Decide Which Future to Kill

What are decisions for?

Reasoning from first principles,¹ it might be a good idea to start with what a decision is.

“Decision” comes from the Latin decidere,² the roots of de (off) and caedere (kill).

To decide is, therefore, to kill off.

Kill off what?

Well, for one thing, when you make and act on a decision, you are killing off the status quo of what’s now.

I’d assert that when you decide, you are deciding on one course of action over one or more alternative possibilities.

So when you decide and act on one future possibility, you are, by definition, killing off other possible futures.

Back then, to the original question, what are decisions for?

Based on the etymology, decisions are for stepping into possible futures while simultaneously killing off others.

Suddenly, decision-making seems like serious business (not that we need to take it or ourselves too seriously).

I say all this knowing that since you will both create and kill possible futures, you might think about what future you want (and which you don’t).

You should also think about who you are and clarify who you are becoming.³

“First tell yourself what kind of person you want to be, then do what you have to do.”—Epictetus

So, I’m asking, what do you want?⁴

And who do you want to become?

More specifically, what do you really want, and who do you really want to be?

The decisions you make can get you closer to what you want.

OR take you further away from what you want.

Decisions inform what emerges.⁵

Do the Work 

Ready to make a decision?

What do you really, really want, and who do you really want to be?

How will you be more decisive and make better decisions by noticing and naming⁶ what’s happening and navigating a better way forward?⁷

Take time to journal or discuss your work, and be sure to apply your takeaways.

This article is the republished sixth of nine lessons from my handbook, “The Art of Encore Living.” See the links in the footnotes to access additional chapters⁸ or to purchase the complete guide for $1 on Amazon,⁹ or access the entire course for free.¹⁰