As I wrapped up my study time this morning, specifically my time of visualization, I was reminded how exciting it is to have the power to make choices! You will make many choices today and while it is important to make good choices, the attitude you choose is just as important. Let me explain.

We should not only make good choices on a daily basis, we should also be thankful that we have the privilege of choosing!

Maybe it’s because my wife and I watched Lion last night. I promise not to give away the plot, but the setting is in India. Did you know that 80,000 children go missing every year in India? Most of us, however, do not face these types of living conditions. Aren’t you grateful?

Instead, you and I will have the opportunity to make many choices today. In fact, we will most likely choose between what is good and what is best. For example, we may drive through the McDonald’s drive through and that’s o.k. Or we may eat a banana. While both choices fulfill our need to eat, they both have different nutritional value. Meanwhile, kids in India today may eat nothing or have an opportunity to eat something that is less than desirable but has nutritional value.

After we’ve eaten breakfast, you may choose to shower. Most likely you won’t shower for just a minute or two, you’ll shower until you are forced to get out of the shower to go to work or somewhere else (wherever you choose). Do you see my point?

The fact that we have choices should be pretty evident by now. So lets talk about power. If that word brings up to0 many pictures of abused power, think more along the lines of action. What actions will you take today?

First, you’ll have the ability to act and get out of bed. As I write, my son just came into the kitchen and asked me to come and look at a bird he saw outside the bathroom window. The return of our feathered friends in the Northeast after a long winter is something to really be thankful for.  Power allowed him to make that observation and share.

Again, isn’t it wonderful that we get to make so many choices on a daily basis. I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel really thankful.

I’m thankful that I will walk into any room in my house today, flick the switch, and a light will come on.I’m thankful there’s a car out in my driveway waiting to take me to work.

I’m also thankful I’ll be able to take in the scenery on the way to work and listen to some good music.

I’m thankful I’ll get to hug my children and wife today. I’m also thankful for the opportunity of looking into their eyes one more day.

I’m thankful I have a job to go to and all of the tools I need to do my job properly. Today I’ll have the pleasure of writing, reading, helping people, cleaning, etc.

I guess what I’m saying is it’s good to be alive! That may not be the deep, empowering, mind shift you were looking for today, but it sure works for me.

I don’t know about you, but in my limited experience, we have a tendency to take things for granted. Be it our families, our jobs, life itself, friends, luxuries, needs. We all need to make time and recalibrate our thinking. Here is an actionable step I’ve been taking that I think will really help you.

Visualization.

Many sports figures have used it for years. Tiger Woods, for example, visualizes every shot he’ll take before actually taking it. He probably needs to do that off the golf course as well, but that’s another story.

Now let me ask you a question. When you think about the day to come, what are your thoughts? Do you imagine the day being a success or a failure? Enjoyable or difficult?

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that most people dread their day. Unless they’re going on vacation that particular day. It shouldn’t have to be that way.

Remember, we all make choices. In most cases, we have good options. And, it’s fun-even highly pleasurable- to make choices. So why not choose to not just endure your day but enjoy every facet of it?

Rather than fighting with your spouse today, why not imagine yourself responding in a loving manner regardless of what he or she does.

Do you see the difference? We could visualize all kinds of other things, but we won’t. The important thing is to face the reality of where you’re at, to choose where you want to go, and adjust accordingly.

Likewise, don’t just picture yourself achieving success. Imagine how good it’s going to feel when you….walk across the stage to receive your diploma!….Lose the twenty pounds!….know that you’ve had a date night once a week for a year straight!

The morning is the best time to make this happen. You don’t have to visualize for 10,15 or 20 minutes. Start with a minute or two, maybe 3-5 minutes. Set a timer on your phone. Do it while you’re driving or walking to work. The duration of the activity isn’t important…. building a new habit is.

While you’re at it, don’t get in the habit of doing it the same way every time. You might get some old magazines and cut out pictures of things you like, places you want to go, people you admire.

The key is variety. Often times, we need to keep doing what we’re doing, we just need to be more creative in the ways we’re doing it. Always be on the lookout for new and innovative ways to complete old tasks. In the end, you’ll be thankful and so will the people you lead.

You may love Blueberry pie, but if you ate it during every meal for the next month, I guarantee you wouldn’t be so fond of it 30 days from now! The same is true with this or any new habit. You have to commit for the long haul. If visualization and thankfulness appeal to you, don’t just try it for a day or two, commit to the next 30 days. In the meantime, what would it look like if you were to take a clean piece of paper or your devise and write down 10 different visualization exercises to use during the next 30 days?  Come to the fountain and you can be satisfied!