“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” Stephen Covey
Motivation Mondays: DECISIONS
We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork, you must make a decision. C. S. Lewis
Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. Ralph Waldo Emerson
What kind of Decisions did you make today? Every day, we make decisions, large and small, that have an impact on our lives in some way. Today, I spent 4 hours at my local DMV trying to renew my drivers license to the new upgraded version that, if we plan to travel, will affect us all by 2020. Yes, I could have taken the suggested August 2nd appointment when I tried to schedule one online but, I was impatient to be done with the process. My decision cost me 4 extra hours that could have been spent elsewhere. Each decision we make will leave a wake … a reverberation that impacts other areas of our lives. As I sat there fuming, waiting for my turn, it got me thinking about how we make decisions/choices to do A or B and how that unfolds into other circumstances in our lives. One thing is clear, regardless of what we choose to do in a situation, our attitude can make a difference. We might not have a choice in the outcome of the road taken but, we have a choice on how we respond to those outcomes. We can moan and groan or chin up and move on.
Why did I write today’s post? An important point on this subject was my decision to go ahead and write this post, even though my day was shot. Plus, I had other pressing engagements to handle. I wrote it because I’d made a commitment to myself and my readers to make Monday an inspired day; plus I was not going to let us down, Normally, I prefer to have my blog posts up before midnight east coast time, however, this blog is set at west coast (pacific) time. Why? If you’ve followed this blog from its inception, you’d know that I started it, in California, as a motivational support newsletter for my agents. As training manager, I wanted to give them inspirational support, as well as practical, industry related information. When the market crashed, in 2008, and things fell apart, I turned the newsletter into the blog you are reading today. I took the unfortunate outcome of one situation and made a decision to turn it into another positive endeavor. It is in staying flexible and choosing meaningful alternatives that we see a pathway open. In life, it is imperative that we choose a road and take it. Damn the consequences or stay prayerful that it all pans out.
DECISIONS: A MORAL DILEMMA
You have witnessed a man rob a bank, but then, he did something completely unusual and unexpected with the money. He donated it to an orphanage that was poor, run-down and lacking in proper food, care, water and amenities. The sum of money would be a great benefit to the orphanage, and the children’s lives would turn from poor to prosperous. Would you:
a: Call the police and report the robber, even though they would likely take the money away from the orphanage, or
b: Do nothing and leave the robber and the orphans alone? VIA LISTVERSE
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for APR 2018/MAY 2018 are:
06/03 – 05 World Environment Day, 06, D Day, 08 National Best Friend Day,
06/10 – 13 St Anthony, 15 Eid al-Fitr, 06/17 – 17 Father’s Day, 18 Int’l. Picnic Day, MTV Movie Awards 19 Juneteenth, 20 World Refugee Day, 21 Summer Solstice, Int’l. Yoga Day, World Music Day
06/24 – 24 St John the Baptist, 26 Day against Drug Abuse/Illicit Trafficking
07/01 – TBD 04, Independence Day
07/08 – 11 World Population Day, 14 Bastille Day 07/15 – 15 National Ice cream Day, 18 Nelson Mandela Day
07/22 – 22 Parents Day,
07/29 – 30 International Day of Friendship, Day against Trafficking,
Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2018?
“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” Tony Robbins
Motivation Mondays: DECISIONS
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward. Amelia Earhart
You write your life story by the choices you make. You never know if they have been a mistake. Those moments of decision are so difficult. Helen Mirren
Do you fear making decisions in hard times? The storms in our lives help us learn about our own strengths in decision-making. Whether we like it or not, sometimes, we have to make tough decisions to help move a situation or resolve a quandary in our path. While some decisions are clear cut and pretty easy to make, others are complex, unclear and offer little clarity but, we must still choose what to do. Our fear of choosing might make us stall until pushed by other forces to act. The two moral dilemma stories I shared in this post, and Robert Frost’s famous poem The Road Not Taken, are reminders of how challenging decision-making can be. It is fraught with complications that can create new problems and decisions to make. But act, we must!
DECISIONS: A MORAL DILEMMA
Your best friend is about to get married. The ceremony will be performed in one hour, but you have seen, just before coming to the wedding, that your friend’s fiancee has been having an affair. If your friend marries this woman, she is unlikely to be faithful, but on the other hand, if you tell your friend about the affair, you will ruin his wedding. Would you, or would you not, tell your friend of the affair?VIA LISTVERSE
Positive Motivation Tip: Decide and be at peace with your decision
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note. Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below) Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up Facebook Page:MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others. Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.
Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page) Tag: – Motivation Mondays Hashtag: – #MotvnM
hey! You are so inspirational. I loved each and every detil of these post. How decision making is important in our life, you have noted down very nicely. Thank you for sharing these with us 🙂 Have a great day 🙂
We made decision everyday and some are important and some aren’t. No matter what decision we made, we should not get regreted and cry over it when the decision turn out to be no good or failure. Instead we should use it as a lesson to learn so we could made a better decision in the future.
Thanks for sharing!I really need this to motivate me in everything I do. Sometimes you need advices from reading and from other people. So happy I found this article.
