| The first step to a new you is to make your choice. | | | | this connection that we are able to fulfill our true |
| It's that easy! Choose to change. Adopt an attitude | | | | purpose in life. |
| of success. Have faith. The only one that can take | | | | The message of the mandala is that, if we want to |
| this first step is you. | | | | live truly happy and successful lives, we need to |
| Taking the first step is usually the most difficult step. | | | | ensure that all four areas - body, emotions, mind and |
| Making your choice to change your life from the | | | | spirit - are in balance. This is what we constantly |
| comfort-zone of the known to the adventure of the | | | | need to strive for. While it seldom happens that all |
| unknown is daunting for most of us. But one thing is | | | | four are in harmony, our personal task in life is to |
| for certain: unless we choose our future, our future | | | | work towards that perfection. |
| will choose us! | | | | In making your choices about the life you want, use |
| Over the years I have been using a simple symbol as | | | | the mandala as a guiding pattern. Take a piece of |
| a blueprint for planning: the mandala. As you may | | | | paper and divide it with a horizontal and vertical line |
| know, a 'mandala' is a symbol used in many cultures: | | | | into four equal sections. Now place the headings |
| a circle divided by an equal-sided cross. I've always | | | | 'Spirit', 'Mind', 'Emotion' and 'Body' from left to right at |
| loved the interpretation of this symbol as being a | | | | the top of each section. |
| symbol of eternal perfection - the ultimate goal. The | | | | The next step in your personal planning process is to |
| circle with no end and no beginning symbolizes | | | | brainstorm the things you want to achieve or change |
| eternity. The equal-sided cross inside is synonymous | | | | or simply want to continue growing under each of |
| with perfection. | | | | the four sections. For instance, under 'Spirit' you |
| When I teach the unemployed youth I work with I | | | | might write 'Make time every day for prayer', and so |
| use the body as a way to remember the significance | | | | on. |
| of the mandala. I stand up, legs together and arms | | | | If you want to, you can also start this exercise by |
| outstretched to either side to form a cross. I ask | | | | listing all the things, habits or people that are already |
| them to imagine a circle around my body. Then I | | | | important to you under each heading and taking a |
| point out the meaning of the mandala: | | | | moment to consider this in a spirit of thanksgiving! |
| -The feet - that is the bottom of the cross - | | | | Similarly, if you don't know what you should choose, |
| represent our body. This includes our health, our | | | | it may be helpful to take another piece of paper and |
| roots, our culture and our family. | | | | write down the things, circumstances, habits or |
| -The left hand, closest to the heart, represents our | | | | people that you believe are having a negative impact |
| emotions. This further involves our relationships to | | | | on your life and then, on a new sheet, translating |
| others, our attitude, as well as our contribution to | | | | each of those into a positive course of action. For |
| society and our own community. | | | | instance, if under 'Body' you have noted a tense |
| -The right hand, which most people use as their 'main | | | | relationship with your mother, on the new sheet you |
| hand' symbolizes our mind: our creative ability, our | | | | could list one thing you could do to improve that |
| means to earn a living, everything that has to do | | | | relationship or deal with the situation better. |
| with making money and finance. | | | | This simple technique of writing down your choices |
| -The head refers to our spirit - it is our connection to | | | | can really help prepare you for your 100 Days of |
| God, to whom we can communicate in prayer and | | | | Action towards creating the life you want and fulfilling |
| rely on in faith. -Spirit is also about leadership, vision, | | | | the dreams you have. |
| inspiration and motivation. I always point out that the | | | | Remember: our subconscious is the garden in which |
| fact that the neck is so short relative to our arms | | | | we sow the seeds of our dreams. By being clear |
| and legs should serve as a constant reminder that | | | | about our choices, meaning our dreams, we are |
| we cannot truly be successful and content as human | | | | helping the subconscious jump into action to make |
| beings if we are not connected to God. It is through | | | | this come true. |