Decisions

Everyday, we make a series of choices. These choices reflect our beliefs about the world around us and allow us to move in our intended direction. Decisions differ from choices in some very important ways. A decision is a categorical choice. It is one option out of a limited number of options. There are limits; boundaries within which we much elect a path. A choice, however, is borne of nothing. It enters our mind sporadically. Its only limitations are those we impose it from our own beliefs. Fear, hesitation, insecurity, and anxiety are the kinds of emotions that limit our choices. One of the most beautiful things about young children is that they have not had the time to develop these restrictive sensations. Living a moment without worry of the next is where bliss lies; and this is where we lived as children. Bringing it back seems difficult (if not impossible). Plagued with memories that highlight our inadequacies and lower our self-esteem, we “grown-ups” focus on consequence. Consequence unfortunately, lives only in a moment that has not yet taken place; the future.

So being the pessimistic fortune-tellers that we have learned to become through the traumatic process of “growing up”, we have lost focus on NOW. And losing focus on now hinders our ability to make a choice that is pure and untainted by our tendency to consider consequence as a part of the equation.

A man once walked down the street and heard a loud bang from his right. To his left, a person fell from what had turned out to be a gunshot. Two years later, the same man walked the street and heard a loud bang from his right. Immediately, he looked left anticipating another person wounded, and reflexively ran for cover. The bang was, in actuality, a backfiring Harley Davidson. This man’s mind had unfortunately been tainted with a rather unlikely result. Like Pavlov’s dogs salivating at the ring of a bell, he had internalized an outcome from an illogical association.

Similarly, we grow up. We experience many things; some unlikely events. And our choices become more like decisions. Predictability sets in. Imagination muscles get weak. Creativity takes a back seat to redundant motions. My solution? Snowboarding!!!!