The Tribune

By MICHELLE MILLER

It is said that many are called, but only a few are chosen, which is often misinterpreted, to mean that only a select few are born to win while others are born to lose.

If you buy into this misrepresentation, you may unknowingly be choosing to lose. Which would be an unfortunate state since winning is a choice that you can make at any point in time.

The way I see it, life itself is a sign that we are born with the power of a unique purpose. The challenge is whether we will choose to answer that call by the quality of choices we make.

The only way to live in this physical space is through the exchange of oxygen. At the time of our birth, we each draw first breathe from life, before the life force can support us. Without your willingness to inhale and exhale, life cannot support you.

Simply put, this is the power of your birth - you are born to choose and are always at choice. You must understand which choices promote your life to an elevated state.

Johnathan, at 31 years old was flat out tired of swinging the bat of life. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed he just could not catch a break. Yesterday, for the fourth time in the past year, he was once again, fired. This, for him was the end of the road. Just how did his life end-up in such a sad state? He lamented looking around at measly space he found himself in.

Crashed out on an old couch in his sister’s garage after a night of drowning his sorrows, Johnathan woke up with a nasty hangover, which only made his trip into self-loathing a hundred times worse. Soon, he settled into another round of beating himself down. Thoughts of how he was such a loser and how screwed his life was raced up and down his mind.

Johnathan in this scenario is not alone. Many people experience the daily lament of feeling badly about themselves, despising their life choices. Most tend to forget they have the power to choose again. If your life is not as you picture it would be or could be, activate your power of choice and choose again.

What would it take Johnathan to lift himself out of his sister’s basement and elevate his life to a better state? First, it would take him believing that better is possible. Secondly, he must be willing to release the habit of choosing to lose. He must think a new thought that engages his power to choose to win.

More often than not, working out a new life is about changing your self-perception. When Johnathan sees himself as a winner, rather than a loser, he will begin to win. It is only by changing the way you see yourself inside that you will experience a new life on the outside. In every situation, no matter how difficult they may seem, you can choose to win.

As for Johnathan, here is how it worked out. After a few more months of playing small, wearing out his sister’s welcome, he finally was tired of wearing the ‘victim’ jacket and decided to make a new choice.

On an early Sunday morning, out of the clear blue, Johnathan found himself sitting out on the back patio. The birds were singing and for some strange reason, he listened attentively. It seemed like they were singing just for him, saying ‘what do you want now Johnathan? When will you choose to let a new life in?

Initially, these words appeared odd. He was not sure if he was hearing right or maybe just hallucinating. But as he quieted his mind and really listened, he realized that they were truly speaking to him. He realized that he could actually choose again. With courage in hand, Johnathan began to look at himself differently. He believed in himself again and gave himself another chance to make a better choice that would enable him to live a life that he loves.

We are all Johnathan at some point in our lives. Burdened by our many setbacks, we sometimes feel like giving up. But, somehow, we encounter powerful intervention, like the birds’ melody that reminds us of who we really are and our unlimited power.

From leader to a leader, just like Johnathan, you too have awesome power. Come to know that winning is a choice; you need only to stop choosing to lose. Make today the day that you lead the way. Now is the time to live the life you love.

• Your feedback has great value; please write to coaching242@yahoo.com or text 429-6770. Michelle M. Miller is a certified Life-Coach, Leadership Expert, and Host of the Radio program – Men & The e-Factor. www.leader2leaderalliance.com