When you decide something, do you always follow through? We need to make decisions daily. Multiple sources cite that we make 35,000 decisions every day. That’s a lot. But how many of those truly matter?

I learned a new definition of the word decide that changed how I perceived the decision-making process.

It will give you what you need to truly decide something. Deciding like this will stop the failure to follow through. How many people make New Year’s resolutions but fail to follow through?

If you implement this new definition of decide, you won’t fail again.

What We’ve Been Doing

How would you define what it means to decide something? Before this new definition, I would agree with the dictionaries.

Cambridge.org says:

• To choose between one possibility and another.

Merriam Webster says:

• To select a course of action.

Oxford Languages says:

• Make a choice from a number of alternatives.

They all center on making a choice. So what’s the problem?

Choices. Choices. Choices.

They say we make 35,000 decisions a day. What to wear. What to eat. Places we go. People we meet with. Choices. Choices. Choices. We have lots of options.

By the end of the day, we develop a thing called decision fatigue. It’s the mental and emotional exhaustion from making so many choices.

Are you tired just reading that?

I am.

The problem is that simply making choices is not how we truly decide something.

It’s a start, but it doesn’t always last.

What’s Happening Instead

Have you ever hit your snooze button? Who hasn’t?

• Hitting the snooze is changing your choice of what time to get up in the morning.

Have you ever purchased an item and then returned it?

• That return is changing your choice.

Have you ever gotten dressed and then changed what you were wearing?

• That change of clothing is changing your choice.

Have you ever planned to make a nice, healthy dinner but then ordered out instead?

• That is changing your choice of what to eat.

Perhaps you’re saying “Who cares? Those aren’t a big deal.”

But what about when it matters?

How To Decide When It Truly Matters

We need to take a deeper look at the word decide.

Split it in two. De and Cide.

What do those mean?

The word de means off or from.

• Example de-throne is to be off a throne.

The word cide means killing or to kill.

• Example insect-cide is to kill insects.

So what do you get when you put de and cide together like that?

• To decide is to put to death all other options.
  • Put to death all other options!
  • That is making a choice with no turning back.

This kind of decision is stronger. It has commitment attached to it. To decide in this manner is to make a decision that lasts.

A decision like this can be transformative.

Making A Decision That Transforms Your Life

Life transformation starts with identifying what matters to you and then daring to love yourself enough to act in your best interests.

What do you need?

How do you get that need met?

Will you love yourself enough to take action? Will you put to death the option of inaction?

Getting your need met might take a series of choices, but the initial one is the decision.

• Do you need to escape from an abusive relationship?
• Do you need inner healing from childhood trauma?
• Do you need to heal a relationship?
• Do you need to move forward after years of counseling?

What do you need?

Do you know how to get that need met or do you need help? There is no shame in getting help. That feeling might show up, but it doesn’t love you.

You are worthy of love. Asking for help is courageous love for yourself.

You matter. Your needs matter.

I dare you to be courageous and take a step of self-love by taking action.

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