‘Life is not a bed of roses’ goes an old saying. In fact, life can be quite grueling at times as the world is a coarse-grained place with its share of challenges. Schedules may go off track, plans may fizzle out, people you depend on can turn unfair, selfish, even cruel. “Without exaggeration it can be said that frustrated, unhappy people, who cannot match themselves with life constitute the greatest single tragedy in the world. In mansion and hovel, among the uneducated and in university faculties, under every kind of circumstance, people entrusted with building their own personalities are making a mess of it, thereby plunging into an earthly hell,” writes Harry E. Fosdick in his book, On Being a Real Person. 

But remember, through it all, you alone can choose your reactions and handle difficulty, making the best of the sticky patches is one of life’s major businesses. 

However, the pursuit of a purposeful life is directly dependent on a solid personality in the first place. Experts generally believe that an individual’s personality is built around three elements – heredity, environment, and your personal response. While we are in no way responsible for our heredity and cannot control much of our environment, the one thing that we can be responsible for is our response to a certain situation emerging out of a conscious choice we make. 

It is not as simple as it sounds. Making conscious choices requires a lifetime of unwavering determination, resilience, and patience. But, in the end, it is certainly worthwhile to live a well-integrated life than one of emotional fatalism.

“I believe when you live your life by making conscious choices, you are able to handle challenges better and come away with a sense of fulfilment at having aligned your existence with your values and dreams,” says Ruby Walia, Founder – Phool Patti, seconding what the experts tell us.  

A Conscious Choice. How do I make one?

Making conscious choices involves being aware and intentional about your decisions as against acting impulsively or automatically. It does not mean being emotionless. Rather, it means taking on increased responsibility for your actions.  We’re listing some points that should help you make more conscious choices:

1. Be Your Real Self: Cultivate mindfulness through meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simply paying attention to your thoughts and actions throughout the day. This heightened awareness can help you recognize when you're making choices and why.
2. Make Meaningful Choices based on your Values: Reflect on what truly matters to you in life. When faced with a decision, consider whether it aligns with your values and priorities. This can help guide you toward choices that are more meaningful and fulfilling.
3. Consider Consequences: Take time to think through the potential outcomes of each option before making a decision. Consider both short-term and long-term consequences, as well as how your choices may impact yourself and others.
4. Pause and Reflect: When faced with a decision, resist the urge to react immediately. Instead, take a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect on your options. This can help you avoid making impulsive decisions and give you the opportunity to make a more thoughtful choice.
5. Seek Information: Gather relevant information and consider different perspectives before making a decision. This can help you make a more informed choice and reduce the likelihood of making decisions based on biases or incomplete information.
6. Listen to Your Intuition: Pay attention to your gut feelings and intuition when making decisions. While it's important to consider rational factors, sometimes your intuition can provide valuable insights that you may not be consciously aware of.
7. Practice Self-awareness: Regularly reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Notice any patterns or habits that may be influencing your decision-making process, and strive to make adjustments as needed.
8. Set Intentions: Before making a decision, set an intention to make a conscious choice. Remind yourself of your values and goals, and commit to choosing in a way that aligns with them.
9. Learn from Mistakes: Accept that you won't always make perfect decisions, and that's okay. Instead of brooding over mistakes, use them as opportunities for growth and learning. Reflect on what went wrong and how you can make better choices in the future.
10. Practice Gratitude: Cultivate gratitude for the ability to make choices and for the opportunities that come with them. This can help you approach decision-making with a positive mindset and a greater sense of empowerment.

Start by Making Conscious Choices about Your Own Life

Making conscious choices about your personal life, including your health, food habits, exercise, and personal care is crucial for overall well-being. Read on for our thoughts on how you can practice them by starting with your own self:

1. Educate Yourself Constantly: Take the time to read up and understand newer research about nutrition, exercise, and other aspects of health and well-being. Understanding the impact of your choices can empower you to make informed decisions.
2. Set Clear Goals: Identify specific goals related to your health and well-being, such as improving fitness, eating healthier, or reducing stress. Having clear goals can help guide your choices and keep you motivated.
3. Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how different foods, activities, and lifestyle choices affect your body and mind. Tune in to your hunger cues, energy levels, and emotional state to make choices that support your overall well-being.
4. Practice Moderation: Adopt a balanced approach to diet and exercise, avoiding extremes or restrictive behaviors. Aim for moderation and variety in your food choices, and find physical activities that you enjoy and can sustain long-term.
5. Keep Planning Ahead: Take time to plan and prepare healthy meals and snacks in advance. Having nutritious options readily available can make it easier to resist unhealthy temptations and make better choices throughout the day.
6. Stay Active: Incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine, choosing activities that you enjoy and that align with your fitness goals. Whether it's walking, jogging, yoga, or weightlifting, find activities that make you feel good and make them a priority.
7. Practice Self-care: Make time for self-care activities that promote relaxation, stress reduction, and emotional well-being. This could include activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, spending time in nature, or engaging in hobbies that bring you joy.
8. Seek Support: Surround yourself with supportive friends, family members, or health professionals who can encourage and motivate you on your journey toward better health. Don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.
9. Be Mindful of Your Environment: Pay attention to your surroundings and how they influence your choices. Try to create a home and work environment that supports healthy habits, such as keeping nutritious foods on hand and making time for physical activity.
10. Take Time to Celebrate Your Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your successes, no matter how small. Recognize the progress you've made toward your health and well-being goals, and use it as motivation to continue making conscious choices.

Leaning Towards a Natural, Chemical-free Lifestyle is Making a Conscious Choice

While it’s true we cannot eliminate chemicals – much less harsh chemicals - totally from our lives in this day and age, it is certainly possible to embrace a less chemical-dependent life. Once again, it brings us right back to making a conscious choice about consuming lesser toxins and creating a healthier environment not only for our own body but also for those we love and care for. We cannot underscore the importance of choosing non-toxic, natural products enough. A specialist has suggested an interesting way of working on this. Think of every product you use as a vote. It is a vote either for health or harm. A vote for either sustainability or pollution. 

When you make a conscious choice of choosing non-toxic, natural products, you are casting your vote for a healthier, safer world. It’s about swapping your products, including those you apply on your hair and skin (which are mostly laden with harsh chemicals), for those that are cleaner and chemical-free. It's all about creating a healthier living space, nourishing our bodies with clean food, and nurturing them by the use of products that are kind to Mother Earth. Trust us when we say this – a non-toxic, natural product is bound to increase your self-confidence as it goes about increasing how you look. It is all about looking good, feeling good!

This is the ethos of Phool Patti products. Natural, chemical-free, and a gentler way of treating hair and skin concerns. Ready-to-use preparations based on Ayurveda that are infused with the supreme goodness of herbs and botanical extracts, and created after substantial research and tests.

Let's start with baby steps to live non-toxically and eliminate harsh chemicals from our lives. Let’s make this a conscious choice.