Think Outside the Box is the title of one of my addiction related books in publication. It is also a very profound statement with so many different meanings. There is probably, as many different thoughts as there are people reading this article. I can only speak to my interpretation in this moment, as what I see may change in the next. It is just the way most of us operate in an uncertain world with many avenues available for our journey.

Today, and right now, I am thinking about how nice it is to be able to listen to that “Still Small Voice.” When my mind is racing, in any given moment, the small voice cannot be heard. It is once I recognize the racing mind that I have a chance of stepping out of that role and into a more spiritual place where the Still, Small Voice can be heard. At this point, you may be asking, “So, how do I shut the racing mind off?” One method is to step back and recognizing it. Step back or out, whichever you prefer, and shift your focus to God or to something spiritual in this moment.

After finishing that last paragraph, with a spiritual connection as I write, the cat jumped on the back of my chair and broke my concentration. Immediately, I turned on the TV to the early morning world news. Guess where the racing mind was. Yep, it was waiting and started right up, on all the world issues which I have absolutely no control over. Once again, I stepped out of the now and turned off the TV. To my surprise, the Still Small Voice was waiting to continue this train of thought. I am only mentioning this example to show how easy it is to get off track.

Now that the mind is quiet, my concentration is returning; ideas are flowing once again. In the past, my calm voice and the EGO voice were the same, speaking through the ME Voice. I never thought there were three distinct voices for me to listen to. Actually, there are only two, while the third one is the ME Voice. The ME Voice is the one that selects which voice to listen to. The EGO is always trying to take command while the Still Small Voice is saying, “What is my heart saying?” That is my Spiritual Voice. That is the voice that I should always be listening to, but the EGO is like an angry child, always wanting attention. In the present moment, I detach from my EGO and focus on what God has to say. He speaks through the Spirit. It is all about where my focus is in this present moment.

I had a perfect example of that this past week. I was waiting at the stop sign at the end of my road, about to enter the main street. A white truck was coming, so I waited with my foot on the brake. About a hundred feet down the road, the truck turned on its directional signal to turn into my street. The car behind him also turned on its directional signal. I wanted to be sure he was turning, so I waited. As he started to turn into my street, I took my foot off the brake, and a thought, or a voice came, “STOP!” I did not put my foot on the accelerator pedal but placed it back on the brake. At the last second, the truck swerved and continued straight. I sat still, realizing that because I listened to that Small Voice, an accident was avoided. The truck turned onto the next street. I remained calm, as I was so grateful that I was paying attention to my instincts, which, by the way, are driven by the small voice. In the past, I would have chased the truck down and told them what was on my mind; instead, I reacted totally different.

The secret to this new way of thinking is to step out of my old way of thinking and become an observer of where the ME Voice actually is. Is it EGO or Spirit driven? Who is in the driver’s seat, and who do I want in that seat?

This idea may become a new way of thinking, but take a moment to observe, right now, where your head is really at. You have the controls, if YOU choose. Choose your direction while always seeking a solution to any issues you may be facing, with a positive outcome. We indeed become what we are seeking. Only look for positive thoughts, with only positive outcomes. The decision you make next may determine how you live the rest of your life. There is a fork in the road. Which path are you going to choose?