Recently, a very powerful thought came into my mind, and it has become my most essential mantra.  It all began one incredibly hot day; it was one of those days when from the very beginning everything seemed to be going wrong.  I was participating in the organization of a big event, working with many nervous people around me that seem to be at a boiling point.  Everything seemed to be an inconvenient obstacle that made it impossible for us to enjoy the moment.

I was in the middle of this mental storm when suddenly; this voice inside my head said, “Make an enjoyable experience of this situation.”  This thought, brought an inexplicable amount of peace to my soul, and it immediately changed my thoughts, actions, and the external circumstances I was experiencing.  I ended up having a wonderful day.  I kept using this phrase, because this learning experience we call “life,” keeps teaching us in different ways that we are solely responsible for our own happiness.  I agree that we have no control over external situations, but we do have control over what we think, how we react, and how we choose to experience every life event.

After a long day of traveling, the next day I woke up deeply tired; my body was sore, and my mind exhausted.  I wanted nothing but to stay in bed all day!  Fortunately, it seems life keeps throwing blessings at me; my little daughter got me out of bed very early, and we went for a walk.  I was driven by negative thoughts, concentrating on how weak I felt.  All of a sudden, my husband pointed out what a beautiful day it was, and this brought me back to my personal mantra.  I realized immediately how lucky I was for being with my cherished ones, to be healthy, alive and surrounded by love and freedom.  It opened my eyes again to the beauty of the present moment.