{"id":252,"date":"2014-01-26T07:44:16","date_gmt":"2014-01-26T07:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/heartofthesoul\/?p=252"},"modified":"2014-01-26T07:44:16","modified_gmt":"2014-01-26T07:44:16","slug":"its-up-to-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/heartofthesoul\/2014\/01\/its-up-to-you.html","title":{"rendered":"It’s Up to You"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can hang onto your pain. Shackle yourself to the heaviness of it.<\/p>\n

Or you can begin to let it go. You can allow yourself to be free.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can be consumed by your anger and your finger pointing.<\/p>\n

Or you can forgive others and also yourself. You can invite understanding and compassion into your heart.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can be defined by your past\u00a0\u2013\u00a0by your regrets and your perceived failures.<\/p>\n

Or you can embrace this moment and give yourself permission to start again. A fresh start. A clean slate.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can assume because you\u2019ve always done something one way that you\u2019ll always do it that way \u2013 even if it hurt you or didn\u2019t work or took longer or caused frustration.<\/p>\n

Or you can try something new. You can embrace change. And you can leave your comfort zone and see how great it feels to stretch yourself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can keep your heart closed and your walls up. You can protect yourself from feeling.<\/p>\n

Or you can trust and allow yourself to give and also to receive love. You can open your heart again.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can let fear envelop you. Tightly grip you. Paralyze you.<\/p>\n

Or you can breathe through it. Lovingly embrace it. And move to the other side of it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This life is yours to live. However you choose to live it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all up to you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always been up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Can you feel the freedom in that?<\/p>\n

Can you feel the possibility in that?<\/p>\n

Can you feel the love in that?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You get to choose how you’ll choose to live.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s truly all up to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hugs,<\/p>\n

Jodi<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"about
\n<\/a>Jodi Chapman is a bestselling author, an award-winning blogger, and a soulful community builder.\u00a0She lives her life with love and faith in the driver\u2019s seat, and she hopes to leave a trail of inspiration wherever she goes. She believes that we each have the ability to hear our soul\u2019s whisper and create our best lives. She would love to connect with you!<\/p>\n

Website<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Angel Fund<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Free Ebook<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You can hang onto your pain. Shackle yourself to the heaviness of it. Or you can begin to let it go. You can allow yourself to be free. It\u2019s up to you.   You can be consumed by your anger and your finger pointing. Or you can forgive others and also yourself. 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