More Than Choices

I came across a quote on the internet that said, "Your life is a result of your choices. If you don't like your life, it's time to make some better choices." I know this is meant to be a motivational saying, but I really dislike quotes like this.

For one thing, your life is not solely a result of your choices. Yes that is a big part, but it is also a result of other people's choices, your environment, your physiology, your failure to make choices, and more variables than could ever be pinned down as the only source of an unsatisfactory life. In short, your total life satisfaction is a result of many things, only one of which is choice.

If a person decides to make better choices, I'm all for it. I think good choices can go a long way in improving quality of life. But it will not solve everything. Better choices do not solve being born in a third-world country. Better choices do not solve being born with a mental illness. Better choices don't solve being abused as a child. Better choices aren't the cure for lack of access to nutritional food and clean water. Choices can make a difference, but the quote implies that choices are the only thing holding you back from a better life.

Instead of choices, I like to focus on attitude. When life puts you in situations where you have no choice but to deal with it, your attitude is the only thing you can control, and it can make a big difference. Say you are born into a poor family. Your choices may get you out of that situation eventually, but if they don't, where does that leave you? You feel defeated and like you can't make any good choices. You feel like a failure at life. Now imagine that you change your attitude toward being poor. Whether you become fabulously rich or not, you feel happy. You know what is important in life and you appreciate what you have. You value friends and family and you help others because you know what it is like to be down.

Your attitude improves your life satisfaction whether you get what you want or not. Choices can improves your circumstances, but not your always your satisfaction. If you want to improve your life, I would suggest having a good attitude first and foremost, and THEN making wise choices. Because I don't believe your life is a result of your choices. It is a result of many things, but only attitude can make the result a positive one no matter how it turns out.