Being simply present and holding a respectful attitude that includes being willing to help but not being pushy about it, along with a compassionate understanding of the person’s difficulties go a long way towards gaining a friend in need rather than an enemy with an attitude.

Every person is anchored by their beliefs for good or bad. Everyone experiences difficulty at some point, some more severe or consistent than others. It is the anchoring beliefs in a person’s life that determine how that person will react when faced with challenges.

The sudden transformation of Byron Katie serves as a remarkable testimony to the powers of spiritual resurrection that live in each of us.

Born Byron Kathleen Reid in Breckenridge, Texas, in 1942, she was raised in the small desert town of Needles, California, in the years following World War II. Her mother said that she was named Byron for money, after a wealthy relative offered financial support if the child was given his name, and Kathleen for love. Growing up, everyone called her Katie.

Her homemaker mother and her father, a railroad worker, saw Katie grow from a quiet, thoughtful little girl into an aggressive, competitive teenager who sought to be the best in everything she did. A top student, she played piano and sang in a regional choir. Beautiful, energetic, and fun, Katie was voted first runner-up for queen of her high school prom.

Many people feel that, in total, their lives aren’t all that bad. Sure, things could be better. They might half-heartedly attempt a suggestion from a self-help book or TV talk show now and then – only to abandon it when it doesn’t instantly work miracles in their lives.

As the years go by they may feel they are living in what Thoreau called “quiet desperation,” but are reassured by the thought that most everyone else is too. That’s just the way it is.

But “the way it is” does not mean “the way it has to be.”

The fifth energy center, located at the throat, is primarily associated with creative expression. Its key theme is speaking the truth – expressing who we are, what we feel, and what we believe – whether through verbal or nonverbal communication.  Sound comes through the throat and enables expression through spoken words and the songs we sing. The “messengers” of the fifth energy center are voice and choice.

We manifest how we live,  what we wear, what we eat, and even what our dreams are by giving them voice. Choice gives voice to our desires and, in turn, our voice expresses our choice.