you are living in Paradise.
    -- me, again

That is what full energy looks like. Why do you deserve to settle for less?

Uncomplicate your life.

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Wishing you a beautiful day,

Bill Brent

[this page last updated: 2007.06.23, 8:10 a.m. Hawaii time]

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Comments

[Robert Constanzo]

Hi Bill,

Just found you by accident because I googled info to find on "how to live an uncomplicated life" and came across your "uncomplicate my life, part 1 article and just finished reading part 2 now.

I'm so excited because I feel like I've discovered a new and exciting author and definitely agree with what you have to say. I can't wait to read your other blogs/articles. I'm a children's author living in New York City, and I just wanted to thank you for your kindness and helpful advice on helping others to live a more truthful and enriched life. I feel that my true talent and calling on life is helping others (being of service of others) -- this truly brings me joy, and it's inspiring to see that you're someone who is clearly following their bliss. Thanks for the inspiration.
Robert Constanzo (r.j. constanzo -- author name)

[Bill Brent]

Woo-hoo! Thanks, Robert. I'm delighted to hear from you and I'm glad you found this inspiring. I think children's books are a great form of literature, and now that I have a granddaughter, I'm even more interested in them. Best of luck with your calling -- it's important to do whatever brings the joy.

--Bill