Illustration by FarDareisMai
I had an epiphany on a strategy that can help you make the choices you really want in life.
It’s based on a visualization that came to me in a flash of insight; I call it: “Walking through the golden door.”
As my drama teacher once said long ago, “Our life is nothing more than a series of choices.” Though I heard those words many years ago, they’ve never parted.
Choice is what separates us from the animal kingdom. How do you think the expression, “They’re a bunch of animals” found its way into our vernacular when referring to people who’ve committed truly heinous crimes? Happenstance?
No. I think the reason this expression has become so entrenched in our language is because it speaks of a truth. While animals act on instincts – a human being has the power of choice. That’s what distinguishes us.
If that seems like funny talk to you, tell me, when was the last time you saw a golden retriever attack a child? Or a great white making nice with a swimmer?
Of course, heinous acts that render men animals are extreme – but we’re indeed making choices all of the time that either further our goals or diminish them.
Isn’t it about time to kick some serious ass? Let’s take a look at the golden door, shall we?
I picture the golden door as actually having no door at all. Its borders are made of glittering gold, but there is no need to open the door as there isn’t one. One need only walk over the threshold from outside the borders to inside. It’s that simple.
What lies on the other side of the golden door is miles of lush green grass; it’s very pleasant. What do you see there? Within the doorway, I feel immersed in blackness… a place that isn’t ideal. I feel as if the door is beckoning me to walk through; I should do so more often!
To use the golden door visualization is actually the simplest thing in the world. I’ll give you an example. You’re up late, but you know better. Right there and then a choice is presented to you: Stay up like a wild man and pay the price or hop in bed.
Instead of struggling with a choice like this as I often do, picture a golden doorway. The way to get through is simply to step over from one side to the other. That’s it.
It’s not so difficult to step from one side to another, is it? By stepping over you’re now getting into your bed, putting yourself in the best possible position to get a good night’s rest.
The golden door visualization is not limited to physical actions. Are there debilitating thoughts entering your mind? Use the visualization to harness your ability to choose how you see things.
The fascinating thing about choice is, that although the right one can be a real challenge (you should see how much time I spend on twitter) it really doesn’t require as much effort as it appears.
Sure getting over the hump and passing through the threshold can prove to be a great challenge. But really, I think the hardest part is sometimes the idea of it more so than the action. The golden door reminds you of this. Part of our problem in making bad choices is we often forget we had one to begin with.
What’s beyond the golden door is a place of more freedom and joy. You can’t be truly free if you’re not making the choices you truly want.
The door is always there. The question is, are you there to walk through it?
It’s funny how resistant we can be to these simple choices. I think it’s rooted in habit, routine and the like. Stepping through that door, at least the first few times, is stepping into the unknown, and as it’s been said so many times before, we prefer the devil we know. Which is a shame.
Thanks for the little nudge to be more conscious about the choices I’m making. So much room for growth, but we’ve got to get moving in that direction first. An important choice to make.
So, Bamboo, you finally discovered the golden door did you?
@ Jeb Dickerson: The resistance resides solely within us. And for this reason, we can overcome it every single time.
Good point about us stepping into the unknown. I think whenever we enhance our lives we are leaving more familiar territory and going into uncharted, albeit magnificent territory.
Well said.
@ Hani: Yes. It came to me as a flash of inspiration. I find it really effective in helping me live a life of more mastery over my self. It’s inspiring.
You had to use the example of staying up late, didn’t you…. I struggle with that. I always make the choice to be the crazy wild man and stay up so that the next day I’m as cranky as all get out. I could have saved myself all that trouble with one simple choice. It really makes me doubt the intelligence of my decision to sniff glue as a youngster.
An enlighten post! You give me something to think about, and your golden door is now mine
@ Ryan: Good way of putting it, “one simple choice” would have spared you. Simple choices apparently aren’t always easy to make. The golden door could help though.
@ BC Doan: Glad you enjoyed it. The golden door is available to all of us. We need only “be there” to walk through.
Excellent statement:
“You can’t be truly free if you’re not making the choices you truly want.
The door is always there. The question is, are you there to walk through it?”
I really have nothing to add. Your statement says it all, relative to this post’s subject.
@ Jesse: Thanks. They say that in life the more worthwhile something is the more work it requires. This concept seems to prove itself time and again.
My door is red and behind it are many massages. Aaah.
That door isn’t always easy to open let alone walk through, yet it is ALWAYS a threshold worth crossing.
“Our life is nothing more than a series of choices.” I love that sentence. My first reaction was, “well, some choices are forced on us by circumstances,” but that isn’t true. Regardless of circumstances, we always have a choice.
@ The Laywer Mom: I’m not familiar with that door. Interesting.
@ Writer Dad: Good insight. I like what you have spoken.
@ Vered: Well… what’s forced on us by circumstances out of our control by definition isn’t a choice. The choice would be in our response.
Hi Bamboo: That’s a really interesting technique. I think that by making the choice “visual” you’re adding an additional element to help you make that choice. Like BC Doan said: your door is now mine
@ Marelisa: I think you’re right about that. I think we have a tendency to make a choice something impossibly huge. By visualizing it as simply walking through a door into a better environment helps deter us from seeing the choice as insurmountable when it is never close to that.
Bamboo – I loved what you said about choice, but I’m too sure about the golden door…I do hope it’s not like the golden shower:~)
I liked this post because you dealt with our choices and being aware that we ARE making them.
I loved this line “Part of our problem in making bad choices is we often forget we had one to begin with.” This is so true…I know I’ve done this…well actually both things…made the bad decision and then forgot that I had a choice. It’s just so easy to blame someone or something else. I must work harder on this…
Your point is well made and I appreciate the reminder.
I LOVE to hear about people’s epiphanies! Thanks for sharing yours. I always enjoy your comments, wherever our paths cross, and this post helped me get to know you better.
I like to ask myself “Will this choice take me closer to where I want to be or further away?” If we know who we are, what we really want in our heart of hearts and what we value in all of the areas of our lives, like health, finances, career, personal relationships, spirituality, as well as in each of our roles – for example as writers, spouses, parents, friends, colleagues – then every single choice, every decision becomes easier. For example, every hour I spend online now has to pass that ‘golden door’ question.
@ Sara: Hah. Golden shower… not familiar with that :]
I think we constantly forget we have a choice. When we make bad choices consistently the idea that we have a choice is probably not embedded in our minds and spirits to the extent that it should be.
Thanks for stopping by.
@ Janice: Well, if you like hearing about people’s epiphanies you should make sure you catch the P.I. Universe’s posts. Because when and if I have an epiphany I will most likely share it here.
Thanks.
That’s a great question to ask oneself. I love the way you worded it. I will definitely be using that for myself.
Well said.
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