Changes

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you

Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you’re wondering what it takes to change your path or your goal, it’s obvious that comes from inside you. No other person can make that decision for you. Sometimes you want

someone else to step up;

someone to make the big decisions;

someone to decide for you.

Many years ago I had a huge decision to make about my career. I had thought of the good/bad; the pros/cons. However, I struggled with that decision seemingly longer than I should. I must say here I spent many hours teaching my children that when  you are making decisions, you should make a list of why you should do something and why you should not.  They understood a pensive attitude toward decisions was a good thing.  Taking time to decide is very important.

I took time.  I thought of the consequences. I weighed the options. I announced to my children I had made my decision! The next morning I called the company to which I had decided I wanted to hitch my star for a great career.

“Oh, yes. I understand. I’m sorry as well.”

The job I was so eager to start had been filled by another candidate. I no longer had that option. I was sad. It was not a good look for my children to see. The next day I went to work at my same, boring job. Then one day, about 6 months later, I was offered a similar job within that same company–better, more interesting, more pay, and all the things I had thought the other opportunity would bring me. That job was a spring board to something much better and more rewarding.

I have used a similar test for many changes in my life. I still believe snap decisions are not usually as successful as those we ponder. But we must remember delay can change our path. If we’re willing to take a chance, change may be the best for us.

We all make choices, but in the end our choices make us.

Ken Levin