When it comes to determining how your life will play out, you have only two options. You will either choose based on impulse or you will choose based on intention. It is impossible not to choose.
For example, if I don’t have a budget, I will spend my money where I am naturally inclined to spend it. My impulses will take over. If I have a budget, I will spend my money on that which I have willfully chosen as a good option. Either way, I am determining where the money goes.
When you neglect to give time and attention to planning your finances, your time, or your career, you are giving control of your life over to your impulses, and as you know, your impulses will only get you so far.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Jayne // Oct 1, 2007 at 5:31 pm
It’s a simple statement, but it hit me at just the right time! Thanks for this post! I needed it.
2 Ryan Paugh // Oct 2, 2007 at 11:18 am
What’s up Chuck?
Are you saying you can only choose one or the other (intent or impulse)? I think you can learn to balance both.
For instance, I find that some of the best decision makers know how to analyze their situation, but aren’t afraid to take a risk when their impulse tells them to do so.
Maybe by recognizing that you’re taking a risk, it assumes that you know the “intent,” maybe not.
I just believe at some point there’s a value in impulse because intent can hold up a decision until its too late to act.
3 Chuck Westbrook // Oct 2, 2007 at 11:27 am
@Jayne– You’re welcome. I enjoy simple.
@Ryan– Just responding to comments, you? Anyway, choosing to follow an impulse is still intentional, isn’t it? Our natural tendencies are valuable, often the right thing to do. We should make that a choice though rather than the default.
4 Ryan Paugh // Oct 2, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Chuck,
Absolutely! There should always be a choice.
Thanks for the response.
5 Chuck Westbrook // Oct 3, 2007 at 2:45 pm
@Ryan– Rereading my article, I can see how it was unclear. I should have said, you either choose merely by impulse or you make a decision based on a willful intention.
6 MyStarbucks // Oct 5, 2007 at 10:53 am
So essentially, patience equals intention and since patience is a virtue then willful intentions become virtuous decisions.
7 Chuck Westbrook // Oct 5, 2007 at 10:59 am
@MyStarbucks– Were you in my philosophy class? ; ) Thanks for sharing your take on this. Of course, that assumes that you’re not willfully beating up little kids or something…
8 Bush Mackel // Oct 7, 2007 at 12:13 am
You really touch on something big with this short little post Chuck. The way I take it is, “You can either consciously choose something or not, but either way you’re making a choice so might as well make it the one you want.” Nice job and hope you’re well!
9 Chuck Westbrook // Oct 8, 2007 at 2:29 pm
@Bush– I’m doing very well, thanks. Your way of saying it is far more eloquent than my post and shorter still. It’s a point that none of us has mastered.
10 Gertrude // Mar 17, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Thanks for the post. I know I really have to make a budget so I don’t spend my hard earned money on unnecessary stuff.
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