4 Tips for Making the Best Choices

The essence of creativity and innovation

When I contemplate upon the journey my life has taken, I can see that most of the choices I have made in both my personal life, and in business were not the result of guess work. My choices have always been influenced by my ability to recognize patterns around me.

Let’s go deeper here.

Consider, for a moment, that for a person to be alive they must create. Further, remember that all that exists is the result of some cause and is itself the cause of something that we call an effect. Now let us consider that a cause or an effect is created from some previous action. Thus, one might say that cause and effect is indirectly connected in some manner to the concept of creativity.

An effect can operate in four patterns connected to creativity:

1. As an antecedent to creativity;

2. As a direct consequence of creativity;

3. As an indirect consequence of creativity

4. As an occurrence taking place simultaneously with creative activity. If we accept this concept, we may then agree that an individual’s emotions and creative thoughts are interwoven in various specific and unique ways within the complex fabric of their daily lives. You might say that we are the cause of our own life experience!

My Zen teacher often said “though you are not responsible for everything that has happened in your life you are “the cause” of everything that has happened in your life.”

I remember debating with him about this. “How can this be?” I said

He responded, “You are there when something happens to you aren’t you?”.

“Yes,” I replied, “but I did not make it happen.”

“But you did!”

It sounded like psychobabble to me. How can I be responsible if a deer runs in front of my car on the highway?

He explained, “I didn’t say you were responsible for the deer running into your car. But you are the cause of the deer running into your car. You got in the car, you put the key in the ignition or got in the passenger seat. There you were by choice, in the car, on that particular road and there was the deer running and “bang!” Get it? You are not responsible but you are the cause.”

He further explained that understanding this distinction was essential to becoming a master problem solver. “When you understand that outside circumstances do not take place in a vacuum, that they are a step in a long chain of unseen causes and effects, then your entire perspective on life changes. You begin to see where and how you fit into the big picture. This gives you a more accurate sense of where your freedom lies and it also makes you more conscious when making choices.”

A movie that explores unexpected, worse case scenarios is White Squall. Based on a true story — the fate of a ship which sank May 2, 1961, allegedly because of a white squall. It reflects the reality that unexpected factors can affect the making of certain decisions in urgent situations.

Here is the trailer for this film…

The lesson here is, that, no matter how skilled you are as a decision maker situations will arise that are simply beyond your control and which you cannot plan for.

Self-actualized, or extraordinary individuals live without struggle because they do not involve themselves in those affairs that would create unnecessary struggle and difficulty. Wuwei is the ultimate example of clear and grounded behavior which also reflects absolute quiescence and inaction concerning crisis, material attachment, glory, honor and possession. So what is Wuwei? It is action that appears to the common man, as inaction. It is both action and inaction. It is the way of non-action in an action-focused world.

In “Alice in Wonderland” Lewis Carroll states “If you do not know where you are going any road will take you there.”

The Takeaway

We all need to train ourselves to deal with the randomness of life. One way I have done this is through Mastermind Groups

The benefits of having a supportive mastermind group are plenty:

1. You have a group of people available to help you

succeed.

2. You get the benefit of differing perspectives, input, and feedback.

3. Your mastermind team can bring resources and connections to the table you might not have had on your own.

4. You receive accountability and inspiration from the group, thus enabling you to maintain focus in achieving your goals.

A person committed to this idea must rely heavily on the knowledge of others. We must first understand knowledge within the context of their understanding of reality in order to apply it successfully. We cannot let fear of the unknown or the irrational demands or expectations of others to interference in our judgment — not if we want to create and live the best life that we possibly can. Being extraordinary requires a dedication to logic and reason intuition, the freedom to act on one’s choices, and the wisdom to seek wise counsel. More than anything else, an effective Support Triangle makes life more abundant.

Here is a Medium story on this subject that you might enjoy @LewisCoaches

Here is one by @naghma2404

This story is an excerpt from my Module for making the best choices, from my online Course, “The Self Improvement Lifestyle”. To learn more email me at [email protected]

Author: Lewis Harrison is an executive coach and a professional futurist (forecaster). He is the creator of the Ask Lewis Mentoring Method as well as HAGT — Harrison’s Applied Game Theory. He is the Executive Director of the International Association of Healing Professionals an educational organization that offers programs around the world in Intentional Living. He is also Independent Scholar, with a passion for knowledge, personal development, self-improvement, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. You can read all of his Medium stories at [email protected].

For a decade, Lewis was the host of a humor-based Q & A talk show on NPR (National Public Radio) affiliated WIOX FM in NY.

Here is the humorous promo for that radio show…

“I am always exploring trends, areas of interest, and solutions to build new stories upon. Please share this article with others. It is appreciated.

If you have any ideas you would like me to write about, just email me at [email protected] or check out all of my books, blogs, and videos through my portal www.asklewis.com