Decisions, Decisions – Chapter 5: Take the Red Pill, Quit the Quo

Be decisive.

There is nothing more important than making a decision and sticking to it. If you need to make a new decision that supersedes the original one then so be it, but take the decision and act on it.

There is nothing worse then lack of decision, it’s what keeps you routed to the spot and kills any progress. Even the ‘wrong’ kind of progress is better that nothing as you will learn from it and correct accordingly. If no decision is made then you’re aimlessly floating in a sea of nothingness with no direction.

In the sea of maybes, could dos, possibilities etc lies lack of focus. Yeah, it can be great to keep your options open but there comes a point. Have potentials and possibilities but reach a decision based on the information you have at that particular time…

Source

When something is definite you can act and plan accordingly. It’s the not knowing that’s the worst part. As soon as you know what it is you're doing, even if it’s not what you necessarily wanted, you can relax and do the necessary.

How many times have you been freaking out about the future in some way but when you finally make a decision about something (or have it forced upon you) then, whether 'good' or ‘bad’, you stop the freaking and suddenly feel an air of calm simply because you know what you’re dealing with?

Somewhere in Think And Grow Rich it says something along the lines of - successful people make decisions quickly and change them, if at all, slowly; whereas unsuccessful people make decisions slowly and change them quickly and often. That’s not a direct quote but something similar.

Does this sound familiar? Does to me I’m afraid.

The problem is, with a reasonable amount of intelligence and awareness of the world and it’s possibilities comes options. Great choice. This can be great sometimes, but also crippling to decision and action.

I, among others, are all too aware of what I could do and where I could be but because of the myriad options you can end up doing nothing and have scattered focus over all these great things. I’m mainly talking about the wider world; potential work/vocations, travel, people, projects. But this also applies on a smaller, mundane scale.

Source

You can be in a shop trying to pick the most basic of items and be faced with all these choices and spend precious time weighing it all up.

Ultimately it’s all the same crap, perhaps with a slight ingredient twist or marketing slant. It would be so much easier if there was just one or two options then you just wouldn’t have the choice so would just get on with what you’ve got.

Are we better off in this day and age with all this choice? Who’s to say. I think it’s an unanswerable question. There are pros and cons, but it can be oh so crippling.

I’m sure you’re familiar with the term ignorance is bliss. I sometimes wonder (and actually wish for occasionally) to be a little more simple. I think if I was a bit more basic I would have what I have, have smaller ideals, less options but be unaware of what the real possibilities are. I wouldn’t miss it as I would not know of it.

Having more intelligence, being so very aware of the potential, the possibilities and the options available can potentially be great but can also lead to depression. You are all too aware.

Ultimately, the stakes are higher and the rewards so much more so the potential is to literally live the dream and have the time of your life but there is a polar opposite. I think this is why a lot of geniuses have such turmoil and some have actual mental disorders, manic depression/bi-polar being a classic as they can reach both states quite easily. It’s a fine line between genius and insanity.

Source

But I digress. (Btw I’m not suggesting I or you are either a genius or insane, merely an observation).

So is it better to be blissfully ignorant? It would be simpler. But ultimately, you have to be better off knowing what is out there and having the potential to live it. The potential highs and the actual highs will be enough to see you through. You just have to make damn sure you are working towards your dreams and living your life in such a way that is congruent to your beliefs and in line with your soul.

This brings us back to decision. With so much potential and so many options, reaching decisions is so much harder. But they must be reached. You need to work out what you want and make a decision, any decision, just make one… the best one you can make with the information you have at that time.

Then make a plan around it and work towards it conscientiously. If you receive further information later that initiates a new decision then that’s fine, go with it. But just keep making solid, definite decisions… and with confidence! No half-arsed, wishy-washy decisions but definite, concrete, ‘lets do this’ ones.

Don’t over analyse, perhaps you’ve heard the term ‘analysis paralysis’. Avoid it. Don’t let the crazy over thinking stunt your forward momentum.

In order to get your decisions right and to be confident with them, is to get your priorities straight… and that's where we head next!