Perception is Powerful

Sunday, April 28, 2013, 9:37 AM

We who lived in concentration camps can remember those who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. -Viktor Frankl

What a powerful image. Perception is such an important part of the way each of us lives every single day. As the quote illustrates, even in the most trying instances, the most chaotic circumstances, we can choose how we view our reality. The Buddhist tradition teaches that we are not in the world, the world is actually in us. What this means is we are the ones in charge of how we shape and perceive our universes. We choose whether or not we want to embrace the natural flow of the cosmos or swim against their current. The more conscious an individual becomes of these choices, the more visible the flow of the universe becomes. Once this flow is realized, the easier it becomes for us to simply enjoy the ride.
Every morning before work my manager will address the group and ask us the same question, "are we going to choose our attitudes today?" The response to this question is an overwhelming, "yes!" Over the course of the day consider this question and the power behind Viktor Frankl's words. How will you choose to embrace the day?