Saturday, February 19, 2000

You do have a choice

Very often we say we have no choice when what we really have is a very difficult choice. You’ve no doubt heard yourself or someone else say things like “I have no choice but to work 70 hours a week” or “I have no choice but to go to this meeting.” In such situations, “I have no choice” really means “the choice is too difficult to make, so I’ll pretend it doesn’t exist."

Such thinking can be a trap. You can pile up one “no choice” on top of another until your life seems completely out of control. But no matter where you are, you do have a choice about almost everything you do.

You have chosen the path to where you are right now, and you have complete control over where you are going from here. Yes, the choices will indeed be difficult, but there’s nothing to be gained by denying them. The next time you catch yourself saying you have no choice, stop and ask yourself if that is really true.

The way to improve your life is to make the choices which will take you to where you desire to be. Have the courage to look at those choices. Carefully consider their implications. Decide to take complete control and make the choices which will move your life forward.

— Ralph Marston

Telling yourself Your good fortune next

Copyright ©2000 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.