Choices

“You make your choices, and then your choices make you.” - Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect

The choices that seem to be inconsequential at this point of time may be your best decision ever or a blunder that ruined your life in another year or two. At any given moment, you are standing at a crossroads with all the possible choices laid out before you. The right way, the way that you think is right, the tempting way, the way your ancestors paved for you, the wrong way your dad warned you about, the way your cousin’s friend chose and see where it landed him, and many more. Of course, there’s always the way backwards; to choose not to choose.

A choice is always made, even if we are unaware of it. Staying passive and allowing your destiny to lead you where it will is also a choice, albeit an unconscious one. Wresting control and carving your own path is what sets you apart, raising you to an altitude of recognition that few deserve and fewer manage to earn. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it possible? Definitely. How? Baby steps.

Firstly, let’s figure out actions in your daily routine that you have always taken for granted; never made a choice to adopt. I have questions for you.

“Why did you grab that bag of chips when you started Netflix?”

“I don’t know, I just did.”

“Do you really want it? Could you make do without it?”

“Yeah. I mean I’m not really hungry.”

“Great. Keep it back, please.”

“Umm…”

“How about some carrot sticks or maybe broccoli spears instead?”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

“Now, remember to make this choice each time.”

The problem is not that we make bad choices. That is natural. We cannot predict the future so we make choices based on our evaluation of our current circumstances. Of course, we may have made the wrong choice. It’s human to err. The real problem is that most of the time, we are unaware of the choices we are making.

You agree to a dinner party without thinking; you lose out on hours of productivity and self-development, time you could have used in a new hobby. You will suffer no losses, but you won’t gain anything either. You may say that you had fun, that counts for something but the future you, who doesn’t know what their hobbies are or even if they have one; not to mention they feel tired all the time.

The silver lining in the cloud is that you can choose to be a better you. Start holding yourself accountable for making the right choice. I ate chocolate today, 10 extra minutes of running? Good choice. If it helps to note these things down and keep a track, perfect. Go for it. Be aware of your actions. Don’t mindlessly switch on the TV and sprawl on the couch. The friend you haven’t talked to in a while? Call them. Go out for a walk with them. Shop for a present for your sibling. Cook dinner for your parents, for a change.

It’s never too late to begin. Start now and you’ll love the results. Take 100% responsibility of what you do. Pardon, what you choose to do. Make the right choices, at least try your best. Because nothing is more important than your contentment and inner peace, not even temporary exultation. I read this last night and I made the choice to share it with you, go for a walk instead of sleeping in, and cut back on the fried foods. What are your choices?