Micro-choices matter!

From time to time major decisions come along that require considerable thought; for example, a change of career direction, whether to get married, the purchase of a house. Then there are other not-quite-so-big, but still notable decisions, such as buying a car, or deciding on a holiday.

For these big decisions, we may research the options and implications, think for quite a while, and discuss the pros and cons with someone we trust before eventually taking action. In fact, for some major decisions, we may hesitate for a long time, occasionally even for years, before finally taking the plunge.

Of course it makes sense to stop and weigh the options before taking major decisions, for the implications of 'getting it wrong' can be severe.

But each day, moment by moment, we are making a multitude of tiny 'beneath-the-radar' choices, which pass almost unnoticed: what to do this evening, whether to buy that little item, whether to phone that person...

We pay little attention to these micro-choices, which are mostly taken on 'auto-pilot'. And yet I believe that this is where the important action is taking place!

This isn't to say that we should agonise over every tiny decision - for we would quickly become immobilised! But it is the cumulative impact of thousands upon thousands of micro-decisions that form the pattern of our lives, that sets the nature of how we relate to others, and that coalesce into our priorities and the values we hold.

From repeated micro-choices come patterns of thinking and thus behaviour. These in turn form a lifestyle and our character. And through these we choose our destiny. And in this context, the decisions we agonised over concerning that holiday or even that mortgage, are of little consequence.

“Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”


[I have seen this quote attributed to John Wesley, to Lau Tzu and to Charles Reade; I have been unable to determine which is correct.]