Choices
Over the years, I've been
puzzled by the unwillingness of many people to make decisions, to make choices.
We all have choices to make in our lives and, usually, we must choose or we
become stifled. I recognize the
difficulty of choices. We don't always have
all the information we need, we often don't know our own minds, our own goals,
we know that making choices is based upon guesses about the future. I've read
books and articles about this subject and the real key seems to be that making
choices makes us responsible for our lives. In a culture where blaming others is becoming more
and more acceptable, making choices turns the blame on ourselves. People who
avoid choices usually look to blame others.
I recently learned of another aspect of this issue. Apparently, making choices requires some degree of optimism. A recent poll focused on a group of people who refused to consider change. They turned out to be pessimists. Apparently, pessimism makes us reluctant to make changes, even if an objective look tells us that the change may improve things. It's the lethargy of depression. I don't know whether it's the fear that changes will only make things worse or the lack of energy that comes from pessimism, but something makes the pessimistic favor the status quo.
Thinking about responsibility and change makes me attach more importance to this issue. I believe that taking responsibility is an important key to bettering ourselves. If we rely on others or blame others, we'll be passive victims and fail to take steps to improve our lives. If we're not optimistic enough to try to change things that are unpleasant, we won't take steps to improve our lives.
Take responsibility for yourself and be optimistic enough to recognize when change is appropriate (or at least that there is the possibility of improvement). Even if a particular change doesn't bring the desired result, the knowledge gained and the exercise of making the attempt may lead to other, and more desirable, changes. Also, optimism and taking responsibility for yourself will make it easier to help others.
4-10-06
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