Life is about choice. At every turn we have decisions to make that could have a profound impact on how the rest of our lives take shape.  The key is to not be afraid. I learned a long time ago that ultimately you will go one direction or the other. The reality is that no matter which direction you choose, the end result has the potential to be fabulous.

I find that many people have a sense of real fear and anxiety that comes along with taking on the challenge of choice.  It’s the questions that hang us up and stop us from really taking advantage of the opportunity.

There are all the “what if’s” in life that scare us.  What if this happens? What if that happens? For those that know me well, I have a theory here. Whatever the choice in life may be, always eliminate the “What if’s.” I remember saying to myself back in middle school, “no matter what I experienced in life, I would hope that I would never look back on anything and say ‘What if?’” This is when you really start missing out and begin to develop regret.

These “What If” questions pop up in ways big and small. Could I really be a homeowner? Do I really have what ti takes to do this job? Can I really make it through college? Should I plant corn in the garden? The truth is, you’ll never know until you choose to eliminate the “What If”. When you do this you’ll find yourself completely empowered. Now I’m not saying over extend yourself, we all must learn to live within our means and our limits. But its perfectly well to push the envelope.

Another aspect in life where choice is important is when it comes to relationships. We can all relate to the varying complexities that revolve around our interactions with other people. There are the co-workers you just sort of deal with, the ones you enjoy happy hour with after work and those that eventually make their way into your personal life. Likewise with friends there are those that you must maintain on a regular basis in order to properly and effectively keep the relationship going. Then there are those friends that no matter how long the distance, every time you meet you can talk and converse as though no time ever passed.

We have choices when dealing with those around us – we choose the types of relationships that we are comfortable with and we also find ourselves choosing who we are most compatible with. Its not a sense of right or wrong, its a sense of spirit and energy. We each affect people in different ways and like a jigsaw puzzle some pieces fit perfectly while others have a better fit in another part of the life puzzle.

It’s when we need to find that “better fit” that choice becomes the most difficult. A very dear friend of mine is currently going through a divorce. We’ve all heard the horror stories of the fights, the legal battles, the terrible toll on the children involved. What I admire about this friend is that she is grasping the power of choice in the ordeal and choosing to love, honor and celebrate a life once shared while being positively open to a new chapter in her life about to unfold. This openness is allowing her to maintain grace, dignity and most importantly a positive energy as she moves forward. A friendship is spared, children are left feeling loved and two people are able to start anew with hope and revived spirits.

Through the entire journey we call life, choice is a driving force that takes us from where we began our journey to where we are today while shaping what will become of us in the future. The key is to recognize that choice is the most valuable tool we have and we must use it wisely, discreetly and without hesitation.

So tomorrow when you wake up, I challenge this. Choose to see the world in a different way than you did today. Choose to love and be loved. Choose to make an impact. And as a wise teacher once told me, always choose to be happy.

Make good choices!

Christopher