Your Choices Define You

Source-Wikipedia                

“ I did not want to be alive”. These were the thoughts running in the mind of Michael Phelps who was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, in 2014. This was the time when he decided to come out of his retirement and participate in 2016 Olympics.

He was banned for 6 months by USA swimming body. He locked himself up in his room for 4 days, barely eating and sleeping. He was  battling depression and alcohol abuse. At that time he wondered, why was he alive?

Michael Phelps took the swimming world by storm by winning 8 Gold medals in swimming in 2008 Beijing Olympics, shattering Mark Spitz’s record. He had seen it done it all. Eventually, he retired from swimming after 2012 Olympics.

He did not have to prove himself to anyone anymore. The world knew what he was capable of. He was fighting the demon within. At this crucial juncture he had to make a CHOICE. And the choice he makes will decide his destiny.

He could have decided not to do anything and live a miserable life or choose to live a meaningful life. He checked into a rehab centre, came out clean. Subsequently, he participated in 2016 Olympics and won 5 Gold and 1 Silver for his country.

Source-Wikipedia 

Nick Vujicic was born without limbs, except for a small deformed feet. As a child he tried to take his life but better sense prevailed.

He had a choice to embrace a life without limits or a life filled with despair. He chose life without limits, and today he is an inspiration to millions of people around the world who have lost faith.

These two and other great people who ever roamed on earth chose to be great. Their greatness was not an accident, they chose to be great.

How do you feel about your own life today? When you see yourself in the mirror, do you like what you see (off course you can not do much about how you look)? And I know you have tons of reasons for how you feel. Think hard, are these genuine reasons? Think a while….

Let me be in your face and tell you that your are responsible for whatever shape your life is in today. If you are not happy with your finances, your health, your relationship, career or whatever that you are unhappy with. You are the reason, no one else. It was your choices, which you made or did not make, which is responsible for your current state of your life. You are your choices.

You chose not to get up early in the morning to go for a run or a walk. You chose to eat junk food. What is more laughable that you look in the mirror everyday and hate your bulging tummy and yet you choose not to do anything except to blame your genes, or your body structure.

You chose to spend your hard earned money on buying expensive items be a car, house, watch which did not add any value to your life.  You chose to spend your money on parties, buying things to show off people. Now you wonder why your finances are in mess?

It was you  who chose to succumb to temptation of liquor or drugs. You had a choice to refuse to that first drag or sip you had. Now also you have choice to kick off your addiction however sever it may be. I am no way saying it will be easy. It will be a struggle but think is your life any less of a struggle now?

Have you sometime wondered why so many people who were less talented than you in school or  college are leading a more successful life than you. Literally, I have so many times caught myself thinking how could that jerk who was a looser in school or college, has made so big in life.

What did they do to be such a big success         ( besides being at the right place at the right time)? The way I look at it, these people chose their way to success. 

They chose to work hard, sacrificing their short term struggle to long term happiness. They chose to take risk, moved beyond their comfort zone, got into a business or worked in high risk projects. On the contrary you chose the comfort of your cozy office and job security. You were too scared to follow your passion.

The quality of our life depends on the quality of choices we make. Our choices define the trajectory of our life. Every moment in our life we are making choices. Our choices reflect our priorities. We do not have any control over our life events, however we do have the power to chose how we respond to it. So chose happiness over despair, chose greatness over mediocrity, chose courage over cowardice, chose abundance over poverty. It is as simple as this, but not that easy to practice.

Human beings are creature of their habits. So moment they encounter any unpleasant event they act out of their pre-programmed habit. For example if someone criticises you, depending upon your habit pattern, you shall become defensive or aggressive. You do not think through the event to make a choice how you want to act.

Tactics

There is a time lag of fraction of seconds, between the actual event  and your response to it. This time lag is the point where you can short circuit your hard coded response to decide what is the right choice to make under these circumstances.

During the time of crisis we have a tendency to react immediately. However it is better:

to step back, take a few deep breaths.

• Put the problem in the right perspective.    

• Is the situation really so bad?

• Look at the problem with different perspective, reframe the problem.

• Be aware of your emotional state and bodily sensations

Now when your mind, body and emotions are under your control make the most appropriate decision with all the available information and resources available to you. Not all decision that you make in life would be right however you would have failed after taking an informed decision rather than acting out of your habit.

Always remember: when the life throws challenge at you, you have the choice to become better or bitter. I guess the choice is pretty simple:

Let Us Choose 2 b Great and not just successful. Leave a legacy and not inheritance.