| The decisions you have made have shaped your | | | | best known Carthaginian commanders. His most |
| destiny. Some have turned out well, some poorly, and | | | | illustrious accomplishment was at the eruption of the |
| the result of all those decisions is who you are today. | | | | Second Punic War, when he marched an army, which |
| Decisions are made when you make a choice and cut | | | | included war elephants, from Iberia over the Pyrenees |
| yourself off from any other possibility. It is when you | | | | and the Alps into northern Italy. When faced by the |
| choose to move in one direction and not in any other | | | | formidable Alps, he said, "We will either find a way or |
| possible direction. It is the cut-off point. It is a | | | | make a way." |
| commitment to one particular action. | | | | If you have that same stubborn, willful attitude about |
| The word "decision" comes from the Latin roots "de" | | | | your decisions, there is nothing that can stop you from |
| which means "from" and "caedere" which means "cut | | | | having anything that you want. |
| off." Thus, you cut-off from any other possibility. | | | | Decisions are made for one of two reasons. We |
| Each decision creates a selection of actions which | | | | either wish to experience more pleasure or we wish |
| then produce results. | | | | to avoid pain. |
| The power of your decisions is what moves your life | | | | Proactive decisions, decisions to upgrade any aspect |
| forward or holds it back from fuller expression. A | | | | of your life, are a movement toward pleasure. You |
| proactive choice is a momentum-building decision. A | | | | can imagine the pleasure of having more of what you |
| reactive choice is an inertia-sustaining decision. Even | | | | now lack. |
| not deciding and letting conditions control you is a | | | | Reactive decisions, decisions to keep putting up with |
| decision. | | | | poor conditions, is a movement toward avoiding pain. |
| It is during your moments of proactive decision and the | | | | You can imagine the pain of pushing up against a |
| desire to sustain that decision that creates all that is | | | | threatening force. The pain of changing is greater than |
| good and worthy in your life. | | | | the pain of staying where you are right now. You |
| At any moment, for example, you can decide to | | | | prefer the devil that you know over the devil that you |
| pursue higher education, find a better job, discover the | | | | don't know. |
| love of your life, or improve your health. You can | | | | You are always making decisions. The question is are |
| decide on any number of things to upgrade the quality | | | | you making proactive or reactive decisions. The best |
| of your life. You can also decide to stick with that | | | | way to find out is to ask yourself what you are |
| choice until you get what you want. | | | | focusing on, what things mean, and how your actions |
| On the other hand, it is during your moments of | | | | will impede or improve your life. |
| reactive decision and the desire to not commit to | | | | Your life is a series of decisions, one after another, and |
| anything that creates all that is frustrating in your life. | | | | it is the wisdom of your choices that determines the |
| You can decide not to do any of the things that can | | | | quality of your life. If you are not currently enjoying |
| improve your life. You can also decide to start | | | | your life, you can decide right now to look for what it is |
| something and not finish it when you meet the first sign | | | | that you desire and decide to upgrade the way you |
| of opposition. | | | | are approaching things. |
| Often when we make a positive and proactive | | | | When you can make decisions to remove pain and |
| decision, we feel discouraged because we do not | | | | increase pleasure, then you will have discovered how |
| know how to accomplish our goal. | | | | the power of your decision can shape your destiny. |
| Yet deciding is what is important. The way will be | | | | Your life will really begin to expand in a positive way |
| found. Like the military leader Hannibal who was faced | | | | when, through experience, you are able to make |
| with the decision of whether or not to cross the Alps, | | | | distinctions between decisions that are proactive or |
| you can make the declaration to either find a way or | | | | reactive, pleasurable or painful, life-enhancing and |
| make a way. | | | | life-defeating, and momentum-building or |
| Hannibal Barca (247 BC to 183 BC) was one of the | | | | inertia-sustaining. |