We have a choice.  We always have a choice, my favorite yoga instructor reminded me on a recent Sunday morning when I was feeling overwhelmed with all of my upcoming events and commitments.

I guess I already knew this.  I mean, maybe it’s obvious?  But, somehow I always seem to forget, or subconsciously fall into old patterns, without giving it much thought.

I find it helpful to try to slow down now before making decisions about commitments.  Otherwise – I will say yes  before realizing what I got myself into.  Then, I feel resentful and bitter towards others when in reality I – and only I – made that choice, and could have made a different decision.

Simple enough right?  But not always so easy!

I have a tendency to justify these types of decisions to myself.  I’ll think, “well, I ‘had’ to say yes to that invitation or I ‘must’ attend that event because x, y, z.”  But the honest truth is that I actually did have a choice between two or more options, and I made an active decision to commit to be somewhere or to do something.  And, most of the time, there was not a gun pointed at my head.

I know this is easier said than done, and will likely be met with resistance from others (friends, family, co-workers), but at the end of the day, most of these choices are within our control.  And, ultimately we should be the foundation for our own lives.