This is a very thought-provoking post. I have often thought that the decisions we make shape the rest of our lives and your moral dilemma sections have strengthened my opinion of this! Great post!!
I believe the trick to making any decision is being able to live with the consequence. I am a pretty decisive person. I do not like wasting time ‘wondering’ – I trust my instincts and roll with it.
Oh my those dilemmas really got me thinking. Such difficult decisions to make, but the life changing one usually are. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learnt to trust my gut and make a call, and deal with the consequences afterwards. Fortunately most of the times it’s worked out right
Every moment of our lives is shaped by our decisions, and those of others. We choose how we react to situations, we choose how to spend our time. It’s a lesson that took me a long time to learn!
I often think about the Sartre quote “We are our choices” and to always be mindful of the decisions I make on a daily basis and how they affect others.
What a super great way to get people involved and motivated! The moral dilemmas really have me stumped. The wedding situation I think I might tell my friend…it would be awful for them to find out later on, but hard decisions!
I’m not going to answer your moral dilemma. Just remember, if you do tell your friend about the affair, they will no longer be your friend and they will still marry that person. Think about it.
I love Steven Covey. I believe we are a product of our decisions. Whether or not we make a good or bad decision, we always have a choice. I will always side on the side of right so if I know my friend is about to make the worst decision of his life and marry a cheater, I have to tell him and risk losing the friendship. In the robbing situation, I probably would call the police. In this day and age, there are so many ways to raise money for people who have needs. There’s no excuse to rob a bank. All you need to do is start a Kickstarter program. If I was a charity, I wouldn’t want dirty money.
Oh geez, spending four hours at the DMV sounds horrible…but you’re absolutely right, you made the decision to deal with the wait for now instead of waiting to make the change later! It all balances out one way or another. Thanks for the motivation!
I tell myself everyday to make the conscious decision to make better choices. I know that where we are today is a summation of our past choices. And where we go tomorrow depends on what we chose to do today.
Making decisions is an interesting topic. I feel before something has come to pass, I typically weight the good vs. the bad of the decision. However, if I’m caught up in the moment of a decision, and it has to be made right now, I’m very decisive and don’t have a second thought about it.
That is a great question to ask right off the bat. What decisions did you make today. Everyday is a new day with new decisions to make. Even when you are not making a decision, you are making a decision. Thank you for a thought-provoking post.
It can be easy to try and play the blame game when it comes to disappointment faced in one’s life, when we step aside and take an objective approach we will realize that all we need to do is change our perception, believe in ourselves, plan, and then take action accordingly.
I’ve gotten even better at making decisions over the year and it definitely has something to do with my husband’s positive inspiration to just MAKE A DANG DECISION – hahahahaha!
I just love your motivation Mondays! Great way to boost up my week.
As for the theme: decisions are super hard to make because you have to have so much inside your head, so many consequences but at the same it’s so easy when you let your intuition and heart help your brain.
Both dilemmas are very hard to answer and make me think of the Trolley Problem ethical experiment. There is no right or wrong answer, and none makes us a better or worse person. It’s all about taking a decision and living with the consequences.
Ooooh moral dilemmas! I love it when people ask me these – I can never decide what to do! Interesting post, making decisions can be hard, especially if they make a big difference on your life.
This is a thought provoking post , the story of the person stealing and then donating to an orphanage sounds like a kind gesture but it’s not his own money to give. I think it is still wrong to steal. Somebody might have scrimped and saved and put money in bank who also needed that money and trusted the bank to keep it safe.
This post is thought provoking and very interesting. The story of the guy who stole and donated to an orphanage is a kind gesture but it’s still stealing .It was not his money or choice to give it away , the money is in safe keeping in the bank and belongs to people who them selves may have struggled to save it.Stealing is wrong no mater what reason it’s done for. Some people may dissaggree but that is my thoughts on it.
I have come to understand that there is no right or wrong concerning the things of life. I believe in making my decisions inline with my intuition, once do that most times I tend to be fine
A very intriguing supposition and absolutely true. Far too many people are happy to lay blame on their circumstances when things go bad, but we reap what we sow.
I’m really not the best person at making decisions. It can take me ages to decide on the simple things so things that are far more important can be extremely difficult in some cases for me to manage. The moral dilemma you mentioned is a hard one!!!
I am the worst at making decisions. I have got to work on finishing what the best solution is for me and my family instead of counting on others to make decisions for me 🙂 Starting out this week motivated!
I always love your collages, they are so inspiring! This subject really resonates with me because I am so sick of hearing people blame their childhood for how they act, most of us didn’t have a picture perfect upbringing but we have to make the decision to become who we want.
4 hours? Thankfully, I don’t drive so I don’t have to go through that. I don’t like waiting in government offices because honestly, you waste so much time!
That’s a hard question! I think a wedding is not a place to involve yourself in the bride/groom’s business. That is something that the two of them would have to work out.
I would definitely tell him that his fiance is cheating. That would save him a lot of time wasted in a marriage that was never going to work. He can hate me for it or he can maybe not believe me, but I will tell him.
my decision for the day: to have more fun. I really work way to hard and don’t spent enough time with my people. I make decisions easily, i just dn’t always stick to them haha.
