The Seven Decisions

1. Embrace responsibility for your life's direction

I accept responsibility for my past. I am responsible for my success. I will not let my history control my destiny.

Take ownership of your choices. Your current situation is a result of your past decisions and thinking patterns. By accepting responsibility, you gain the power to change your future. This doesn't mean blaming yourself, but rather recognizing your ability to make different choices moving forward.

Shift your mindset. Instead of viewing yourself as a victim of circumstances, see yourself as the architect of your life. This perspective empowers you to:

• Identify areas where you can make positive changes
• Learn from past mistakes rather than dwelling on them
• Proactively seek solutions instead of waiting for others to fix your problems

Remember, you can't control everything that happens to you, but you can always control your response. By embracing responsibility, you open the door to personal growth and new opportunities.

2. Seek wisdom through reading, counsel, and service

I will seek wisdom. I will choose my friends with care. I am who my friends are.

Cultivate a learning mindset. Wisdom doesn't come automatically; it must be actively pursued. Develop a daily habit of seeking knowledge and insight through:

• Reading: Commit to reading books that challenge and inspire you. Set a goal to read a certain number of books each year.
• Seeking counsel: Surround yourself with wise mentors and advisors. Create a personal "board of directors" to guide you in different areas of life.
• Serving others: Wisdom often comes through humility and putting others first.

Choose your influences wisely. Your environment shapes you more than you might realize. Be intentional about:

• The people you spend time with
• The media you consume
• The conversations you engage in

Remember, "you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Seek out relationships that elevate and challenge you to grow.

3. Take decisive action to shape your destiny

I am a person of action. I can make a decision. I can make it now.

Overcome analysis paralysis. Many people get stuck in endless planning and never take action. Break this cycle by:

• Setting clear deadlines for decision-making
• Embracing imperfect action over perfect inaction
• Recognizing that most decisions can be adjusted if needed

Cultivate a bias for action. Successful people are those who consistently take steps towards their goals, even when the path isn't clear. Develop this habit by:

• Breaking large goals into small, actionable steps
• Committing to taking at least one action towards your goals each day
• Celebrating small wins to build momentum

Remember, indecision is a decision in itself – often a decision to stay stuck. By becoming a person of action, you take control of your life's direction and open yourself up to new opportunities.

4. Cultivate a decided heart to overcome obstacles

I have a decided heart. My course has been charted. My destiny is assured.

Develop unwavering commitment. A decided heart means making a firm decision and sticking to it, even in the face of challenges. This involves:

• Clarifying your values and long-term vision
• Making decisions aligned with that vision
• Refusing to be swayed by temporary setbacks or criticism

Learn to silence doubt. Once you've made a decision, avoid second-guessing yourself. Instead:

• Focus on taking consistent action towards your goal
• Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in your vision
• Regularly remind yourself of why you made the decision in the first place

A decided heart doesn't mean being inflexible. It means having a clear direction and the determination to see it through, while remaining open to adapting your approach as needed.

5. Choose happiness through gratitude and positivity

Today I will choose to be happy. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.

Recognize happiness as a choice. While we can't control all our circumstances, we can control our response to them. Cultivate happiness by:

• Starting each day with a positive mindset
• Finding reasons to be grateful, even in challenging situations
• Focusing on what you can control rather than what you can't

Practice active gratitude. Develop a habit of noticing and appreciating the good things in your life:

• Keep a daily gratitude journal
• Express appreciation to others regularly
• Reframe negative situations to find the potential benefits or lessons

Remember, happiness isn't about ignoring problems or pretending everything is perfect. It's about choosing to focus on the positive aspects of life while working to improve the challenging ones.

6. Practice forgiveness to liberate yourself

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness.

Understand the power of forgiveness. Holding onto anger and resentment hurts you more than the person who wronged you. Forgiveness is about freeing yourself from negative emotions:

• It doesn't mean forgetting or excusing harmful behavior
• It's a choice you make for your own well-being, regardless of the other person's actions
• It allows you to move forward without being held back by past hurts

Cultivate a forgiving spirit. Make forgiveness a regular practice:

• Start with forgiving yourself for past mistakes
• Practice empathy to understand others' perspectives
• Let go of the need for revenge or to see others punished

Remember, forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. It releases you from the burden of anger and allows you to focus your energy on more positive pursuits.

7. Persist without exception to achieve your goals

I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith.

Embrace the power of persistence. Success often comes not to the most talented, but to those who refuse to give up. Develop a mindset of persistent determination:

• Set clear, specific goals
• Break large goals into smaller, manageable steps
• Celebrate small victories along the way to maintain motivation

Overcome obstacles with faith and creativity. When faced with setbacks:

• Believe in your ability to find solutions
• Look for alternative approaches
• Learn from failures and adjust your strategy

Remember, persistence doesn't mean blindly repeating the same actions. It means staying committed to your goal while being willing to adapt your methods as needed. By persisting without exception, you dramatically increase your chances of success in any endeavor.

Last updated: September 21, 2024