Traveling across the nation as a keynote inspirational speaker for many diverse events at various organizations, I have found a common thread—people contemplating some decision in life. I love inspiring them. Most live life based only on what they see.  Unfortunately, often this view has limitations framed in disappointment and could be discouraging. However, living life with vision helps you see beyond today.

My friend Chris often says, “Your burning YES will tell you what to say no to,” and I find this true when facing some hard decisions. What is your measurement for your decisions? What are your burning yeses?

Often the path of least resistance is just letting life happen without intentional decisions made for your future, your development and living your dreams. Most are deterred by opposing themselves, thinking they cannot or thinking they will never. The most profane word in any of our vocabularies is “can’t.” Who said you can’t anyway? The other difficult obstacles in life when making a decision are calculating what will be easier. Why do we look for the easiest things in life? Gold never lies on the surface. And, just because something looks shiny does not mean it is priceless,. Consider fool’s gold. It appears to look expensive, but it has no value. You will have to dig for the real gold. And, will you be satisfied to merely find nuggets or the gold vein? You will have to decide.

Any failure in life is met with a decision. Either it will be a learning curve and landmark for trying again, or a destination.  Decide to move on. Decisions made that have consequences must be weighed more than what is presented to you at the moment. Vision will help you see the impact of that decision, no matter how difficult the choice.

From childhood I had a disease that caused me to make a major decision one autumn day years later. I was pregnant with our second daughter and some complications suddenly brought me to a crossroads that impact me today. After some tests, the doctors told me to decide  that day between the child I was carrying and my eyes. I was surprised by their immediate ultimatum. I knew my decision. It might have looked like it was easy to make because I did it quickly, but my mind raced for a compass of truth from which to base my decision. For me, it was a verse I had memorized as a young girl, “Choose life.” Though the decision to choose life is every day for me, and not just about a baby, it still gave me the courage in the difficult place to find my answer.  My difficult decision was made easy.

Though the consequences of that decision are still challenging, legacy won over my inconvenience. The sweet ending is  the daughter I carried that day is now our first married child. From that decision has come our grandsons who will live beyond what I can see.