In the Crossroads
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The truth is the hardest pill one can ever swallow. This doesn’t make it any less important; quite the contrary—the honest to goodness truth is often just what the doctor ordered.
When we take a look at ourselves, we often reflect back on our previous experiences, what we’ve learned from them, and how we’re going to take what we’ve learned and apply them going forward. We also look at the people we surround ourselves with, as we can find out a lot by simply by looking at who associate with. We finally look at what’s really center, our own values, what we’re willing to compromise on, the battles we pick (things that we’d live and die for), and where we feel we’re headed.
The truth is the hardest pill to swallow.
That doesn’t make it any less important.
The crossroads of a decision making is where self reflection, honesty and brevity meet. It’s okay not to have all the answers (and it’s rare that we ever do), but to have the truth, and to be able to base the important decisions in your life upon those truths, that’s what makes all the difference. Decision making is difficult, especially when it comes to things that will forever change your life.
“...I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “no” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important thing I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life, because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. ” (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Speech)
At the same time though, we have to be honest with ourselves; in trying to make decisions, we should have one true underlying goal: finding happiness. Days that aren’t the greatest help us to appreciate the better days, but when we have more downs than ups, then it’s quite clear: changes need to be made.
What’s this irrelevant rambling for? I’m in the midst of trying to make a number of important decisions. We’ll leave that one for a later time.
Labels: Personal •
