Decisions and Choices

Decisions by themselves are worthless.  We make decisions all the time.  There is no guarantee that something will come of that decision.  What if I told you, "I have decided that I am going to lose 20 lbs. this year."?  Does that really mean anything?  What if I were eating a piece of chocolate cake while I said it?  What if I told you "I have decided I am going to get out of debt this year."?  However, I keep eating out all the time, using credit cards, and driving vehicles with payments.  Nothing is going to change.  

Don't get me wrong; making decisions is important.  They are just the first step.  If you want things to change in your life you have to make different decisions than you have been making.  However, if you stop at the decisions you are not going to make progress.  If I decide I want to lose weight I need to make choices that support that decision.  I need to choose not to eat the cookies or go back for seconds.  I need to choose a to-go box so I don't eat all the food on my plate at the restaurant.  I need to choose to move my body more.  

We watch people, every January, make decisions without choices.  We call them resolutions.  We call them goals.  We call them dreams and wishes.  When I create my goals, I also write down what choices I need to make to accomplish those goals.  If I decide to set a goal to take two getaways this year with my wife that is great.  Nothing is going to happen unless I make the choices to put the getaways on the calendar, make the travel arrangements, and budget for them.  

So why do we not make the choices that support the decisions we make?  I believe one of the main reasons is when we choose to say yes to something we are also choosing to say no to something else at the same time.  If I say yes to losing weight I am saying no to the cake.  When I say yes to getting out of debt I am saying no to other things I want to buy.  If I say yes to getaways with my wife I am saying no to working on those dates, hanging out with my friends on those dates, and I am saying no to spending that money on other things.  

Make decisions that move you in the direction you want to go then make choices to support those decisions.  

Here is one decision we can all benefit from: Be Present To Win  Read about it HERE

Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing.