In the acting world we are often told by a director or acting coach to make strong choices. This means the director wants to see a specific decision has been made that will make it obvious to everyone watching what the actor is feeling, thinking, or going through. This advice makes for better scenes and more believable characters in the entertainment world, but it’s also applicable in life.
Make strong choices.
Last week I wrote about how difficult it was for me to move to Los Angeles. This week my wife and I were faced with another choice that involved quite a bit of uncertainty and fear. I’m sure I will share more about what that choice was in a later post, but today I wanted to write about the process that goes into making a strong choice.
Making a strong choice means making a specific decision and sticking to it when doing so becomes difficult. Making a strong choice often means making a bold choice. It is often not the easy path or the path that is obvious to others.
Strong choices set leaders apart from followers. It separates those who have a direction in life from those who let life push them forward at its own will. Making strong choices also often takes care of other smaller choices that may come up.
Making a strong choice doesn’t mean belittling others or pushing your choice on others, either verbally or physically. Just as when an actor makes a strong emotional choice in a scene the audience doesn’t need it explained to them. The power of the emotional choice speaks for itself.
Just because you make a strong choice doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve made the right one. But isn’t a strong choice better than no choice? And isn’t it far better than a weak choice you aren’t even sure you can get behind? If you make a strong choice and it turns out to be the wrong one then at very least you have learned a lesson. At least you are moving forward. Be quick to admit your mistake. Now start again with the new information and make another strong choice.
A choice you believe in is far more powerful than a choice you have pushed upon you or a choice you choose not to make; which itself is a weak choice.
So how do you make strong choices in life?
Square your shoulders
Sometimes making a strong choice means you have to make a tough decision. Do so. You are strong enough. The choice has to begin on the inside and then it will give you strength to move on the outside. After you’ve already made the strong choice inside, the outside will be powerless to stop you.
Take a step forward
Sometimes all it takes is one small step of courage in the right direction. Take that first step, no matter how small it may be. The first step is always the hardest one. Make it as small as you need to make it to be able to take it.
Let fear and doubt bounce off your back
You’ve made a decision. You are moving forward. Fear and doubt have no place in that equation. But they will come at you. Let them bounce off your back like poorly thrown pebbles. Ignore the doubt.
The next step is easier
Now you have momentum on your side. Keep moving forward. Each step will get easier as you feel the accomplishment of success build up behind you.
A couple final thoughts about strong choices:
Strong choices don’t have to be forever
We all learn as we grow. You can make a strong choice and then make another strong choice later that sets the first choice right. Making strong choices doesn’t mean you never realize you are wrong. They simply mean you’ve decided on a direction to take and you’re going to continue that way as long as it is the correct choice. Sometimes the strongest choice you can make is to admit you were wrong.
Strong choices can be personal
Strong choices don’t necessarily have to be vocalized or shared with anyone for them to still be strong.
Strong choices keep you from being tossed by the winds of public opinion
Listen to the advice of trusted people but in the end the choice is yours. Make it carefully and then take responsibility for the choice you’ve made.
