The Choices I Make
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Transcript of The Choices I Make
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Every day we make hundreds, if not thousands, of choices.
Many of these choices are unimportant, but some have a profound significance on our lives.
Every time you answer your phone, you’re making a choice.
Every time you go to the gym, you’re choosing health.
Every time you go to class, you’re choosing academic success.
The problem is that many of our choices are unconscious or automatic, and we fail to see the long term consequences of them.
Recognizing the broad range of choices available, allows us to actively engage in making decisions in our lives.
You have an amazing ability to shape your life
because you have choice –
• In your relationships
• In how you take care of yourself – physically, emotionally, spiritually
• In your attitude
• In how you treat others
Every day, you make many choices that impact your relationships.
• How much time to spend with a person
• How to handle conflict
• What kind of behavior is acceptable
• When to leave painful relationships
Choices in Self-Care
• Getting enough sleep
• Avoiding over scheduling
• Eating nutritionally
• Exercising moderately
• Accepting your body size and shape
• Avoiding perfectionism
Choices in Attitude
Optimism
Hope
Mindfulness
Peace
The best choices come from clearly defined
If our values are poorly defined, we can become caught up in minor, daily distractions.
We fail to keep our long term goals in sight.
We often feel dissatisfied and our lives and work seem empty.
If you are unclear about your values, your decisions become haphazard, shallow, or meaningless.
One way to make better choices
in life is to clarify your values.
What are YOUR values?
Authenticity
Balance
Commitment
Compassion
Concern for Others
Courage
Creativity
Empathy
Excellence
Fairness
Family
Freedom
Friendship
Generosity
Genuineness
Happiness
Harmony
Health
Honest
Humor
Integrity
Kindness
Knowledge
Loyalty
Openness
Perseverance
Respect for Others
Responsibility
Security
Serenity
Service to Others
If you could only pick 10 of these values, which 10 would you pick?
If you could only pick 5 of these values, which 5 would you pick?
If you could only pick 1 value, which value would it be?
How can I integrate my values into daily living?
Turn them into behavior!
“Values that we fail to reflect in our behavior are ultimately empty.
To be meaningful, a value must influence
the choices that we make in our everyday lives.”
- Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz
If concern for others is a value for you, how is this reflected in your life?
Are you making time for relationships?Do you set appropriate limits and boundaries
in your relationships?
If health is a value for you, what are you doing to maintain or improve
your health? Scheduling time for working out?
Limiting drug and alcohol use?
Use images as reminders of your values.
Growth
Family
Beauty
Curiosity
Practice the values that
are important to you.
extend a helping hand
to someone in need
stand up against
racism & violence
See the positive, laugh with others
treat others with
respect & dignity
engage in
dialogues, not arguments
Collect quotes that inspire you.
“If you can’t be happy where you are, it’s a cinch that you can’t be happy where you ain’t.”
CHARLES “TREMENDOUS” JONES
“Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves.”
EPICTETUS
Change your
thoughts & you
change your
world. NORMAN VINCENT PEALE
To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything
in return. To just give.
That takes courage, because we don't want to
fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt.
MADONNA
Be aware of peer pressure.
There are times when we are not in touch with our values and we rely upon the reason and choices of others to guide our lives.
We may imitate, copy, or follow the behaviors, thoughts, and actions of others.
We may want to go with the flow and don’t want to rock the boat.
We may not believe that we have the courage to stand up for our beliefs.
When we follow others, we have forfeited our power of choice and sacrificed our values.
We compose our lives
Moment by moment
Choice by choice
The choices you make today – about your relationships, your study habits, your self-care – have profound implications on your life.
“Live your dream by making deliberate
choices, not just responding to whatever
life throws your way.”
- MARCIA WIEDER
“A moment of choice is a moment of truth. It’s the testing point of our character and competence.”
- STEPHEN COVEY
Suggested Readings & Resources:
- Covey, S. (1989). Seven habits of highly effective people: restoring the character ethic. New York: Fireside (trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.).
- Loeher, J., & Schwartz, T. (2003). The power of full engagement. New York: The Free Press (a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.).
The end.
Illinois State UniversityStudent Counseling Services
320 Student Services Building Campus Box 2420Normal, IL 61790-2420
p 309.438.3655 | f 309.438.3004www. counseling.ilstu.edu
Music:“Laendler in C Minor” and “laid_back_guitars” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative
Commons “Attribution 2.0” http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/