We are simply the Choices We Make.

That's all we really are in this universe: a sum of our choices. From day one, our circumstances are all different. The only things that are truly under our individual control are our choices. Some people could be in one circumstance in life and choose to cry "poor me" and just wallow in it. Then someone else - like David Goggins, perhaps - could be in the exact same scenario and say, "Stay hard!" and do everything possible to master it.

That is really who we are: our choices. So each one we make has value.

Choices are made deep inside of us, in a place science doesn't understand very well. Inside consciousness, in a field that fuses information, memory, feelings, psychology, courage, creativity, pondering, self-control, principles, empathy, and beliefs - into some mysterious, esoteric, and indescribable process - and then out comes a choice. And then another one. And another.

Every choice we make is just another “Lego block” in building the tower of who we really are as people. From the choice to get out of bed in the morning, to our posture, to how clearly we speak, to our mindset entering a tough decision or battle, to the hardest choice of all - deciding to be courageous. These are how we define who we are as a person. We are a culmination of our choices.

Our reputations are almost always built around these accumulations. We are known as honest or dishonest because of our previous choices. We are brave or cowardly because of those same choices. Or we may be known as having having self-control, or as being promiscuous, or bitchy, or angry, or gluttonous. Our choices define us, and there is only one person responsible for them.

The good news is that no matter what previous choices we made up to this point in our lives, we can start right now to choose better.

So let's make a pact - as problem solvers. Let's try to be self-critical in examining our choices. Let's look to improve and make better ones. Even in times when things don't go our way or obstacles get dropped on our plans, let's look at these moments as opportunities.

The Stoics looked at all obstacles as opportunities to express one of the four main virtues. These virtues were: 1) Wisdom, 2) Justice, 3) Self-Control, and 4) Courage.

For us, this Stoic code is a helpful way to approach challenges. Look at them all as opportunities.

In her book on vulnerability, Brené Brown also suggests having a mantra during times of big decisions. Make the coach in your head head repeat something like, "Don't puff up. Don't shrink. Just say your truth."

When you look back on your decisions you should be able to say:
”I stayed true. I was ME all the way!”

Cheers to better decisions by all of us, and thus, better people. Thanks for reading!

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For over 3 billion years on this planet there were only single-celled organisms. Then one day they somehow learned to work together and make complex multi-celled creatures . Right now we are like those single-celled organisms. Our next evolution is finding how to work together, better… (like we wrote about here).

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