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Seeking out what separates ordinary life from the extraordinary, life coach Andy Andrews has spent much of his life dissecting countless biographies and spending time with some of the most successful people on the planet in an effort to understand the principles that propel them toward greatness.
The result: seven simple decisions that – when applied consistently- render extraordinary lives.
Decision #1 The responsible decision. The buck stops here.
If decisions are choices and our thinking dictates our decisions, then we’re where we are because of our thinking. The responsible decision for personal success is a key. It represents the beginning. Taking charge of your past will segue you into an extraordinary future for your choosing.
“The buck stops here. I accept responsibility for my past. I’m responsible for my success and failure. I’m where I’m today because of decisions I’ve made. In the future when I’m tempted to ask “Why me?” I’ll immediately counter-ask “Why not me?” Problems are the common thread running through the lives of great men and women.
Decision #2 The guided decision. I will seek wisdom.
God moves mountains to create the opportunity of his choosing. It’s up to you to be ready to move yourself. You can’t change your past but you’ll change your future by acting on your presence. The guided decision teaches us to actively seek wisdom to help us craft lives of extraordinary achievement.
“I’ll seek wisdom. I’ll choose who I surround myself with care. I’m who my friends are. I speak their language. I wear their clothes. I share their opinions and habits. If I associate with chickens, I’ll learn to scratch at the ground and squabble over crumbs. If I associate with eagles, I’ll learn to soar great heights. I’m an eagle. It’s my destiny to fly.
Decision #3 The active decision. I’m a person of action.
My future is immediate. I’ll grasp it in both hands and carry it with running feet. When I’m faced with the choice of doing nothing or doing something, I’ll always choose the latter. The active decision for personal success is crucial to you right now. You’re either a person of action or you’re not. It’s time to state your case.
“Knowing that laziness is a sin, I’ll create a habit of lively behavior. I’ll walk with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. No longer I’ll dwell in a pit of despair, moaning over squandered time and lost opportunities. I’m a person of action. I’m energetic. I move quickly. I’ll seize my future with both hands and carry it with running feet.”
Decision #4 The certain decision. I have a decided heart.
Truth is truth. If a thousand people believe something foolish, it’s still foolish. Truth is never dependent upon consensus of opinions. It’s better to be alone and acting upon truth than following a gaggle of silly geese doomed to mediocrity. The certain decision for personal success is what fuels your actions from the active decision. A decided heart is unwavering in the face of continual challenges and setbacks.
“I’ll awaken every morning with excitement about the new day and it’s opportunity for growth and change. My thoughts and actions will work in a forward motion. I’ll lay my head on my pillow at night happily exhausted, knowing I’ve done everything within my power to move the mountains in my path.”
Decision #5 The joyful decision. Today I’ll choose to be happy.
Our very lives are fashioned by choice. First we make choices. Then our choices make us. The joyful decision when fully understood becomes a powerful catalyst for change in your life. Happiness is a choice. Having this mindset can liberate your spirit with the infinite joy available in each moment of every day.
“Within moments of awakening I’ll laugh for seven seconds. After such a small period of time, excitement has begun to flow through my bloodstream. I feel different. I’m different. I’m enthusiastic about the day. I’m alert to its possibilities. Today I’ll choose to be happy.”
Decision #6 The compassionate decision. I’ll greet this day with a forgiving spirit.
Forgiveness is a secret that’s hidden in plain sight. It costs nothing and is worth millions. It’s available to everyone for free. If you harness it, you’ll be regarded and sought after highly. And not coincidentally, you’ll also be forgiven by others. The compassionate decision changes the way most people view forgiveness.
“I’m one of the few possessors of the secret to dissipating anger and resentment. I now understand that forgiveness only has value when it’s given away. By the simple act of granting forgiveness, I release the demons of the past about which I can do nothing and create in myself a new heart, a new beginning.”
Decision #7 The persistent decision. I’ll persist without exception.
Great leaders, great achievers are rarely realistic. They pick their way through life ignoring or not hearing negative expectations and emotions. Consequently they accomplish one great thing after another, never having heard what cannot be done. This is precisely why one should never tell a young person that something cannot be done. Your success with the other six decisions rests on your ability and willingness to embrace and master the persistent decision.
“I acknowledge the fact that most people quit when exhaustion sets in. I’m not ‘most people’. I’m stronger than most people. Average accepts exhaustion as an excuse. I do not. Average compares themselves with average. This is why they’re average. I compare myself to my potential.”