It's a hard truth to swallow, but the choices we make determine who we become. Some people might not want that responsibility, but it doesn't change the fact that our choices have consequences. It doesn't matter what decisions you're making- whether they be big or small, important or trivial- there is always an impact on your life and those around you. In this blog post, I will explore how some of these everyday decisions can take control over your success and happiness in life.
We are all familiar with the saying “you are the average of the five people…” That being said, life responds to our actions. When you rejoice, life rejoices with you. When you mourn, life mourns with you. When you are happy, life is happy with you. When you are angry, resentful or hateful, life is angry at your actions and reactions.
“Life as a mirror reflects you what (good or bad) energy comes to it.” — Anonymous
Every day, we have the power to make decisions that will affect our lives positively or negatively. Sometimes these choices are as simple as what we choose to eat for breakfast or lunch; other times they may be more drastic — such as quitting your job and moving across the country.
Whatever you decide does not matter because it is just one choice that will cause a chain reaction that will ripple through your entire life.
The only important thing is what you want to do, and how it makes you feel in the process of doing it. Regardless of what others might think or even want you to do.
Remember you will be the one to deal with the outcome positive or negative.
How Minor Choices Contribute To The Bigger Picture
Every small choice we make in the course of the day is a building block to how the day will turn out to be.
Take for example the choice of being mad at someone vs trying to understand their driving force or just respecting their choice of action.
Each one of these will yield a different outcome. If you choose to be mad for example, you are more likely to react differently for the rest of your day as opposed to not being triggered at all.
If you try to understand why they did what they did, you are more likely to stay in control of your day (act not react) and make more choices that are positive and possibly be more productive than if you chose the first option.
“You cannot control the behaviour of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
We often don't realise the power of our choices until we see it in action or afterwards when/if we look back at our actions/reactions.
On the same token, if when we choose to stay positive, life gives us more of the same yet when we choose to the negative, we sure get more of the negative.
In life, we get what we put in. It is hypocritical to pour into life negativity and expect a positive outcome.
Be what you wish to see more of and you will attract more of the same.
We Are The Average of our Surrounding.
There's that saying of the five people we surround ourselves with then there's understanding those we surround ourselves with. How they impact our lives. We are going to look at this from a self-care point of view.
If we truly care about ourselves, we are going to care about our surroundings and how they might impact us - positively or negatively.
Now, this is a choice we have to make. Ultimately it is these small choices that add up to who we become.
My beloved mother used to say "show me your friends and I will tell you who you are". Now, I do not know where she got this saying from or if you ever heard it from some other person but I know it from my mother.
She always went as far as adding how she would access who you would become just by looking at who you hang out with. I used to think this was very judgmental until life happened to me.
Each day we make a choice(s) based on so many things and one of those is how we have been impacted by others especially those surrounding us. It is these small choices that add up to who we become.
By no means am I a perfect person, but if you're asking me if anyone can change for the better then I would say yes and it starts with taking responsibility for our choices.
We can start by being aware that we are constantly making choices. To be triggered or not. To be happy or sad. To be mindful or not. To rejoice or not. To have an early night or not. To go to the gym or not.
Eat healthy or not. Watch a movie or read. Call a friend or not. Urge with someone or not. Call a loved one or not. Go on a date or eat ice cream. The list is endless.
Since life doesn't happen in a lump sum, neither does making choice. Both do not happen one day/someday. They are happening and we're playing a part in that process.
The choices we make contribute to the process.
Some of these choices are made passively or by default. Some are made actively. Ultimately our soul knows what is best and will always guide us whether we choose to listen/tune in or not.
When we look back, we often realise that it was a choice or set of choices that brought us to where we are today.
“But until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday," that person cannot say, "I choose otherwise.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
May we make choices that will not only benefit us but those around us.....!
BeNice