Thank you for the inspiration and motivation. As a training manager, there is a strong impact one can have on decision making of the participants. Appreciate your commitment. Decision making is what we wake up with and what we sleep with! Very important elements brought in here.
Life is all about taking decisions which can either give you success or experience. Proper analysis of consequences can lead to better and healthy decision.
It is important to have a right decision. But making them is the hardest thing to do. This is a great post to remind us how decision making contribute to our daily lives.
I know I’ve replied before, but I wanted to thank you for writing about the upgrade to the license. I didn’t realize this was going to happen, I haven’t even heard of it. It’s been awhile since we have flown…I’m so glad to know though, and am going to upgrade sooner rather than later too!
This week has been fully of new decisions. How to run a business and be a a good wife and full time mom. How to clean the house the best and fastest way. When to work out (decided at 5am where I can go before husband goes to work), what is the best food plan for my crazy life. When do we have more kids? SO MUCH going on this week.
I agree! Everyday we make both small and big decisions. We are the decision makers in our lives and we need to take responsibility for the outcomes whether good or bad.
I say this all the time… that our mindset and decisions impact our lives significantly! A lot of people seriously underestimate their decision making/thought process prior to making a decision. It’s something we all need to be more aware of!
I love the Robert Frost poem. It was one of my favorites when we were studying his work in school. I agree that we all need to be held accountable for our choices. Even if we have difficult circumstances in life, we can make good decisions.
Ahhh, decisions! They are such an integral and important aspect of life! I often think that the harder thing for me are not as much the big decisions but the daily little ones that I make that can affect the people I love and spend my days with 🙂
There is so much truth in that C.S. Lewis quote. It seems like no matter what decision you make there’s always another decision after that, and another after that, and so-on and so-on. However, it never seems to fail that you want to hesitate before making a decision because what if it’s the wrong decision. I’m so feeling this today especially. That you for this post!
I love this Monday motivation post! I totally agree that attitude makes such a world of difference (I say this as someone who gripes constantly at the DMV – I should probably take an attitude check).
I totally agree that decisions define our lives and not the circumstances, of course some people have it harder than the others but still your intentions are crucial.
Decisions will either produce healthy, amazing results that we all desire or making the wrong ones will ruin us. The choice is always in our hands. Thanks for the reminder!
I usually sleep on a decision before I decide. It’s really important for me to have a clear mind and it’s also more important to decide with a positive heart. I think it’s good to turn things around with the decisions that we make.
The only reason I love your posts is you make me think.. And make me question myself.
this is one more topic.. It is said, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped” I dont know where
i read it but I thought it would fit in here…
I love that you address this subject. Although I regret some of the decisions I’ve taken in the past, I’m forever grateful to have had the freedom to take those decisions, something that not everybody has.
That scenario about the moral dilemma. It made me think what would be the right thing to do. There are so many conflicting thoughts, like “the end does not justify the means,” “done something wrong to make others’ lives better.” However, if I were in that situation, I would rather not report it. The man wanted to give the children a more comfortable living condition, and that maybe his action was brought about by desperation. It was a decision he made even if he may have prior knowledge of the consequences that may arise.
I did not make major decisions today. But mine was probably early this year. It was big because it basically freed me from all the pain and misery. So happy I did 😀
I love that the road we travel isn’t always straight and has many twists, turns and circles depending on the choices we make in our lives and also by the choices others close to us make…
You’re so right! I often think about the impact of the smallest decisions and how my life or day could be on a completely different path right now, had I made different ones. I hope it all worked out in the end at the DMV!
I like that poem by Robert Frost. I have been trying to remember the author of the poem and here you come with the reminder. I have indeed been going through some hard times and ofcourse some hard choices. I have been hoping that time would just present me with a solution but it doesn’t . I should just decide and be at peace with my decision.
We need to make decisions every single day. Sometimes we have to really think about them especially if there are potential consequences.
I would definitely tell my friend about it…and I did once…lost a friendship but then 3 years later we became friends again because she realized that I was right all along and that he was a cheater!
Those situation you stated are truly challenging.. yet yes, will have to think over. Decisions will bring out circumstances and result. But which ever we go to I believe those will be our choices too.
Covey has some amazing quotes. I remember reading his seven habits book during my undergrad years. One of the takeaways was that you should be a product of your decisions rather than your circumstances.
I spent the afternoon at the DMV, too, and was fuming that no one had their necessary paperwork. I felt they were wasting “my” time. I decided it’s not “my” time, but time that I have been given and that made all the difference.
Great post, and so right! Today I made the decision to spend my hard earned money on flights to Turkey to meet a guy that I think I may be in love with… wish me luck Elizabeth! x
Decisions can be fatal. After a bad illness (infection led to sepsis, 2 months in hospital on my back, and the need to learn to lift my arms, walk, etc., all over again), I decided to go to the physical therapy center over 3 hours from home because it could’ve taken weeks to find another place. Bad decision! It was not a good care center. I wound up hospitalized again, with UTI and very low potassium. 3 months wasted. But I decided to find a new place, close to home, and start over. I did that 2 weeks ago and it’s great. Physical therapy is going well & I know I will walk out of here.
