I love books that make you think.
Books that make you challenge your existing beliefs and assumptions – ones that make you turn everything upside down and temporarily freak out a little bit.
And as you read a book like this, you are left with more questions than answers. Examples given to highlight main concepts are very clear and concise - and feel almost too simple to have any kind of major impact in your life.
I’m reading a book like that right now – Darren Hardy’s “The Compound Effect”
Chapter One is all about choices – The basic idea is that the choices you make every day move your life in a certain direction.
Your choices can be intentional, deliberate, and linked to your future plans, or
Your choices can be unintentional, by default and not linked to any planned outcome at all.
Hardy believes that “we are sleepwalking through 99% of the decisions we face every day.”
He makes a point that these little “sleepwalking decisions” become compounded, and become a part of a bigger force.
No one intends to become obese or declare bankruptcy, right? That kind of stuff doesn’t happen overnight. It’s through a series of small, incremental bad choices that were made over a period of time.
Choices so small, they were hardly noticeable at the time they were made.
“Elephants don’t bite – mosquitoes do. Its the little things in life that bite you.”
Creating a life for ourselves and following our dreams requires our attention and deliberate action.
Following our dreams requires us to be awake, not asleep.
So what is the one thing that makes dreams happen?
Hardy believes “It’s what you decide to do next to get you there.”
Most of us who follow our dreams see a long road. A series of steps. Some steps are bigger than others – and often there is a linear aspect to them. A cause and effect relationship.
We do one thing to move to the next thing.
We may make mistakes.
We may get sidetracked.
We may fall down.
But we keep moving forward, making choices with intention.
And when faced with daily decisions, Hardy says,
“It may feel like a small, insignificant, un-sexy, boring choice – but by making intentional choices over time – you will create a radical difference” (for your life).
Radical difference in an intentional life is good!
What are some small intentional choices you make every day that move you towards your dreams?
Until next photo,
(Remy’s dream is creating opportunities for photography showings and public displays of her work and to ultimately be recognized nationally as a photographer … then the world. Remy’s post day is Friday
Remy’s dream is creating opportunities for photography showings and public displays of her work and to ultimately be recognized nationally as a respected photographer . . . then the world. Remy is CEO of Cornerstone Creative, a business consulting practice in Northern California. Remy’s post day is Wednesday. +Remy Gervais
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Thank you Rem for this wonderful reminder of how everything, big or small, effects our life experience.
-Dana
I love this and sooooo hope it’s true – “It may feel like a small, insignificant, un-sexy, boring choice – but by making intentional choices over time – you will create a radical difference” (for your life).”
It’s funny, because I’ve been writing every night in my new journal (that my son gave me for my birthday) to share my daily thoughts on this process, and practice writing (like Rayne told me to ;-) in the hope that I will be able to look back on the little steps and thoughts that brought us to fame and fortune.
This gives me hope.
Your post is timely and a great read . . . as usual.
Cath
Order the book and you get the audio too. Its worth it. It is about a bunch of little intentional foundational choices – I’ve believed that for a long time. My mantra has been “just keep saying yes to the things that feel right” for the past year. I”m confident that even tho I cant see it all yet, I’m creating my life that is radically different! :)
I love your mantra, relying on your own instincts to make smart decisions to fulfill your dream.
“Our intentions create our reality.” ~Wayne Dyer~
Thank you for continually teaching me valuable information.
Toni
Another great post. I’ll have to check out that book. But it makes sense if you think about how college works, how many years it takes to be a doctor, working out 4 times a week that gets your body in shape over time, learning to play an instrument etc. It’s all the little steps along the way that get you to the end destination – if you don’t stop or give up.
Well if making a series of bad choices can lead us to negative consequences – then a series of good choices can lead us to positive consequences.
One choice at a time.
Love it.
I have been so busy trying to put my new place together this week I feel disconnected. Reading your post brought me right back thanks.
V
you are right it works for positive and negative…the goal is, stick with the series of conscious, intentional choices and don’t give up…Glad you are back on track…Rem
I’ll be buying that book! Thanks Remy for continuing to be such an inspiration!
Bravo – so appropriate and well put!
Hey Julie! Glad to see you here…Go Giants!
Bruce, thanks for your ongoing support and feedback. Its much appreciated. R
Thanks DV – you re right, if you wanna get in shape, you need to work out a few times a week, not once a week for 5 hours! Great reminder.
Intentional choices… working on applying these! One way I try is through my daily process of avoiding reacting to perceptual emergencies.
Thanks for the great post! – H
‘perceptual emergencies’ – read that as Perpetual.
Is it a “perception” or is it “on going”? hmm such a question. We know that appendicitis is NOT fake. Glad all is well in the house…