I Choose To

One of the things we encourage in Thrive is the use of language around how we act.  Often we say thinks like, “I need to…,” or “I want to…,” or “I should….”  And we mean well.  But what if those statements betray us?  What if they are well meaning wishes that actually trick us into believing we’re doing something when we’re not?

When someone says, “I need to…,” they are defining a need, which seems good.  But what often happens is we think defining the a need means we are going to take care of the need.  And it doesn’t.  “I need to…,” or “I want to…,” is simply the recognition of need or want.  Nothing more.  Should is even worse because our motives are designed for us by someone else.  It doesn’t even matter what we think, which means we’re moving from obligation.  We call that “shoulding on ourselves.”

We hold that the more powerful move is, “I choose to….”  I choose is a declaration of action with intention.  It’s proactive and meaningful.  It requires commitment and purpose.  And when we choose to respond we are moving past apathy and into possibility.  It may not be the right choice but at least we’re moving, changing and ultimately growing.  And with grace, we’re headed in the right direction.