Decision making is a big deal. We really have to stay focused and on task and make a decision and try as much as possible to See it through. Sorry about the long wait at the DMV GRRR… about the robber I might just let it pass. Since the stolen funds was for a good course. I know two wrongs don’t make a right but still 😀
What would you do? It’s easier to say it with a clear mind right now, that I would keep quiet about the robber and tell my friend about the affair, if my closer friend is the groom. Of course, all these are easier said than done!
Relatively new here, I found it interesting to learn why you started the site. I’m grateful you made the decision to keep it going despite the frustration I’m sure you felt when the market crashed.
Some decisions are easier to make for sure. I feel like I do not run from decision making, but sometimes I do second guess myself if I made the right one.
What a post. Decisions happen everyday, we make them without even realizing we are making them sometimes. Such has brushing your teeth or rolling out of bed.
This most really made think and spend some time self-reflecting. The poem “The Road Not Taken” is one of the first poems I ever learned from memory and one of my favorites.
To answer your question in the moral dilemma, I’d tell my friend about the affair. She deserves to know the truth. It’s better to get hurt for a while than to spend her whole life with a wrong man.
This was an interesting post with a lot of food for thought. I know what I should do in the case of the bank robber but it would be a challenge to actually do it, you know? Lots to think about! Thanks!
I’ts quite a philosophical question this one. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. I am definitely the product of my decisions but circumstances cannot be disregarded, as they have always been behind my decisions so…I don’t think I know a definite answer to this one….
I made the decision to skip my Tae Kwon Do class because I woke up extra early so I could go to work early. I also have a important phone call tomorrow and want to go to bed early.
The moral dilemmas are interesting. I have always thought I had a strong moral compass and yet I find myself feeling quite the affinity for the Robin Hood type bank robber character.
I don’t know whether I could tell my best friend on his wedding day that his fiancee was cheating on him, but I know that I would want to know, even the second before the marriage is solemnized.
“Each decision we make will leave a wake … a reverberation that impacts other areas of our lives.” So true. This post reminds me of an article I wrote about Decisions. <3 How fascinating is that everything we will ever do will shape our future in some way 🙂
Wow what a great post! Moral dilemmas are so hard, but it’s always better to make the right choice. It’s hard to believe that small decisions can affect us so greatly later in life.
It’s how I just keep coming across the word “decision” just after having made an important one in my life myself. I loved this post, it’s so relatable. The question of reporting or not reporting the robbery really made me brood over the matter; and of course, Frost’s poem is one of the most beautiful things ever written. Thanks for sharing with us! It was a nice read after a long workday.
This was motivational and inspirational, and I agree, we can do so much with how we respons to whatever happens. I’m trying to practise this, and even though it can be difficult. I’m Glad you’re responsen was to write this post:)
Very logical. We are the masters of our words we should be very careful and after we made our decisions, we are now the follower, decision making is a privelage. Use it wisely
I truly believe what CS Lewis says about the road of our life forking in 2 after every few miles…because it’s the decisions that we make at each of these points that decides how our life is shaped. We are what our decisions have led up to.
– Nandita
With the moral dilemmas I’d have to go with honesty and truth. Allowing a thief to go free or allowing the marriage to proceed would be easier in the short-term, but make things more difficult for everyone in the long-term.
I tend to think about all the other options I had for my decision making, if a choice I made seems to go awry. That’s when I momentarily dwell in the should of, could of, would of’s, but have to remind myself that I made the choice and must deal with the impact/outcome.
One decision is how you will react to the things that happen in this world. Will you find joy in the moment or will you choose to stress about every detail that has gone wrong? Hard choice to make sometimes.
I always believe and tell myself that once I made a decision, there’s no point regretting it. If I have done my considerations thoroughly, I made that decision with the facts I knew at that time. So, instead of regretting it, I choose to live with it, together with its consequences.
Decision making can be so hard! But I feel like I’m getting more decisive the older I get. And I’m always pushing clients and other people to make a decision and go with it!
Sometimes I struggle with decisions. Not wanting to hurt people. But since beating cancer I have made the decision to keep negative family members out of my life. They can cause so much damage to you before you even realize what is going on.
My children are all readers. My youngest is 16 and could not wait to get to the library for summer holidays to get a series of books. I started with them very young. It was a reward they would earn to be able to be able to stay up 1/2 hr. more to read. Children love rewards in any form. LOL
Making decisions can be so hard, i often let my emotions and pride get the better of me; something i have been working on remedying. However where is the line between prideful and pushover
hey! You are so inspirational. I loved each and every detil of these post. How decision making is important in our life, you have noted down very nicely. Thank you for sharing these with us 🙂 Have a great day 🙂
We made decision everyday and some are important and some aren’t. No matter what decision we made, we should not get regreted and cry over it when the decision turn out to be no good or failure. Instead we should use it as a lesson to learn so we could made a better decision in the future.
Thanks for sharing!I really need this to motivate me in everything I do. Sometimes you need advices from reading and from other people. So happy I found this article.
