Making choices is like breathing. Its there all the time and we barely notice it. But the consequences can be tremendous.
Lets take an example. There is Chuck. He is 18 years old. He works part time for two years now in a grocery and has managed to buy himself a used but in very good condition car. He studies and wants good grades because he wants to be accepted in law school at the university.
Lets take his cousin Roxanne. She was born 6 months before him. She left high school because she did not like school. She doesn't work either because, well, work sucks! So she is on social insurance welfare. She is now 6 months pregnant and the father of the child is in jail for some stuff he did.
Who is starting life with a head start?
Now I know that nothing is for sure in life and she may turn her life around at some point (I really wish she does) and its the same for Chuck. But its never the less our choices that defines how we become. Our choices and our actions according to those choices.
And as I said. We make choices as we breathe. So in order to make better quality choices in our life, we have to become aware that we are making them. Take a ruthless logical based on facts decision. according our needs, our wants and where we want to be in life.
Basically on any decisions, we are trying to do two things. Either avoid pain or gain pleasure. Think about this for a moment. Think of any important decision you are making. Ask yourself what is it your are trying to do when you gauge the pros and cons... are you trying to avoid pain? Or are you trying to gain please?
If you decide to stay in bed instead of going to the gym this morning. You will make up all good reasons why it is better to stay in bed. You are rationalizing. But what is it you are really trying to do? Avoid the pain of getting up? Being tired. Pain in the muscles after the sets. Or are your trying to gain pleasure? The pleasure of staying in bed and sleeping a few more hours.
What decision is more beneficial to you? According the fact that you are not ill and staying in bed is not to get better?
See most of the time the best decision is to delay pleasure. Delay consumption so I can save money. Delay the cheese cake so I can have a better health and a nicer body... So on and so forth...
So all in all. We have to
1. Be aware of the decison we make and their consequences (no rationalization)
2. Aim for the long run goal (delay pleasure)
Its not what we would want to ear. But that's life.
I leave you with this thought:
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