(from The Barefoot Doctor)

The tendency is towards self-obsession, or more precisely with the story you’ve got going on about your life, to be so caught up in and entranced by it, you miss the point of the moment, or more precisely, the still point offered in each and every moment, whence is available the power required to fuel you on the path. And there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that, other than it causes stress and depletion of energy.

Spend a moment at the start of the day, determining the outcomes you desire, then step back from the commentary about how it’s all going and what it all means and from the evaluation of how well or otherwise it seems to be going, all of which occurs in the fore-brain, by repositioning yourself in the central brain region instead, upon doing which, all is instantly still and silent within. Support this by engaging in mindful awareness of breathing slowly and evenly from all the way down in your belly and keeping your chest soft and relaxed so your innate love and warmth can radiate within and about without inhibition. This is the still point at the heart of the moment. The more frequently you return to it, the more energy, clarity and zest you’ll engender internally and the more readily you’ll be able to attune to that same stillness at the core of others, even if they’re not accessing it themselves. By so doing you set up a natural resonance between you and them, which encourages more open and satisfying communication.

With increased energy, clarity, zest and interpersonal connectivity, you operate more smoothly and effectively in the external arena, than when obsessing over the story you’re telling yourself about it all.

It’s an option.