Have you ever wondered how many choices you make every day?

As I listened to President Obama’s state of the union address, in January, I noticed that he used the word choice many times throughout his speech. I like that word – choice.

It resonates with me because it has inherent potential for positive energy. It is a simple word that brings with it a myriad of possibilities.

Choice is profound because it leads to change and change is what life is all about.

I think about making choices all the time and how these choices have led to changes in my life. I think about how I have changed, what I have changed and who has changed in my life. Come to think of it, who has not changed?

Change is essential and powerful. Change provides opportunities for growth and surprises and it just makes life interesting.

A Year Ago I Prepared for an Important Change

A year ago, I moved from Los Angeles to Austin. It wasn’t a quick decision; it was a thoughtful plan.

However, as soon as my accountant told me that, at 71 years old, I didn’t need a W2 form anymore, I was quick to decide to implement my move to Austin.

Endless possibilities were in front of me. I looked at that moment as a challenge to expand my outer parameters and discover new people, places and things. Perhaps I could even cultivate a little transformation in the future. I was making a choice and it felt good.

How many times a day do you encounter choice? I imagine that it happens at least 10 times a day.

Are you conscious of the choices that present themselves? If so, how does this make you feel? Fearful? Creative? Joyful?

Opportunities for Change Often Come Unexpectedly

Before I moved to Austin, I frequently flew to the city to visit my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. I also already had friends in Austin, one of whom had a friend who was a clairvoyant. On one of my trips, about a year and a half before I moved, I was curious about his methodology when assessing the client’s openness to be read.

The reading was not about telling me what my future was going to look like. The clairvoyant was more interested in intuiting my state of being by reading how my chakras or energy centers were aligned. In other words, he wanted to know how well my energy was balanced.

For example, the heart, the third eye, the core and throat – these are some of the energy centers you work with in yoga. They sharpen your sensibilities as you go through your daily activities.

The idea behind aligning your energy is to bring your whole being into balance. Balance increases your potential to use the positive aspects of your nature and allows you to act in a more clear and thoughtful manner.

Clearing out the negative energy and purposely using positive energy is a meditation technique that prepares you for making intelligent and smart choices in life.

Now, I’m in Austin, Soaking Up the Positive Energy

There are surprises at every turn. There are opportunities for growth. There is the possibility for choice that gets rid of the bad habits and cultivates healthy habits.

I don’t need to research my universe on Google, Wikipedia or my dog-eared Atlas. I am able to intuit the potential changes in my life because I understand the power of choice.

Change starts with preparation and planning. Whether you are making a small change or a large change, the process is the same.

Clearing your mind, opening your heart and listening to your intuition are important parts of the preparation process. If you have fears or doubts, think about the idea of the change. Understand that fears are usually imagined and doubt is necessary to help us sift through the variables of choice.

So enjoy the changes in your life and embrace the surprises that may come your way.

What important choices have you made in your life recently? What are the most important decisions that you need to make in the next few months or years? Please join the conversation.