This is a very thought-provoking post. I have often thought that the decisions we make shape the rest of our lives and your moral dilemma sections have strengthened my opinion of this! Great post!!
Decisions are hard to do if we do not know ourselves. But once we know what we want in our life, decisions are as easy and natural as breathing.
I believe the trick to making any decision is being able to live with the consequence. I am a pretty decisive person. I do not like wasting time ‘wondering’ – I trust my instincts and roll with it.
Nice
I don’t mind making decisions. What I tire of is being the only one in my family contributing to the decision making. It wears on you! Great post!
Oh my those dilemmas really got me thinking. Such difficult decisions to make, but the life changing one usually are. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learnt to trust my gut and make a call, and deal with the consequences afterwards. Fortunately most of the times it’s worked out right
That is a moral dilemma, indeed. Some would say that the end would justify the means, but stealing is still a crime.
Every moment of our lives is shaped by our decisions, and those of others. We choose how we react to situations, we choose how to spend our time. It’s a lesson that took me a long time to learn!
I often think about the Sartre quote “We are our choices” and to always be mindful of the decisions I make on a daily basis and how they affect others.
What a super great way to get people involved and motivated! The moral dilemmas really have me stumped. The wedding situation I think I might tell my friend…it would be awful for them to find out later on, but hard decisions!
I’m not sure I understand the point of this post. Are you just showing photos that you think are motivating?
I’m not going to answer your moral dilemma. Just remember, if you do tell your friend about the affair, they will no longer be your friend and they will still marry that person. Think about it.
I love Steven Covey. I believe we are a product of our decisions. Whether or not we make a good or bad decision, we always have a choice. I will always side on the side of right so if I know my friend is about to make the worst decision of his life and marry a cheater, I have to tell him and risk losing the friendship. In the robbing situation, I probably would call the police. In this day and age, there are so many ways to raise money for people who have needs. There’s no excuse to rob a bank. All you need to do is start a Kickstarter program. If I was a charity, I wouldn’t want dirty money.
Oh geez, spending four hours at the DMV sounds horrible…but you’re absolutely right, you made the decision to deal with the wait for now instead of waiting to make the change later! It all balances out one way or another. Thanks for the motivation!
I tell myself everyday to make the conscious decision to make better choices. I know that where we are today is a summation of our past choices. And where we go tomorrow depends on what we chose to do today.
Loved this kind of quote where justification is super right. Decision in life is what our future will be done.
Making decisions is an interesting topic. I feel before something has come to pass, I typically weight the good vs. the bad of the decision. However, if I’m caught up in the moment of a decision, and it has to be made right now, I’m very decisive and don’t have a second thought about it.
While circumstances can effect our decisions, at the end of the day our decisions ultimately effect everything we do.
The decisions we make every single day can totally shape how the rest of our day goes. We make decisions from the second we wake up x
That is a great question to ask right off the bat. What decisions did you make today. Everyday is a new day with new decisions to make. Even when you are not making a decision, you are making a decision. Thank you for a thought-provoking post.
This is such a great article and very encouraging. Loved the quote you’ve made. It’s our decision that what can we become in the future.
This is such a great motivation quote for everyone. This is to remind us that every decision we make is what our future will be like.
It can be easy to try and play the blame game when it comes to disappointment faced in one’s life, when we step aside and take an objective approach we will realize that all we need to do is change our perception, believe in ourselves, plan, and then take action accordingly.
I’ve gotten even better at making decisions over the year and it definitely has something to do with my husband’s positive inspiration to just MAKE A DANG DECISION – hahahahaha!
I just love your motivation Mondays! Great way to boost up my week.
As for the theme: decisions are super hard to make because you have to have so much inside your head, so many consequences but at the same it’s so easy when you let your intuition and heart help your brain.
Both dilemmas are very hard to answer and make me think of the Trolley Problem ethical experiment. There is no right or wrong answer, and none makes us a better or worse person. It’s all about taking a decision and living with the consequences.
Ooooh moral dilemmas! I love it when people ask me these – I can never decide what to do! Interesting post, making decisions can be hard, especially if they make a big difference on your life.
That’s a moral dilemma, indeed. Some would say the end justifies the means, but stealing is still a crime. 🙁
All your shots and contents are amazing. I have to visit more places. You are doing a great work
This is a thought provoking post , the story of the person stealing and then donating to an orphanage sounds like a kind gesture but it’s not his own money to give. I think it is still wrong to steal. Somebody might have scrimped and saved and put money in bank who also needed that money and trusted the bank to keep it safe.
This post is thought provoking and very interesting. The story of the guy who stole and donated to an orphanage is a kind gesture but it’s still stealing .It was not his money or choice to give it away , the money is in safe keeping in the bank and belongs to people who them selves may have struggled to save it.Stealing is wrong no mater what reason it’s done for. Some people may dissaggree but that is my thoughts on it.
I have come to understand that there is no right or wrong concerning the things of life. I believe in making my decisions inline with my intuition, once do that most times I tend to be fine
We all have to make decisions everyday. Sometimes we make good decisions, sometimes bad. Sometimes easy, sometimes bold. That is life.
