The Power of Choosing

Ok, this one is a bit cheesy. It’s about positive thinking and it starts with a dream about flying.

I believe I can fly… (I know, I know… shudup.)

It’s been a little while, maybe about ten months or so, since I had a dream about flying. I used to have them all the time; at least two or three times a week. I loved those dreams. Years ago, when I dreamed about flying, I’d only be able to fly for a little while and then I’d be forced to come down and rest. It was like it took a whole lot of concentration to be able to fly in my dreams and I couldn’t maintain that for very long. Eventually, however, I had “mastered” dream-flying and could do it any time I wanted. Then, one day, it just stopped. Or, at least, my recollection of those dreams stopped.

Until last night. Last night I had a dream in which I re-learned how to fly. And I recall it very well. The trick, this time anyway, was very simple: I had someone in my dream tell me I knew how to fly and all I needed to do so was choose to do it. That’s it. I decided I could fly and I was flying. Awesome.

When I woke up it got me to thinking about that choice and how simple it was to get back to having a fun dream about flying. All I needed to do was make that choice to fly and then, well, just do it. I’d been thinking about the power of choosing a bit yesterday (maybe that’s what brought this dream on) and how we have so much control over our own mental state. I know when I get down and depressed it’s usually because I’m dwelling on something negative or losing myself in a downward spiral that really doesn’t serve me well at all. There is usually no point to it and I’m left wondering what the hell put me on to that way of thinking.

I almost wrote this post yesterday, after having dealt really well with a few really trying situations. I had a really rough day dealing with the least fun aspects of my business; accounting, 401(k) administration, HR, etc. This stuff isn’t fun on the best of days, but when business is slow and you’re struggling, it’s really not fun. I knew going in that it was going to be difficult, so I chose to be in a good mood and do my best to have a good day. I knew if I didn’t I’d be treading down that negative thinking path and it’d effect everything and everyone around me. Something I can’t really afford right now.

(A few months or so ago I made a similar choice. I was in a weeks-long rotten mood and decided to man up and take control of what I could. I wrote about that experience and I’m happy to say that, for the most part, I’ve been much happier, much more productive, etc. I’m buying this “choosing to take control” thing and it seems to be working for me. This is just another, more micro-level, example.)

So, anyway, as expected, yesterday was tough. In fact, it turned out to be quite a bit harder than I initially thought it would be. The day got away from me early on as things kept popping up, the problems I expected to have to deal with were bigger than anticipated, and there were lots of things I wasn’t prepared for. Through it all I kept telling myself, “you’re going to have a good day.” And, in the end I did have a good day. I got lots taken care of, didn’t panic too much and after all I felt really good about everything.

I could have easily let yesterday get me down. But I choose not to and that made a world of difference. My hope is that if I keep making that choice I’ll be helping myself and those around me while at the same time actually finding some silver linings in tough times.

The Bottom Line

How you address your problems is largely up to you, and how you choose to attack them will not only effect the outcome, it’ll dictate how you feel along the way. Choosing a positive attitude can’t hurt and my guess is, sometimes, it’s a key part of getting your problems resolved. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always easy (don’t I know it) but it really is something that each one of us can do on our own.