Imagine being at a crossroads. Here there are two paths to choose from, each extending forward to a different destination. By choosing, we are collapsing our potential future into one of these possibilities. If we walk the distance and find that we do not like where we wind up, then the cause of our misfortune lies in the choice we made at this crossroads.
This begets a degree of responsibility unto all of us for the choices we make. Wherever we are now, whatever choices and consequences lie before us at this moment, are completely dependent on the choices we made up to this point. We cannot change the past, so thinking of ourselves as victims of circumstance only disempowers us. By accepting our role in guiding our vessel through the universe, we strengthen our ability to make choices from this moment into the future.
Even if we choose to stand at this cross roads indefinitely, this is still a choice. The world does not stop spinning because we sit down. The sands of our hour glass are always ticking downwards until the inevitable point where there is nothing left in our life force. To find the happiness we seek in life, we must be mindful and present to guide ourselves where we truly desire.
To be mindful is to retain a conscious commitment to steering our ship across the tides of time. Presence is the awareness of the moment, and the combination of these two ensures that a person is not throwing away opportunities to shift the direction of the tides.
Every moment is precious and should be treated with respect for the power it holds over our fate. Often times, it takes consistent effort in redirecting ourselves to end up at our desired destination. In contrast, a single bad choice can result in the loss of a lifetime of progress in a single heart beat. A phrase misspoken out of anger, a critical lapse of judgment, or an unconscious desire to sabotage ourselves are all it takes to shatter our perceived safety net and send us tumbling down a series of paths that do not serve us.
As humans, we are both blessed and cursed with the gifts nature has given us. Our brains give us the ability to see into the future, and know what consequences our choices will have long term. This gives us a tremendous strength when it comes to surviving nature's trials. However, this is equally a burden, as knowing what the right direction does not always make it easier to travel. A multitude of forces, emotions, and desires pull on our mental world, making consistent effort difficult: sometimes leaving us feeling it is impossible to continue on this path we set out on.
Again, mindfulness is the greatest tool in our tool box. We may not be able to win every battle, but the mindful person will come out on top more often than not. This is because when we practice mindfulness, we are building our willpower. Across a lifetime, a person flexing this ability will gain superiority over the forces of the universe that stand in his or her way. Eventually, they will reach a point where they overcome the roadblocks that previously deterred them, and they will begin walking an untrodden path; one which extends towards the destination they held in their hearts the entire time.