A very intriguing supposition and absolutely true. Far too many people are happy to lay blame on their circumstances when things go bad, but we reap what we sow.
I’m really not the best person at making decisions. It can take me ages to decide on the simple things so things that are far more important can be extremely difficult in some cases for me to manage. The moral dilemma you mentioned is a hard one!!!
My decisions are often catered around my kids. It’s a good stage of life though, short, sweet and meaningful.
I love your motivation Monday posts. It’s always important to stay positive and to look toward the bright side! -Tonya Tardiff
I am the worst at making decisions. I have got to work on finishing what the best solution is for me and my family instead of counting on others to make decisions for me 🙂 Starting out this week motivated!
I always love your collages, they are so inspiring! This subject really resonates with me because I am so sick of hearing people blame their childhood for how they act, most of us didn’t have a picture perfect upbringing but we have to make the decision to become who we want.
4 hours? Thankfully, I don’t drive so I don’t have to go through that. I don’t like waiting in government offices because honestly, you waste so much time!
That’s a hard question! I think a wedding is not a place to involve yourself in the bride/groom’s business. That is something that the two of them would have to work out.
I would definitely tell him that his fiance is cheating. That would save him a lot of time wasted in a marriage that was never going to work. He can hate me for it or he can maybe not believe me, but I will tell him.
Very good points made! And i am totally impatient and wouldnjave done the same thing you did!
my decision for the day: to have more fun. I really work way to hard and don’t spent enough time with my people. I make decisions easily, i just dn’t always stick to them haha.
Thank you for the inspiration and motivation. As a training manager, there is a strong impact one can have on decision making of the participants. Appreciate your commitment. Decision making is what we wake up with and what we sleep with! Very important elements brought in here.
Life is all about taking decisions which can either give you success or experience. Proper analysis of consequences can lead to better and healthy decision.
It is important to have a right decision. But making them is the hardest thing to do. This is a great post to remind us how decision making contribute to our daily lives.
I know I’ve replied before, but I wanted to thank you for writing about the upgrade to the license. I didn’t realize this was going to happen, I haven’t even heard of it. It’s been awhile since we have flown…I’m so glad to know though, and am going to upgrade sooner rather than later too!
This week has been fully of new decisions. How to run a business and be a a good wife and full time mom. How to clean the house the best and fastest way. When to work out (decided at 5am where I can go before husband goes to work), what is the best food plan for my crazy life. When do we have more kids? SO MUCH going on this week.
This is very inspiring, thank you for sharing your thoughts
I agree! Everyday we make both small and big decisions. We are the decision makers in our lives and we need to take responsibility for the outcomes whether good or bad.
I think taking a decision in difficult situation is not easy as we are always worried about but at times they are the best decision.
Wow this was really encouraging. I really struggle when it comes to decision making so this was right up my alley!
This post is full of inspiration. This will help a lot of people out there especially those who want to know the purpose of every decision they make.
I say this all the time… that our mindset and decisions impact our lives significantly! A lot of people seriously underestimate their decision making/thought process prior to making a decision. It’s something we all need to be more aware of!
Wow! What an interesting and uplifting post. I didn’t know the history of your blog. I enjoy reading the quotes and words of motivation!
I really loved the quote of Stephen Covey. And I loved the idea of motivation moday its much needed motivation for productive week ahead.
I love the Robert Frost poem. It was one of my favorites when we were studying his work in school. I agree that we all need to be held accountable for our choices. Even if we have difficult circumstances in life, we can make good decisions.
These images are just as beautiful as the words that accompany them – thank you for sharing. x
That is such a powerful quote by Stephen Covey – I couldn’t agree with it more! x
We so look forward to your motivational blogs. It’s so well written. We so saved the calendar
That’s a beautiful motivational post. This post will surely help me to stay motivated whole week. Thanks for sharing this with us
Ahhh, decisions! They are such an integral and important aspect of life! I often think that the harder thing for me are not as much the big decisions but the daily little ones that I make that can affect the people I love and spend my days with 🙂
I love this! I think it’s time for me to start making more decisions and change the circumstances in my life around!
There is so much truth in that C.S. Lewis quote. It seems like no matter what decision you make there’s always another decision after that, and another after that, and so-on and so-on. However, it never seems to fail that you want to hesitate before making a decision because what if it’s the wrong decision. I’m so feeling this today especially. That you for this post!
I love this Monday motivation post! I totally agree that attitude makes such a world of difference (I say this as someone who gripes constantly at the DMV – I should probably take an attitude check).
I totally agree that decisions define our lives and not the circumstances, of course some people have it harder than the others but still your intentions are crucial.
I can relate the mentions in this post. I have a hard time making decisions, but they are necessary to evolve.
Decisions will either produce healthy, amazing results that we all desire or making the wrong ones will ruin us. The choice is always in our hands. Thanks for the reminder!
I usually sleep on a decision before I decide. It’s really important for me to have a clear mind and it’s also more important to decide with a positive heart. I think it’s good to turn things around with the decisions that we make.
