Embrace Boldness, Take Action & Live

Patrick Swayze
Creative Commons License photo credit: Alan Light

You are where you are and what you are because of yourself. Your choices and decisions over the months and years have determined the condition of your life at this moment.”-unknown
 
Barbara Walters interviewed Patrick Swayze about his pancreatic cancer on 20/20
Wednesday evening. Patrick has been a smoker for decades. Last night he acknowledged the likely connection between the habit and his cancer. “I will go so far as to say probably smoking had something to do with my pancreatic cancer,” he said. While he has not yet kicked the habit, he did say that he has “seriously cut down.”

Seriously cut down? Are you kidding me? There is something wrong with this picture!
Patrick had made poor health choices. I wonder how many times he has said to himself, “I’ll quit tomorrow.”  Sadly, all those tomorrows added up. 

Take some time this weekend and reflect on your life… where you are now and where you want to be. 
If there is an issue you have been avoiding create a plan to resolve it.

Without blaming or criticizing yourself ask these questions:

Do my actions show that I’m committed to doing what it takes to resolve or improve this issue?

Am I serious or do I make promises to myself and fail to keep them?

How bad do I want to change and why?

What are the payoffs for living in this rut?

What are the benefits if I do the work needed to change this situation?

 I am taking a mini retreat next weekend, alone with thoughts and my journal. I’m will be reflecting on areas of my life I want to improve and what changes I need to make.

I invite you to embrace boldness, examine your own choices and make the changes you need.
Or like Patrick we will all pay the consequences.

{ 3 comments… add one }

  • Neil January 9, 2009, 8:22 am

    Tess, this is a great reminder to always be aware of our actions and decisions. Everything we do has consequences and we have to live with that for better or worse. However, when the bad choices rear their ugly heads we have the ability to make a better decision. It’s too bad Patrick hasn’t done that yet.

    I hope you enjoy your time of reflection this weekend. I look forward to more of your challenges.

    Neil’s last blog post..9 More 2009 Predictions

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  • Patricia January 10, 2009, 7:19 pm

    This is bold and how lucky you are to have a retreat this weekend with yourself and your journal. Awesome.

    I think I was talking about this very thing on my post After Math. Lots of folks I encounter want it all without the accountability or the responsibility – a bit like our investment systems.

    What are the payoffs for living in this rut? I think the investments paid off pretty big time for a few

    Patricia’s last blog post..The Interstate is Closed

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  • Tess January 10, 2009, 7:28 pm

    Patricia,
    Thanks for stopping by. Like you accountability and responsibility have been two keys for the success I’ve encountered in my life.

    Tess’s last blog post..Embrace Boldness, Take Action & Live

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