There is a redemptive power that making a choice has.
Rather than feeling like you are an affect to all the things that are happening
Make a choice.
You just decide what it’s going to be, who you’re going to be, how you going to do it.
Just decide.
-Will Smith (actor)
This quote was stuck in my head all week, and it inspired me to view the world through a different perspective.
I walked to the vending machine with every intention of buying a soda to go with my lunch. When I arrived at the bank of vending machines, I changed my mind. I said to myself, “I choose to be healthier today.” I walked back to my office, and filled up my water bottle at the water fountain instead. I smiled to myself as I leaned back in my office chair.
I felt powerful. I felt in control.
I applied the same concept to my purchasing decisions as well. Walking through Walmart, I saw they had restocked their athletic wear area with new items for Spring. I saw some shorts that I really liked, and put them in my cart. Before rolling away, I paused, removed the shorts from the cart and put them back on the rack. I already had all the gym shorts I need. I chose to not spend my money on something I don’t need.
I would have never thought of Will Smith as being a motivational kind of person. But it makes sense that someone that is successful would have some thoughts on what it takes to be successful.
We can all take something positive from the power of making a choice.
How many times have you played the victim, internally wondering why things keep happening to you? It most cases, things do not just happen to you. Your situation is the result of your own actions. $109,000 of credit card debt didn’t just show up on my doorstep, knock down my front door and sit my chest, suffocating me. I did that. To myself.
Successful people believe that they are in control of their own destiny. They make the choice to take the actions necessary to be successful.
Did you get passed over for a raise even though you thought you deserved one? Stop seething about the perceived mistreatment and choose to find a way to increase your income.
Do you need to cut your expenses? Stop whining about how the prices of things keep climbing, and choose to consume less. Investigate cheaper ways of doing things.
Tired of being overweight? Stop complaining about how your pants don’t fit anymore, or about how you don’t have the time to exercise. Make the choice to get up off the couch and be active.
Stop being an effect. Instead, be the source of the effect. Take control.
Don’t stop there. Say it out loud. Say it every time you make a choice. Hearing your own voice adds physicality and weight to the decision. To hear it, is to believe it.
Love this, Travis! I have always said that we are the culmination of the choices we make every day and when we make strong choices as you did, then we are unbelievably powerful! Playing the victim may give us a few pats on the head but doesn’t truly get us ahead in life.
I’d take some progress over a pat on the head any day, Shannon. We are in control of our own destiny….we simply have to choose the fact that we can mold our future! Thanks for reading!
Very true Travis. The least successful people I know are always playing the victim. Things are always happening to them and they blame a lot of other people on their situation. I also think success doesn’t have to be defined by money. So someone who is struggling financially may not feel successful, especially if they keep telling themselves that, but they might have really great kids, a loving family, a great home, great health, etc. You get to define success!
I know people that play the victim as well, Tonya. It’s a tough mindset to break – that things happen TO YOU. You’ve got to realize that even though some things are out of your control, you can choose to take a different path!
This makes me think of the first of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Be proactive. I was reactive for far too long. There is all kinds of good in proactivity: confidence, power, and freedom to name a few. I love the simple examples you give – passing up on the soda & putting the gym shorts back on the display rack. Our lives are made up of millions of these tiny choices, and if they’re all proactive, that’s one fine life!
I agree Prudence……if we believe we can affect the outcome of our lives, then we are more likely to take ACTION. As Les Brown said, we have to figure out what our dream is, “And go after it as our life depends on it!”
Love the motivating post, Travis! I can relate to your soda purchase resistance, but my reasoning a is a bit different. I know that I can purchase a can of pop for ~$0.25 if I get a 12-pack when it’s on sale. The reason I would be going to the vending machine is because I forgot to pack a pop. The vending machine is typically more than a dollar, which is equivalent to over 4 cans of pop. I don’t always resist the temptation to buy a pop at the vending machine, but when I do I feel pretty darn good!
Exactly, you CHOOSE to not over pay for the soda. Say that the next time you forget a soda and decide not to buy one – “I CHOOSE to not over pay!”
I do believe success is 90% choice. Even with the 10% luck component, you still have to choose to maintain your success.
Great point, Kim – “maintain your success.” Even after you achieve a goal, it still takes a lot of hard work to stay there……and that choice is ours as well!
I decided that this year was my year of choice. I am actively choosing the life I want to live with my husband. That means a lot of self reflection and challenging societal norms and my own expectations. We choose the lives we live. We choose who we are. I’m going to actively participate in that choice.
I heard a motivational speaker recently say that they believed that true happiness comes from being the person we want to be. We have to CHOOSE to be that person…and only then can we achieve true happiness in life. Becoming that person isn’t something that just happens, we have to choose it, and put in the hard work to make it happen. But it IS a choice!
Overall, good and inspirational points. But when you have health problems and an aging house… yeah, things actually do just happen to you.
Admittedly, there are a couple areas we could/are trying to trim. But by and large…
Yes, something do happen to you….but how you handle and react to them is a choice! Thanks for reading, Abigail!
Great post!! Life is all about choices and the ones you make reflect what your life is. If your pants don’t fit, you chose to eat poorly and not be active. If you are in debt, you chose to buy things you couldn’t afford. Start choosing to do things differently and you will see a positive change in your life.
I used to be in debt myself, choosing to buy whatever I wanted. Now I choose not to buy. I ask myself “do I really need this” before buying anything. Surprisingly I put most stuff back because I really don’t’ need what I think I do.
I like your thinking, Don…..take a moment to think about each purchase as a choice….choose the right path for financial success. Thanks for stopping by!
I love this. I definitely think we have a choice. Things may not turn out exactly how we planned, but we have a choice to be better and do better or fall victim to the same vices as everyone else.
If things don’t work out as planned….then we need a new plan. 😉
I think you’re talking about manifesting your reality. Will Smith is a great example of believing 100% in oneself and aligning all actions to match the reality he wants. He works hard, focuses, seems to be a good friend, and walks the walk. Great post.
I was surprised at just how inspirational he is, Michelle. I’m looking forward to finding more material from him!