01 Jan The Power of Deciding

To decide something means to come to a resolution in the mind. The root of the word decide means to cut off (de= off, caedere= to cut). This means that once you really decide on something, you cut off all other options.

In 1519, Captain Hernán Cortéz landed in Veracruz. He then commanded his trips to burn the ships. This gave them no other option than to move forward.

How many times in our lives do we make a decision and cut off all other options? How many times do we create a ‘back door’ or a ‘plan B’, just in case? How much more powerful would our decisions be if we cut off all other options? How different would our relationships be if we knew we had to work through all things, instead of opting for a divorce? How much energy would we save if we weren’t second-guessing our decisions, and thinking of other options?

As we create a life of essentialism, we should be careful to determine where we want to spend our time and energy. Once we do so, however, we should do it with all of our heart, mind and strength, and cut off all other options. This increase in power and focus will drastically change the results that we get.

Think about your life. What is it that you really want to accomplish? If you have no idea, how many different things can you experience so you can find that thing? Once you find it, what are the activities that will drive success towards your purpose? Are you willing to burn you ships to move forward?

The power in truly deciding will make a huge impact in your life and in the decisions you make from moment to moment. As we embark on a new year, let us make decisions that matter, and never look back.