More often than not, though, they are stalling, getting stuck in the process and allowing themselves to get distracted from actually making a conscious decision. They are afraid. They actually decide to not decide and then call the outcome “fate” or “God’s will”. By not deciding, we give away our conscious creative powers and we choose to become victims of circumstance.

A wise woman once said to me “Melanie, you can’t ask for things to change and them expect to do everything the same way.” Last week, I spoke with quite a few people who said that they wanted something to be different in their life – a relationship, happiness , people to treat them better, improved health, a different outcome in business, more money. Unfortunately, when it came to making the decision to pursue that thing, they froze. They said they wanted change but were unwilling to make the decision to commit to doing, saying or thinking differently in order to produce the changes they said they wanted.

To make a decision means that you cut off all other possibilities. There is no plan B, no escape route, no other option than to succeed. You make the decision to achieve the outcome that you want and you are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Failure is not an option. The willingness to do whatever it takes to get what you want is the scary part for most people. It always requires stepping out of our comfort zone. It usually means changing our thinking, our environment, our habits , our behaviors, ending non-productive relationships, disappointing others, taking big risks and putting ourselves out there.

We are perfectly happy to succeed if we can remain within our comfort zone. As soon as we are required to step out of it, we immediately come up with reasons, excuses and negative stories as to why we can’t and shouldn’t continue to move in the direction of our desired change. As long as we listen to the stories and buy the excuses we stay comfortable and we stay stuck. We decide that the devil we know is better than the devil we don’t know. We are the only ones holding ourselves captive in the circumstances we don’t like and don’t want. We are also the only ones with the power make a decision and free ourselves to create different outcomes.

How are you going to live the rest of your life? The decision is yours.

Author's Bio: 

Melanie Yost, LCSW, Personal and Professional Development Coach