You know Dear One, it isn’t absolutely necessary for you to express your opinion about everything that you see.

It’s OK for you to reserve doing so for only those things that you like, that lift your spirits, that you agree with, that make you feel hopeful, that hold promise for you, that you find beauty in, that make you feel good, regardless of how much others may try to convince you otherwise.

That does not mean that we are encouraging you to turn a blind eye on all that you find unjust, disagreeable, heartbreaking, distressing or troublesome in the world.

It simply means that throughout the history of time, talking negatively about something, pouring negatively charged words, actions or feeling into a situation/problem that is distressing, unjust, troublesome, harmful, or toxic has never, not ever, not even once, solved it.

Like it or not Dear One, change is coming.  And that means that you’ve got a decision to make.

You have to decide if you are going to choose to embrace it or reject it – If you are going to choose to consciously participate in the process, or not.

But you should know that change will come either way, regardless of what you decide.  Life will continue to flow, evolve, move and shift around you no matter what you choose.

And there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it from happening.

The truth of it is that you are participating either way.  Every thought, feeling, belief and emotion that you have is creating your point of attraction, is setting your vibrational tone.  And everything that comes your way, including change,  does so because it is a vibrational match to you.

You can create change consciously Dear One, or you can create change unconsciously, but either way, it’s coming.

How it comes however, is totally and completely up to you.

Try and fail Dear One, and you will still be better off than if you had never tried at all.

Giving up is nothing to feel bad about Dear One.  Did you know that it’s OK to want to give up from time to time?  That it can actually be good for you?  Giving up is the ultimate form of surrender.

When you have nothing left to lose – when you stop trying – when you stop resisting what is –  when you reach your point of surrender – anything can happen, if you let it.

Surrender does not need to be hopeless, devastating or an indicator of weakness.  It can be intentional, exciting and an indicator of strength .  Don’t give up and expect the worst.  Give up and expect the best.  Give up control, fear, remorse, guilt, agitation.  Give up negativity.  Give yourself a break.  Try embracing surrender today and allow something unexpected to happen.

Don’t wait for them to decide Dear One, before you make your decision.

Release your dependency on them, and your expectations of them.

• Let them follow their bliss, and you follow yours
• Let them move at their pace, and you move at yours
• Let them decide what is best for them, and you decide what is best for you

Because in the end your happiness is not determined by what they think, what they say, what they do, what they choose, or when they choose to do it.

It is determined by how you do all of those things.

You are not in this alone, Dear One.

But you, alone, are the only one who can change things.

If you want things to be different, if you want a different life, different circumstances, different relationships, you’re going to have to start choosing differently.

You, and you alone are the only one who can make that happen.

Just in case you were wondering Dear One, the antidote to conflict is acceptance.

Complete and total acceptance.

Not approval.  Not agreement.  Not compromise.  Not settling.  Not accommodating.  Not pretending.  Not lying.  Not cheating. Not faking it.  And most definitely not resignation.

If you want to diffuse a conflict Dear One, accept what is, exactly as it is, for exactly what it is, as quickly as you possibly can.

And once you do, once you stop pushing, resisting, railing against what is, once you let go of the emotional charge that conflict brings to a situation, then, and only then, will you be in a position (a very powerful one actually) to make a thoughtful, rational, intentional, and heartfelt decision about what you are going to do next.

Do you want to know how to make today a good day Dear One?

Only make choices that make you smile.

If you feel as if you have lost your balance Dear One, if you feel as if you are having trouble getting both of your feet planted firmly on the ground, the single most important thing that you can do for yourself in this moment,  is to find it again.

How can you do that?

By asking yourself the following before every step that you take, and answering it honestly:

Will this choice, will this action, will this conversation, will this program, will this meal, will this purchase, will this person, will this decision, bring me closer to achieving a state of balance in my life or carry me farther away from it?

That’s how.

In this moment, never mind what you should be doing or could be doing Dear One.  Never mind what they need from you or what they want from you.  Never mind what their expectations are.  Let them go.

In this moment all that really matters is you – what you think of you – what you want from you – what you expect from you – what you want this day to be.

When was the last time that you allowed the sound of your own voice, your own heart, your own wants, your own needs to lead you – regardless of the needs, wants and expectations of those around you?

In this moment, ignore them Dear one.  Ignore all of them and listen only to yourself, to you own inner voice.  Pay close attention to the details of what it has to say to you – because your own heart holds much wisdom for you.  It holds much love and compassion and forgiveness for you too.

In this moment, allow yourself to connect with that wisdom.

And in the next, allow yourself to follow it.