Proud of you for still writing even when your day was shot! These are always so encouraging and packed with truth!
The only reason I love your posts is you make me think.. And make me question myself.
this is one more topic.. It is said, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped” I dont know where
i read it but I thought it would fit in here…
Taking right decisions in life is very important..One wrong decision will affect your life so much..Nice article..Thank you..
I agree with Steven Covey’s and Tony Robbins. Decisions are what shape our lives.
I love that you address this subject. Although I regret some of the decisions I’ve taken in the past, I’m forever grateful to have had the freedom to take those decisions, something that not everybody has.
That scenario about the moral dilemma. It made me think what would be the right thing to do. There are so many conflicting thoughts, like “the end does not justify the means,” “done something wrong to make others’ lives better.” However, if I were in that situation, I would rather not report it. The man wanted to give the children a more comfortable living condition, and that maybe his action was brought about by desperation. It was a decision he made even if he may have prior knowledge of the consequences that may arise.
Aaahhh yes, decisions! So important for they dictate what happens in the next second.
If you ask me, I say that they must be done, with backing of dependable accurate information.
I did not make major decisions today. But mine was probably early this year. It was big because it basically freed me from all the pain and misery. So happy I did 😀
I love that the road we travel isn’t always straight and has many twists, turns and circles depending on the choices we make in our lives and also by the choices others close to us make…
You’re so right! I often think about the impact of the smallest decisions and how my life or day could be on a completely different path right now, had I made different ones. I hope it all worked out in the end at the DMV!
I like that poem by Robert Frost. I have been trying to remember the author of the poem and here you come with the reminder. I have indeed been going through some hard times and ofcourse some hard choices. I have been hoping that time would just present me with a solution but it doesn’t . I should just decide and be at peace with my decision.
Moments of decision are so very important. They make all the difference. Of course Robert Frost captured it so amazingly in his poem. 🙂
We need to make decisions every single day. Sometimes we have to really think about them especially if there are potential consequences.
I would definitely tell my friend about it…and I did once…lost a friendship but then 3 years later we became friends again because she realized that I was right all along and that he was a cheater!
This is such an amazing message.So many great points made, looking forward to more of this
This is very true. Every day, the smallest decisions we make can impact and change where our lives will take us.
In my line of work there are a lot of decisions to make. Did I make the best ones? I hope so!
We must consider the consequences of our decisions; whether good or bad. That is all we can do!
I ABSOLUTELY love that quote. So many people blame their parents, their childhood for their life. But really its your choices that you need to blame!
Those situation you stated are truly challenging.. yet yes, will have to think over. Decisions will bring out circumstances and result. But which ever we go to I believe those will be our choices too.
Covey has some amazing quotes. I remember reading his seven habits book during my undergrad years. One of the takeaways was that you should be a product of your decisions rather than your circumstances.
I love that you followed through on the post even though your day was shot. This was a stressful week for me as well!
I spent the afternoon at the DMV, too, and was fuming that no one had their necessary paperwork. I felt they were wasting “my” time. I decided it’s not “my” time, but time that I have been given and that made all the difference.
Great post, and so right! Today I made the decision to spend my hard earned money on flights to Turkey to meet a guy that I think I may be in love with… wish me luck Elizabeth! x
Decisions can be fatal. After a bad illness (infection led to sepsis, 2 months in hospital on my back, and the need to learn to lift my arms, walk, etc., all over again), I decided to go to the physical therapy center over 3 hours from home because it could’ve taken weeks to find another place. Bad decision! It was not a good care center. I wound up hospitalized again, with UTI and very low potassium. 3 months wasted. But I decided to find a new place, close to home, and start over. I did that 2 weeks ago and it’s great. Physical therapy is going well & I know I will walk out of here.
That is a tough debate. I mean it’s basically asking if you’d tell on Robin Hood. I think i’d leave it alone.
Decision making is a big deal. We really have to stay focused and on task and make a decision and try as much as possible to See it through. Sorry about the long wait at the DMV GRRR… about the robber I might just let it pass. Since the stolen funds was for a good course. I know two wrongs don’t make a right but still 😀
What would you do? It’s easier to say it with a clear mind right now, that I would keep quiet about the robber and tell my friend about the affair, if my closer friend is the groom. Of course, all these are easier said than done!
Everyday is a decision from the moment we open our eyes, to the moment we close them at night. What would life be without decisions?!
Wow! So inspiring. I do get stuck in dilemmas sometimes. This is what I need!
Thank you for this encouragement and I love the motivation monday theme.
Relatively new here, I found it interesting to learn why you started the site. I’m grateful you made the decision to keep it going despite the frustration I’m sure you felt when the market crashed.
I personally don’t fear making decisions. I am however extremely cautious depending on the importance of the decision to be made.
This is definitely food some food for thought. Love your Motivation Monday’s xo
Some decisions are easier to make for sure. I feel like I do not run from decision making, but sometimes I do second guess myself if I made the right one.
What a post. Decisions happen everyday, we make them without even realizing we are making them sometimes. Such has brushing your teeth or rolling out of bed.
