Weapon of Choice

There is nothing worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed your life. There is nothing worse than wondering, “what if.” There is nothing worse than dwelling on the past and fretting about the future; while life cruises right past you. It is easy to lose yourself in the concern of what you haven’t done and what may or may not come to pass, and we are all guilty of doing this.

In my experience when an opportunity presents itself I am immediately faced with a dilemma: I have to make a decision, I have to choose between two things. I say it is a dilemma because unfortunately for me, I am not psychic, I cannot foresee the outcome my choice will create, and so I am instantly in a state of indecision. Oh what to chose? How do I know if I am doing the right thing? Is this good or bad, right or wrong? AAAAAKKKKK what if? What if this works? What if this does not work? What if.

Being in that state of mind is immobilizing and I become so wrapped up in the “what ifs” that I take no action at all…and eventually…lose the opportunity. How awful.

Fortunately as I am gaining years on my life I have become a bit wiser as well. I have learned that what Theodore Roosevelt said is true. He said, “In the moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing, and the worst thing your can do is nothing.” Regardless of right or wrong, and what if, I must make a choice and stick with it. I’ve learnt that personal responsibility, with a grain of confidence, is a beautiful hidden form of freedom waiting to be unleashed.

I may be stating the obvious but don’t you always feel better after you have made a choice and decided to stick with it? I do. I feel free, free from the mind babble that had been warping my thoughts with their silly ‘what ifs’. I also feel more confidant as the, ‘this might be wrong’ thought slowly slips away to be replaced by the ‘who cares, I am going for it’ thought.

“You are the person who has to decide. Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside; you are the person who makes up your mind. Whether you’ll lead or will linger behind. Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar, or just be contented to stay where you are.”- Edgar A. Guest.

The lesson to be learnt is choice. Making a decision with confidence and choosing one instead of another takes practice, it does become easier. Choice is a tool of power when used with confidence…even the tiniest amount, and when you make a choice with confidence and stick to it, those opportunities that require decisions become less daunting. You start to realize that you, yourself, are the cause of life changing occurrences, not the opportunity. That is the beauty, the freedom, and the weapon, of choice.