Via Justine De Fant

We’ve all seen that movie with the old guy who puts his hand on a younger man’s shoulder and says, “You made the right choice, son,” and because of dramatic irony, we can so clearly tell that no, the guy actually did not make the right choice. In fact he made a terrible decision which will then be followed by a montage of moments of him living through the outcome of said “right choice” which should make him feel happy and fulfilled, but actually make him feel empty inside and blah blah blah. I won’t waste anymore time summarizing something you’ve probably seen a million times. My point is that so much time is spent trying to make the “right choice” that by the time we actually make a decision, we’re only left with regret and “what ifs.”

But I’ve learned that the power of a decision isn’t in the act itself, but in the person making it. As much as we may wish for it, life doesn’t have a manual. Obstacles will be raised regardless of the road you choose. The goal isn’t to aim for the path with less roadblocks. The key is to face those problems head on and gain some knowledge and understanding once you surmount them. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you should be lazy, throw it all to the universe and hope for the best. What I mean is that when you’re faced with different choices, the best option is to just choose one and commit to it. Believe in your choices and believe in yourself to carry them out.

If you’re aiming for something big and you’re caught up in trying to make the right choices in life, don’t stress over it, don’t lose sleep over it, and don’t feel as if it’s the end of the world if it doesn’t pull through the way you expected. Something that I’ve always known, but only recently started to understand, is that things happen for a reason. Your car broke down today on your interview because you’re better suited for another job.

That waiter who spilled coffee on your favorite tie actually saved you from an awkward run in with your ex when you went to wash off in the bathroom. Instead of Canada like I had planned months for– I wasn’t able to get a study permit in time– I ended up in at a Texas university with two great friends and had one of the best years of my life. I know. It’s all very Harry Potter ‘this is your destiny’ type of shit. But my point is…

If it happens, it happens. If not, then that’s okay too!
I’m starting to learn that the secret to life is to just make a decision. For less obvious choices, there’s no use in weighing pros and cons if they’ll just even out. There’s no use in over-analyzing what the “right” decision is because if you think about it, different things work for different people and in different ways. So in actuality, it’s not the choice that you make, it’s your reaction to the outcome of that choice that leads to your happiness or success. And that’s just what life is. It’s a cycle of decisions you have to keep making and your responses to them. So whatever happens trust yourself to make the most of it. Work hard, believe in your choices, and you’ll be just fine.