2 Decisions You Have to Make Everyday

Every single day, and I mean literally everyday, there are some decisions that you have to make. Actually, we are all required to make them regardless of our professional position in life. I am going to discuss two of these decisions from a list of seven that I have discovered. When we make these decisions, we have to choose either/or. There is no third option to pick from and there is no such thing as not deciding. Here are two of the decisions that I am talking about.

Decisions 1 - Life or Death

One of the decisions that you must make is a daily decision between growth and death. Whether you realize it or not, every single day, you are choosing to grow as a person or you are choosing to allow death to happen. This is a choice you make in every area of our life.

In our physical life, specifically with our bodies, we start the dying process the minute that we’re born. The difference between children and adults in this sense is that children are simply growing at a faster rate than they are dying and as adults that process reverses itself. Physically if we don’t consciously choose things that will help us grow, like good nutrition, exercise and meditation, we are unconsciously allowing ourselves to die.

Another example of this decision is found in your financial life. If you put money in a non-interest bearing account or (under your mattress) it will shrink. Inflation will cause the value of that money to decrease.

On a daily basis you must choose between growth and death and there is not a third option.

Decisions 2 - The Pain of Discipline or the Pain of Regret

The other decision that we all have to make every single day is what kind of pain we want. We make a daily decision between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret.

A mentor of mine early on in my career counseled me that there are two kinds of pain. There is the pain of discipline which weighs ounces and that helps you grow stronger and then there is the pain of regret which ways tons and injures you. When you choose the pain of discipline you do not have to deal with the pain of regret. If you choose not to be disciplined in your health, your business, your finances you are, unconsciously further down the road, choosing a path that you will not be pleased with and experience the pain of regret.

Daily you either choose the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.

You might think this is a little harsh. I’m either growing or I’m dying. I’m either inflicting pain one way or inflicting pain another way. I don’t mean to be militaristic about this, but sometimes we need a wake up call because we are making these choices whether we realize them or not.

What do you do with this information?

Well, starting today, in the areas that are important to you, make the decision that will move you in the right direction. Does that mean get to the gym when you don’t feel like it? Maybe. Does that mean make the cold calls when you don’t feel like it? Perhaps. Does it mean bringing your lunch from home instead of going out to eat so you can save for retirement? Maybe it does. Whatever it means for you, make those decisions starting today. Tomorrow do it again. The next day do it again and so on and so on.

I know it sounds simple folks, but the decisions that we make ultimately become our actions. Your actions become your habit. Your habit will become your character and ultimately it is your character that determines your destiny. I hope this has made you think and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Be Free!

Roger Seip