When was the last time you made a DECISION?

I know what you’re saying—“Keisha, I make decisions all the time.”

No, I mean real decisions.  What most of us do in our daily lives is make choices.   Choices consist of selecting from options that are presented before us—this or that or the other.   When you make a choice, you’re ultimately not responsible for the outcomes because it really wasn’t your decision.  You just had to choose from the options that were presented before you.  There wasn’t much thought given to what happens after you make the choice.  Usually you make the choice and then move on from there.  At the next crossroads, you make another choice, and so on.

How many times do you hear people say “But I didn’t have a choice” when encountered with a difficult situation?  (You usually hear this when they did something that caused someone else a great deal of pain or inconvenience.)

Choices are external.  The control is not yours.

When people make choices, they seldom accept responsibility for any of the outcomes that come with them for the simple fact that they weren’t involved in making the decision that led up to the choice.

The outcomes from choices are predetermined based on the options that are presented.  You are simply choosing which of the outcomes you prefer to deal with—or not deal with—as the case may be.

When people make choices, they seldom accept responsibility for any of the outcomes that come with them for the simple fact that they weren’t involved in making the decision that led up to the choice.

Even when you say the words “I choose”, you don’t feel in control.  You feel as if there’s still some doubt—as if the other option still might be better.

 

Think about it.  When a waiter asks you what you’re having, and you say “I think I’ll choose the fish.” Do you sound certain about that?  Is that your final answer?

Or when you tell someone that you’ve “chosen to start your own business” or “chosen to go back to school” or even that you’ve “chosen to take the day off”, do you find that they question you?

The problem isn’t that you’re not respected.   The problem is in your choice of words and actions.

You’re making choices when you should be making decisions.

 

Now, decisions, on the other hand, are by their very nature concrete.  They bring with them a feeling of being in control; of finality of someone who knows what they want and will not be questioned or second-guessed.

Making decisions implies that you have weighed all of the possible outcomes; examined the situation from all angles; understand all of the variables involved and that you come to the best conclusion possible and determined that this is the course of action that you will take as a result.

Making decisions implies taking responsibility for the outcomes.

Making decisions implies that you are in control.

Making decisions implies that you are not to be questioned, because there is no doubt and nothing left to be explored.

Making decisions is proactive way of controlling your life, while making choices is reaction to circumstances.

 

Now, repeat the same scenario from before, this time make some decisions instead of choices.

When a waiter asks you what you’re having, and you say “I have decided to have the fish.”  How do you feel as a result?  What do you believe the impression is this time as opposed to before?

Or when you tell someone that you’ve “decided to start your own business” or “decided to go back to school” or even that you’ve “decided to take the day off”, do you find that they question you now?

 

It’s the same, yet incredibly different.

 

The first step to creating your success is to make a decision—not a choice.  You must make a decision to be different.  You have to decide to find those things that fuel your passion; align with your purpose and build your legacy.  You have to decide that you are committed to be what you need to become in order release all that you are and are meant to be.

Are you ready?

Decide.