As human beings we make decisions constantly.

We make decisions which are immediate with very little longer term impact…

Coffee or tea?  

X Factor or Strictly?

Spaghetti bolognese or Chicken chorizo?

However, and as regularly, we make decisions which are immediate and have a cumulative effect on our longer term health, wealth and well being.

Making the decision to keep fit is a choice. A choice with no immediate impact. A choice which delays the pain of going to the gym or out for a run and, especially in the winter months, rewards staying in where it’s nice, warm and comfortable!

Making the decision to not change your lifestyle, find your flow or achieve a greater level of work/life balance when you know you’re not truly happy is a choice. However sometimes when making any form of change, the fear of the unknown is a potentially greater emotional pull than the dissatisfaction you might feel with your current arrangement.

The grass might be greener on the other side. It may not. But it’s always more ‘comfortable’ to stay where you are.

Deciding to try to achieve your own personal financial independence is a choice…but again it’s a choice with no immediate impact. It’s more comfortable to defer this option. More comfortable to spend now, save later. More comfortable to put these decisions off.

If, as humans, we were entirely logical we would understand that these sort of decisions can potentially have a longer term impact.

If you don’t exercise and eat well you could become overweight and unfit.

If you don’t change your life for the better you could wake up at 60 with a life you’ve just tolerated as opposed to loved.

If you don’t plan for financial security it’s possible to find yourself struggling to live the life you want in your later years.

However we all know it’s not that easy. I know I’m guilty of this and need to constantly remind myself…

“Making no choice is making a decision…..it’s just a decision not to take action”

However the reason we defer decision making on many occasions is simple. Making decisions which are meaningful and well thought through are difficult. It requires us to “dig deep” and use the logical parts of our brain (most of our thinking is completed by the emotional reactionary part of our brain, especially when we decide to defer making a choice).

On this point, Dr Seuss (as illustrated in the quote on your right) was correct. Making decisions is tough. However we get to a stage where we need to make decisions…and “a mind-maker-upper needs to make up his mind”.

If deciding to take action, from the ‘big picture’ activity like putting in place a life or financial plan, or the ‘small chunk’ work (which is ultimately necessary for most of us to achieve our larger goals) like budget planning or changing energy suppliers is a choice….

….let’s be clear….not taking action is too. However it’s the kind of decision that might feel comfortable now but can potentially put you in a weaker position (either financially, health wise or most importantly not living the life you want) than if you would have been active.

Do ‘you’ a favour….take the time to understand what you need to do to take action today.