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Many people meander through life, muddling along without great hope or direction. They think this is the easiest way. But is it? Are they short- changing themselves?

Developing one’s authentic self, the vital and best part of oneself, is not difficult or unnatural. In being true to your self, you give up the parts of you that are not genuine or natural. You stop acting. You stop pretending to be interested or excited in things that bore you. You stop worrying about what other people think of you. What could be easier? More rewarding? What could electrify your life more?

The modern world overloads us. We try to keep up with so many things. We make zillions of little decisions. It’s way too much. How much simpler to make a few big decisions!

As Amy Harris wryly observes, “Nuns do not need to keep up with Vogue.”

We can’t honestly care intensely about too many people or too many things. We can’t be devoted to many people or causes at once.

Life is easier after making a few big decisions:

• Who and what do you care most about?

• What kind of person are you and want to become?

• What are your strongest qualities, emotions, and abilities?

• Do you want to commit to one life partner? Who?

• Do you want to raise children?

• Do you want to make a name for yourself? For what?

• Do you want to work for yourself or on your own terms? At what?

• Do you want to create something that other people will notice and enjoy?

• Do you want to have a “cottage small by a waterfall”?

• What are you putting energy into that isn’t essential for your happiness?

All of these decisions exclude. They simplify life, close off options, eliminate excess choice. They concentrate energy. What are you putting energy into? Is your personal power focused?

When trying to answer questions like these, don’t be afraid to ask good friends or mentors for help. Use these people as a sounding board — most of us need assistance from others before we discover what is best for us.

Whether you believe you can do something

or you believe you can’t,

you’re right.

Focus decreases doubt and turbo-charges confidence and power. As Shakespeare wrote in Measure for Measure:

Our doubts are traitors,

And make us lose the good we oft might win,

By fearing to attempt.

We all have a tremendous, underused asset: our sub- conscious mind and emotions. The subconscious is a friendly and truly personal computer. It’s always switched on, always churning away.

The subconscious can resolve dilemmas, breed brilliant ideas, bring us peace and joy. Like the personal computer itself, the subconscious delivers much more with much less energy and cost.

How many times have you been walking the dog, brushing your teeth, meditating, or sitting in a deckchair, when suddenly — Wham! Eureka! The conscious mind wasn’t working on the issue. The subconscious was, delivering the answer you needed.

The subconscious is selective. When you care deeply about an issue, it takes note. It doesn’t process weak or mixed messages. The subconscious works best when you’re focused on one issue. Less is more.