It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny. I heard an expression recently that keeps running through my head:
When you say YES to something, you say NO to something else.
Isn't that powerful?
For me, that expression is all about choices and consequences. Some are immediate. For instance: when I chose to go for a walk, I give up spending that time quilting. Bam! That 45 minutes is gone. Conversely, when I say YES to not exercising, I get the time to quilt, but I say NO to greater stamina and flexibility -- a more long-term consequence of my choice.
I think we all face that YES/NO question in many areas of our lives: how we use our time, how we spend our money, how we deal with our relationships, how we take care of ourselves.
If I say YES to a wonderful job I'm interviewing for this morning, I say NO to the freedom I've come to enjoy. If we say YES to giving our daughter the wedding of her dreams, we say NO to a secure retirement for ourselves. If I say YES to the choice to eat what I want, when I want it, I say NO to an active and healthy old age.
When you say YES to something, you say NO to something else.
It's all about choosing the direction we want to take in our lives. On days like today, however, I wish someone would give me a clear road map to follow!
Until next time...
16 comments:
Oh my goodness, this rings so true to me right now. Wouldn't a road map be nice? Or, at least for me, more hours in the day?
DANG, that mental work is hard. But in the end, we are trained by the discipline and reap the genuine rewards of making small decisions made over time that correspond with our core values. The trick is to get the core values right first.
Great post! This is SO true!!! :)
Thanks for this post! It's an excellent thought to meditate on. But I feel like I'm back in 12th grade economics class a bit. This is the clearest and most easy-to-understand explanation I've ever read of the principle of opportunity cost.
Here's to being more aware of the little (and not so little) sacrifices we make everytime we make a decision.
Take care!
~briy
A road map would do wonders for me right now@
Totally - when I say yes to the pizza, I say no to the loss of another pound!! Life is all about choices - the WW lady was right on the mark. That is why I often stress that losing weight is a decision, not something that you "try" to do. You just decide to do it and then proceed. While I have hit a few roadblocks here and there, I find that particular method of thinking very helpful and its working! Choices, decisions - it truly is up to us. Thanks for your post. And don't blow your retirement for your daughter's wedding. Your security later will be gift enough for her!!
What a great saying. This is so true. I need to remember this one!
Another awesome post! Honestly, I find myself saying nothing in fear of making the wrong choice far too often in life. If you find that road map, can you slide a copy my way?
It feels so good when I exercise although sometimes I have to push myself to get started. The first two days of training for the c25k was so hard. I was panting the whole time. I'm on my second week and I'm rarely breathing hard. When I do breath hard, it's near the end of the set, not at the beginning. It does get easier.
The body remembers. I haven't jogged regularly in 20 years and I feel like I'm in better shape than someone that has never jogged. All the time that you tried before, the muscles remember. Exercising does get easier.
Good post. I think of the times I have said yes to doing something on the computer which turned into a no for playing with my daughter.
Yep, you nailed it! Life is just one big series of choices! Great post!
Please let us know if you find the map! I could use it as well :)
Great post... I 've never ever thought of that before.. So thanks for making life a bit harder! Just kidding! It is quite amazing... SO now I'm thinking of the times I've said yes to healthy things and running, and I've gotten rid of the bad stuff! whoo hoo
Very insightful post, sorry I can't spell lol.
I need to realize what I'm saying yes to instead of what I'm saying no to.
Erin
http://marriedsinglemomof3.blogspot.com/
I've thought a lot about this lately too. I work nights, so a lot of my choices are "____ or sleep" lately! Great post!
So true, and a good way to look at it!!
Post a Comment