Choice

One of the greatest blessings in our life is free will.  Think about it.  We wake up in the morning and have the freedom to do whatever we want that day.  With the major responsibilities in our lives, it may not always feel that way.  But it is absolutely true.  On a daily basis, there is no one telling us what to do (no groaning from the teenagers!) and no script we have to follow.  The day is our canvas and we have the choice to apply as much or as little paint as we wish.  This day, this week, this month, this year, this life is what you make of it.  We can get up early, exercise, attack the day and get a jump start on our lives.  Or we can sleep in and play video games all day.  No matter what choices we make, those choices are ours and we have to own them!

We have free will but we must recognize that our choices also have consequences.  Fortunately, most of us have a built-in control mechanism that factors in our responsibilities.   Skip work and head off to the beach?  You might lose out on much-needed revenue.  Blow off class and hit the mall?  Your grades might suffer.   Go to the spa instead of paying the bills?  You might soon be operating in the red.  Our free will is a blessing but it also comes with a potentially destructive downside if we abuse it.  What can help us down the right path?  A Strong work ethic.  A solid moral base.  A close family or close friends who share your same values.  Free will left unchecked can be damaging.  But free will surrounded by positive influences and positive intentions can be incredibly powerful.  Given the right guidance, you can accomplish anything.  Want to start your own company?  No one is stopping you.  Want to play the piano?  You can find the time.  Want to write the Great American Novel?  It starts with the first sentence.  With the right attitude and encouragement, success becomes a choice.  Your potential is unlimited.  Never underestimate the power of free will.

But what does free will have to do with resilience?  When we suffer a setback or make a major mistake in our lives, there is no playbook.  We can choose to throw in the towel and feel sorry for ourselves.  We can choose to blame others for own problems.  We can choose to play it safe and refuse to take any more risks.  Suffering a setback is painful and sometimes it feels as if success will never come our way.   It takes incredible determination to launch your next business venture after a failure.  It takes incredible courage to forgive yourself and turn the page in your life after a major mistake.   It takes incredible effort to still try your hardest in the face of defeat.  Resilience is not easy.   But resilience is a choice.  And it comes with such a huge upside if you can muster the grit to move forward.  You will come back stronger than you were before the setback.  You will appreciate the things you may have taken for granted.  You will be hungrier for success and happiness the next time you experience a difficult situation.  No one can be resilient for you.  You must make that choice on your own.

Life is like a game of cards.  The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will. –Nehru

Nothing is pre-determined in your life.  Your decisions and your attitude will determine whether your setback was a blip on the radar or a harbinger of doom for things to come.  Stay positive!  Stay resilient!  Make the most of your God-given gift of free will.  The decisions you make after a setback will set you on a path toward success or failure.  Do you want to give up or do you want to move forward stronger than ever?  The choice is yours.

Until next week, keep smiling!