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In life, we are often left with indecision about many things. We stand at the crossroad, not knowing which way to go. Fears of accountability, responsibility, losing control or missing something often stand at the gate, paralyzing us. Suddenly, our ability to think rationally and make decisions is lost in those moments.
Life is all about choice, in fact, choice is the only real power we have. Our ability to make choices in every moment is true power, and our ability to understand how to renegotiate some of those choices can be a real gift. Think about it for a moment. We proudly live in a country where the primary focus is freedom, or to put it another way, our ability to freely express and exercise our choices. It is simple. Choice is power and power is having personal choice. Governments and corporations know this: now is a time when we are being called upon to learn how to exercise it.
If you really think about all the choices you make in a given day, it is staggering. Considering that there is an entire industry dedicated to helping you make those choices, it is unbelievable, but true. We call it advertising, marketing or sales. Whichever way you look at it, the point is to “help” another person to make the choice we would like them to make, which benefits us in some way. It’s even true many times when we have an argument. All we are doing is trying to convince the other person to accept our opinions and beliefs that stem from choices we have made at some point.
The idea of choice is incredibly important in life. Our relationships are built upon the choices we make, and if we are not honest with the people that we are in relationships with, we take away their power of choice. This is why openness and honestly, or as I like to refer to it these days, transparency, is so important to all our relationships. Everything, from our relationships with our family, love interest, work and community, are all based in our ability to make a choice; a simple decision, and then be committed to it and follow through with it. He who follows through the best is granted the most value in our society.
However, when people become paralyzed or don’t act upon their opportunities of choice, and this happens a lot, then they are stuck with the choices that others make for them. If you don’t choose, it doesn’t mean that no choice is being made; it means the universe will choose for you. You have handed your choice over to others. Now you are forever left with their results, instead of your own. You have given away your dignity and ability to make a difference. People that do this are opting to be reactionary, rather than proactive, thereby giving their power away.
Through this holiday season and the upcoming year, I encourage you to be accountable for your choices. Take the risk of being wrong or having to renegotiate a choice. Bring fullness to your life by choosing to live your life to the fullest, squeezing all of the juice from it you can. When you do this, you are being true to yourself, and what better time of the year is there to be true to yourself? When you are true to yourself, you are giving the gift of the authentic you, the real you, to everyone that is around you. There can be no greater gift or challenge.
To thy own self be true; make the decision to base all your decisions upon what is best for you, your family, your friends and your immediate community. Lend your voice to that which you believe and let us hear it. After all, isn’t that what freedom is all about? Don’t let others control you by giving up your ability to choose. Make the choice to stand up for those things that matter to you, give freely of yourself to your passion and to those less fortunate, and the world will beat a path to your door… your gifts will be abundant and great.
Happy Holidays!
