Choices – there are many days I do not want to make the tough choices. It’s hard work and requires discipline, self-control and restraint.
There are days I don’t want to get out of bed and go to work, or face another day of care-giving, clean my house, spend time grieving my losses or doing boring exercises to keep healthy.
There are days I don’t feel like being kind to my neighbors or overlooking miner irritations. I don’t want to know I can choose to forgive, or be responsible for my reactions to others. It is so much easier to blame something or someone else for all my troubles.
But when I consider the alternatives, I wouldn’t give up the freedom I have to make choices for anything. Even if some choices are difficult, I know I will benefit by making those choices. I will be blessed in the long term and others will be blessed as well.
Here are some of the choices I remind myself that I am responsible for. And it is good to remember that not making a choice is still making a choice.
We choose our attitudes and responses to life situations
- Gratitude vs bitterness
- Grace extended vs resentment
- Personal self worth vs negative comparisons
- Reconciliation vs anger
- Faith and promise vs anxiety and fear
- Belief in God or being my own god
- Integrity, honesty, generosity vs self-centeredness, greed, me first
We choose our mindsets and patterns of behavior
- What I can do vs what I can’t do
- Finding solutions vs remaining helpless
- Acceptance and moving forward vs struggling and remaining stuck
- Personal responsibility vs the blame game
- Forgiveness vs revenge
- Assessing options, taking a risk vs panic, fear and worry
- Focus on similarities and agreement vs division and differences
We choose our lifestyle
- Grieving old losses, letting go of old scripts and toxic messages
- Self-discipline and regulation instead of whatever feels good in the moment
- Principles and values vs whatever the current culture dictates
- Long term goals vs immediate gratification
- Developing good friendships, mentors and safe environments
What choices do you face today? What attitudes would empower you? What core values and beliefs will help you through the tough spots?
Reflect, define, let go of what doesn’t work in the long term and be blessed.
Marlene Anderson