There Are Lots of Ways to Make a Bad Choice

In high school, I was part of a club called SADD. When SADD was founded in 1981, it stood for Students Against Drunk Driving. In 1997, the last two letters changed: Students Against Destructive Decisions because there are a lot of ways to make a bad choice.

It’s a bad choice to get behind the wheel of a car after consuming alcohol. That’s kind of a universally accepted position. Even if someone has driven drunk, they generally know they’re not supposed to. They generally know that was a bad (not to mention illegal) call. 

But what about things that don’t feel as black and white or that don’t have legal definitions?

You can stay up all night partying the day before a big test or work presentation. Illegal? No. Bad idea? Probably. Is that a destructive decision?

You can drive yourself into credit card debt buying things you don’t need to impress people who don’t care. Illegal? No. Bad idea? Probably. Is that a destructive decision?

You can stay in a relationship that doesn’t feel fulfilling or bring you peace and joy. Illegal? No. Bad idea? Probably. Is that a destructive decision?

I’m a pretty by-the-books person. I don’t do illegal things. I follow the rules. I try to be a good person. But do I have bad ideas? Do I make destructive decisions? 

By the handful.

Not following your dreams. Selling yourself short. Doubting your abilities. Not speaking up for yourself. Playing small. Giving time or energy to people or things that don’t deserve it. Distracting yourself with work. Believing that next time will be different. Settling. 

There are many ways to make a bad decision. 

It’s a bad decision to not give your heart the space it needs to grow. 

So write down your goal. Tape it to your wall. Picture what it feels like to achieve it. Think of your past. What stories have you lived through? Just how capable are you? Look at your circle. Are they lifting you up? Can you lean on them? Can they lean on you? Take yourself seriously. There’s no reason it can’t be you. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be you. Don’t settle. Don’t settle. Don’t settle.

There are many ways to make a good decision. 

And they all start with you.