LTM - 11. Our Lives Reflect Our Decisions

11. Our Lives Reflect Our Decisions

One of the most noteworthy and accurate statements of human

achievement ever articulated was a statement made by Jim Rohn.

Success comes from making a series of good decisions

over time, while failure comes from making a series of

bad decisions over time.

After more than ten years of thinking about this statement and watching it

play out in the lives of people I know, I am convinced that our lives are

indeed a mirror image of our decisions.

Every day we make hundreds of little decisions which I call ―Either–Or‖

decisions. Most of these types of decisions may seem inconsequential at

the time, but every decision—no matter how small—leads us closer to or

further away from our goals.

Either–Or Decisions

 Do you get up early enough to properly prepare for the day, OR

do you sleep in and then rush out the door?

 Do you exercise as you had planned, OR do you blow it off

because you don’t feel like it?

 Do you make food choices to improve your health, OR do you eat

whatever you want?

 Do you pick up the coffee mug sitting on the table, OR do you

leave it for someone else to clean up?

 Do you control interruptions to improve productivity, OR do you

allow people and things to divert your attention from your

responsibilities?

 Do you demonstrate respect by letting people finish their

thoughts, OR do you interrupt?

 Do you have a positive attitude even when things don’t go your

way, OR do you moan and groan?

 Do you genuinely apologize when you are wrong, OR do you

water down the apology by making excuses?

 Do you smile and say, ―Good morning,‖ to your co-workers, OR

do you pass quickly to your desk?

 Do you compliment someone for a job well done, OR do you

think they don’t need it because they are just doing their job?

 Do you think about what you want to say before speaking, OR do

you let the first thing that pops into your head pop out of your

mouth?

These little decisions and hundreds of others matter. Your life today is the

result of the quality of the choices and decisions you’ve made up to this

very moment. Our decisions determine our physical and mental wellbeing.

Our finances are what they are because of our decisions. Where we

work and what we earn are the outcomes of our decisions. The strength of

our relationships with friends, siblings, parents, and spouse is directly

related to the decisions we have made.

Bottom line: everything we have or don’t have and who we are as human

beings have been determined by our decisions.

Even though you may choose to avoid accepting responsibility for where

you find yourself today, the truth is that you are where you are based on

your decisions; there’s no one else to blame. You’ve been in the driver’s

seat. If you want to change your course, it’s time to take control and learn

to make different choices and better decisions.

Good Places to Start the Big Change

 Accept responsibility for your decisions and stop blaming others

for where you find yourself today.

 Become aware of the decisions you are making every day and

start making decisions consistent with the person you want to

become.

 Believe in yourself and your ability to make good decisions.

 Start small. Do the LITTLE THINGS right. Make good Either–Or

choices.

LTM Challenge

All positive change begins with awareness. If you find your ship in rough

seas, turn off your autopilot. Start being aware of all the little decisions

you are making. Remember, the outcome of your life will be largely

determined by the moment-to-moment decisions you make each day.

Don’t allow yourself to think something doesn’t matter. Everything

matters.

The hundreds of little decisions you make each day

will influence every part of your life.