Choice vs. Decision

Last night I was watching a very funny movie called Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black. I was moved by the lead character's determination to become a famous wrestler in Mexico and it dawned on me that there is a powerful message underlying this story that may make a difference to your life.

In the movie, a very simple friar, Nacho, has a dream to become a wrestling hero. Nacho is faced with obstacle after obstacle until he accomplishes his goal. There is a turning point in Nacho's life when he makes a CHOICE to become a wrestler. Before this point, it was just a dream, but having made the CHOICE, our simple friar ultimately becomes a local wrestling hero, transforming his life.

Life is a lot like this movie. We all have dreams, but until we CHOOSE to follow them, nothing ever changes. However, once we choose, there is no turning back and our choice begins to shape our future and ultimately, our destiny.

Most of us go through life making DECISIONS and very rarely making CHOICES. So, what's the difference?

The word 'decide' comes from the same Latin family of words as suicide, genocide, homicide etc... All these words include the Latin suffix 'cide', which means to cut or kill. When making a DECISION, we have to kill off the other options in order to be left with one last option, which we then decide upon. In this case, we are not making a choice, because our REASONS (why we should or should not do a thing) are choosing for us.

When making a CHOICE, we consider all the options available and we choose freely, not based on reason, rather based in free will.

OK, OK, I know this is deep stuff, so let me bring it down to earth.

In our movie, there are many logical reasons why Nacho should not have pursued his goal of becoming a wrester. He was overweight, unfit and just a simple friar with no experience in wrestling. Had Nacho used these reasons to make his DECISION, he would probably have decided that becoming a wrestler was a stupid idea.

However, Nacho CHOSE to become a wrestler, and as a result had to go through much hardship to achieve his goal. Had he made a DECISION, he would have given up at the first failure, but having made a CHOICE, he is propelled towards the inevitable - becoming a professional wrestler.

There is a lot more to say on this topic and I will cover it in more depth in my upcoming Designer Life seminars.

So, my question to you is this. Have you CHOSEN where you want to go in your life, or are you still DECIDING? Are you creating your life based on the CHOICES you make or are your reasons DECIDING your life for you? Take a look...

Till next time, have a miraculous day.

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