This most really made think and spend some time self-reflecting. The poem “The Road Not Taken” is one of the first poems I ever learned from memory and one of my favorites.
To answer your question in the moral dilemma, I’d tell my friend about the affair. She deserves to know the truth. It’s better to get hurt for a while than to spend her whole life with a wrong man.
This is a great post! We always need to think twice before complaining about certain things! Hope you have a great week!
Life is full with so many choices and decisions that we make. Sometimes decisions may not be easy. Love this motivation!
This was an interesting post with a lot of food for thought. I know what I should do in the case of the bank robber but it would be a challenge to actually do it, you know? Lots to think about! Thanks!
I’ts quite a philosophical question this one. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. I am definitely the product of my decisions but circumstances cannot be disregarded, as they have always been behind my decisions so…I don’t think I know a definite answer to this one….
I made the decision to skip my Tae Kwon Do class because I woke up extra early so I could go to work early. I also have a important phone call tomorrow and want to go to bed early.
The moral dilemmas are interesting. I have always thought I had a strong moral compass and yet I find myself feeling quite the affinity for the Robin Hood type bank robber character.
I don’t know whether I could tell my best friend on his wedding day that his fiancee was cheating on him, but I know that I would want to know, even the second before the marriage is solemnized.
Decisions are part of our daily lives, considering the outcome of what chances may we take always give our head space and heart when deciding.
It’s not easy to make a decision sometimes… but a decision will leads to what kind of life we are having now..
YES! decide you want a better life & commit to achieving it by focusing on the daily with tasks forwarding you towards your goal!
Look to now for solutions, not the past or the future!
“Each decision we make will leave a wake … a reverberation that impacts other areas of our lives.” So true. This post reminds me of an article I wrote about Decisions. <3 How fascinating is that everything we will ever do will shape our future in some way 🙂
Wow what a great post! Moral dilemmas are so hard, but it’s always better to make the right choice. It’s hard to believe that small decisions can affect us so greatly later in life.
It’s how I just keep coming across the word “decision” just after having made an important one in my life myself. I loved this post, it’s so relatable. The question of reporting or not reporting the robbery really made me brood over the matter; and of course, Frost’s poem is one of the most beautiful things ever written. Thanks for sharing with us! It was a nice read after a long workday.
This is really great, Thanks for sharing.
Decisions can affect you in so many ways. Whether you make one or not is even a decision!
This was motivational and inspirational, and I agree, we can do so much with how we respons to whatever happens. I’m trying to practise this, and even though it can be difficult. I’m Glad you’re responsen was to write this post:)
There are definitely some decisions that are no brainers and some that take a lot of careful thought. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Very logical. We are the masters of our words we should be very careful and after we made our decisions, we are now the follower, decision making is a privelage. Use it wisely
Our days are all made up of tiny decisions that create the bigger picture. I love your DMV example, it’s so true. Appointments there always save time.
I truly believe what CS Lewis says about the road of our life forking in 2 after every few miles…because it’s the decisions that we make at each of these points that decides how our life is shaped. We are what our decisions have led up to.
– Nandita
With the moral dilemmas I’d have to go with honesty and truth. Allowing a thief to go free or allowing the marriage to proceed would be easier in the short-term, but make things more difficult for everyone in the long-term.
I tend to think about all the other options I had for my decision making, if a choice I made seems to go awry. That’s when I momentarily dwell in the should of, could of, would of’s, but have to remind myself that I made the choice and must deal with the impact/outcome.
One decision is how you will react to the things that happen in this world. Will you find joy in the moment or will you choose to stress about every detail that has gone wrong? Hard choice to make sometimes.
I always believe and tell myself that once I made a decision, there’s no point regretting it. If I have done my considerations thoroughly, I made that decision with the facts I knew at that time. So, instead of regretting it, I choose to live with it, together with its consequences.
It can be so hard to make decisions sometimes because they can have a huge effect on life. Definitely a good idea for a post.
Decision making can be so hard! But I feel like I’m getting more decisive the older I get. And I’m always pushing clients and other people to make a decision and go with it!
Life is like always a crossroad. Having a good personal experience helps a lot. I totally agree with this post.
Sometimes I struggle with decisions. Not wanting to hurt people. But since beating cancer I have made the decision to keep negative family members out of my life. They can cause so much damage to you before you even realize what is going on.
My children are all readers. My youngest is 16 and could not wait to get to the library for summer holidays to get a series of books. I started with them very young. It was a reward they would earn to be able to be able to stay up 1/2 hr. more to read. Children love rewards in any form. LOL
Making decisions can be so hard, i often let my emotions and pride get the better of me; something i have been working on remedying. However where is the line between prideful and pushover
Another great post. We make decisions every day and our lives are a product of our decisions. We all need to take responsibility for them.
The decisions I’ve made today is choosing to make memorable memories each day with my family. I am really motivated always on your positive messages.
Decisions bring certain outcome. One right decision can make life while one wrong decision can mar life.
These moral dilemmas are so tough! I think I would leave the robber alone, but I’m more torn on the friend who’s getting married.
You are right. Our decisions shape our world around us. They also affect everyone around us too! Some need more effort in taking them than others!