I have been wondering for quite a while now on how to go about making the 'right' choices, if there is such a thing as 'right'. I find that it depends not on the WHAT but on the WHY of our choices. It depends on whether our motivation is love, or fear. The choices made can be exactly the same, at least on the surface, but as long as the driving force is different, so too will the experiences and consequences. It is only choices made out of love instead of fear that will bring us the greatest joy, the greatest bliss!

For example, are we kind and caring towards our loved ones (such as our partner, children, parents or relatives) because we fear losing them, or do we do so because we sincerely love them. Are we kind and caring to our friends, colleagues or acquaintances because we fear non-acceptance and non-approval from them or do we do so because we sincerely love them. Are we being selfless because we fear being punished by God and the Law of Karma, or do we do so because we truly love another. I would think that to be selfish out of a love for oneself is a more spiritual attitude than to be selfless out of fear of offending God. A love-based selfishness would be better than a fear-based selflessness.

And are you hanging on to your job because you fear not being able to find a better one, or do you do so because you truly love your job? Are you eating healthily because you fear ill-health and death, or do you do so because you love yourself and your body? And we can't have a healthy body if we have an unhealthy emotion.

When I first looked within to see what emotions drive my choices, it was quite shocking, though very interesting, to realize that many of my choices and actions were driven by fear. For example, I was at one time never wanting to miss reading even one day of newspapers because I fear missing out on some important news. I was also diligently reading all kinds of investment reports because I fear missing out on some wonderful investment ideas or information. What a stressful way of life, it was for me. I am not saying that you should not read newspapers or investment reports or anything else. But WHY do you read them? Do you really enjoy them or has it become a chore? I have stopped reading newspapers and investment reports for about three years now and my life has actually gotten better ever since. And I have also become an even better trader despite not reading investment reports.

if you happen to be at a crossroad, ask yourself, "which choice is motivated by love and which by fear, or at least which is the choice driven more predominantly by love than by fear?"

With the planet Saturn in my Fifth House of Fun, I did actually have the fear of having fun. I had always thought that it was wrong to be too happy, as I believed it will deplete my positive karma, and that to be spiritual one must suffer. Quite a fair bit of monastery conditioning there, perhaps. I have become a lot more fun-seeking these days and I am glad to say that the universe has been rewarding me with even more fun, especially the financial means to have fun. Quite a testimonial to the power of belief and intent!

The Fifth House is also about Love and Romance, and I did also have fear in this area, namely the fear of losing my romantic love which perhaps is a very human trait. So this is another lesson I have chosen to learn in this lifetime. The problem, you see, is that as long as there is some trace of fear - in my case the fear of losing my beloved - one will not be able to truly enjoy life, and in this case to enjoy romantic love. This is because this kind of romantic love will always be tainted by possessiveness and control, and suspicion even. I am glad to say that I have overcome quite a fair bit of this fear, which I understand was a result of past life traumas in my personal love relationships.

My colleagues and I like to joke that in the financial markets, the only skills that one ever needs to learn are only two - BUY and SELL. Perhaps too in the making of choices, the only energies that one ever needs to understand are also just two - LOVE and FEAR. So if you happen to be at a crossroad, ask yourself, "which choice is motivated by love and which by fear, or at least which is the choice driven more predominantly by love than by fear?"

But this does not mean that we should suppress our fears. Rather, firstly, be AWARE of our fears. Secondly, identify WHAT is causing us to fear. And thirdly, FACE them. Once fear is removed, love is what remains - to guide our choices!

There is nothing in Creation to be feared, only to be understood ~Ezekiel

Here's a very, very good channeling on working with fear:
http://www.heartlights.net/html/article_fear.html

abundantlee

About the Columnist

Abundantlee is a stock trader by profession. He has come to learn about self-mastery as well as to provide financial support for Spirit's work on the earth plane. He and Chee co-founded Cosmic Lighthouse.