The Kindest Cut

Decision has the same root word as incision, which means to cut. How does that work? Well, when you decide to do something, you cut yourself away from other options. In this way, then, your work doesn't go into wringing your hands wondering if you made the right decision, but your efforts go into making everything work out with your decision. And trust me, the voice of doubt will at least clear his throat from time to time.

As a kid, you don't need to decide what your career will look like! You don't need to have the rest of your life swinging on the knowledge base you have acquired as a child. Those choices will come later for many of you, even though some of you have the rest of your life burning in you right now, meaning it's very clear what you're going to pursue. It's smoldering inside and you're annoyed at having to wait it out for awhile. But for many of you, it's an enormously complex process.

We become very good at making good decisions the same way we become good at anything else: we practice. Middle school kids have the perfect opportunity to practice decision-making on a daily basis. How will I decide to react to that comment? How will I decide to use my time today? Or perhaps it's this, What kind of person will I decide to become? Oh, that's a good one. What kind of person will I decide to become? I had to say it again.

Here's a thought that's difficult for kids to grab with both hands: Not deciding is also a decision not to act!

So practice making decisions. Start small. Make a decision, cut yourself off from retreat, fight the inner notion to unravel your resolve, reflect on how well you did, then make another one.