“When you say “Yes” to something,
you include something you do want in your experience.
When you say “No” to something,
you include something you don’t want in your experience."

— Abraham, Esther Hicks

This is not about judgment. That is another subject entirely; however, it is about choice. It is very much about choice. It is all about choice, and the most wonderful news about that is that we all have that same exact power. Yes, the same exact power. No one has any more of it or any less of it than we do. We are all equal in our power of the choice of our thoughts. We may have practiced letting others influence us to one degree or another, but we are the chooser. We may even have practiced allowing others to choose for us by relinquishing our own power to them, but that is still our power that we chose to relinquish. We are still in power. We are still the chooser. We are still equal in our power with each other.

The title of this post is my ever-expanding addiction. I have become addicted and it is constantly expanding and becoming more addictive as my life unfolds. This addiction is a choice, as are all addictions. Yes and no are not judgments. They are choices. They are powerful and even life-changing choices. They are choices of focus. It is not good or bad. It is a choice of one or the other. Yet, it is not like a switch where one is on full and the other is off. There seems to be always a mix here. But, that is not important. What is important is the choice and that choice will be telling for sure and for certain.

My addiction started long ago and has been expanding all this time. Now it is ruling my life as addictions often do. My addiction is appreciation. It is gratitude. It culminates in joy.

Years ago I began to learn to appreciate more. When I say more I mean more than that which pleased me. It is so easy to appreciate what pleases us. It is not even a conscious choice. We like it, it pleases us, and so we appreciate it. My real addiction began when I chose consciously to appreciate something that was outside of those unconscious pleasures. I began to see with new eyes. I began to look for things to appreciate about something I may not have given a second thought to. That decision changed my life and yet I knew not how much it changed or how powerful the change was until I began practicing full time.

As my practice grew, I grew. It brought me such grand pleasure once I let go of all the rules and just began saying yes. Now it is an addiction that I cannot kick, nor would I have any desire to do so. I now am in constant appreciation. It has become a huge part of my life.

Focus is one way to see this. I can focus on the pothole or I can focus on the road. I can focus on the long line I’m waiting in or I can focus on the opportunity it gives me to practice my patience. I can focus on what I don’t like, or I can focus or even find what I do like. Again, it is not about right or wrong, good or bad, it is simply and powerfully a choice of focus. As I choose to focus on the pothole, I can continue with my choice to see that pothole with new eyes and to see the opportunity that the pothole is providing me. This excites me even more until I am in a state of total appreciation. I choose. I am choosing. I have the same exact power as you or any other. I choose this addiction. It has become the best aspect of my life so far.