Our life is made of decisions. Every day, the whole day, we make decisions about our lives whether big or small. From what time we wake up, to the clothes we wear, to what we think, what job we prioritize, whether to check our Facebook or finish the task at hand… There are dozens of decisions we make (including the ones we don’t take, because doing nothing is also a choice.)

With so many options and possibilities before us, the quality of our life depends on the speed and quality of our decisions. In regards to this, let me share with you a discovery.

Searching for the origin of the word “decision” I came across something very interesting. “To decide” means “to cut off,” eliminate the possibilities, and do it quickly, without hesitation*. You probably already know the word “scission,” which means to “cut.” Very well, a “de-cision” means to say “to cut off.”

This helps us to better understand the process of decision making.  It involves focusing on one thing that we should do, to cut off all the other options quickly, and take action. Moreover, no doubting, no hesitation, no taking long to decide, or feeling sorry to eliminate the alternatives allowed. In order words, to decide you need to lose something, leave something out.

Deciding requires courage, having no fear to lose. This courage is driven by assurance that the choice made surpasses the loss of the other options.

The alternative is not to decide – not to cut anything off, and try to embrace the world and end up doing nothing. Yet this is also a decision…

After all, you’re going to have to decide something anyways, whether you want to or not, why not make the right, appropriate and intelligent decision?

*From Latin DECIDIRE, “determine, define, decide,” formed by DE-, “out,” + CAEDERE, “cut.” Many times a decision implies you cut off one of the possibilities.

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