The choices you make at this moment may impact your future self.  Every moment is usually accompanied by a set of choices that you may consciously make, or a set of choices that you unconsciously “accept.”   When we let our choices go unnoticed is when we become complacent and make decisions by “default.”

Think about some of the recent decisions that you may have made either consciously or “by default.”  A decision that you consciously make, might be trying to decide whether or not to eat that cookie.  You may see a plate of cookies on the counter when you get home from work or school and ask yourself if you should eat one.  That is making a conscious decision.

However, if you come home from your day and see the plate of cookies you may habitually pick up a cookie, and place it in your mouth – possibly while talking on your phone.  A moment later, someone may ask you if you ate a cookie, and you might not even remember.  That is an example of making unconscious decisions, which we refer to as “decisions by default.”

As you go about your day today, recognize the number of decisions that you actually make.  “Should I run this yellow light?  Should I get in the other lane to get around this traffic?”  The decisions are infinite.  However, you might look at many of these decisions that you are making by “default” and start to evaluate the choices that you are making.

Eating the cookie without tasting it may not be a good decision.  What other things are you eating and drinking by default?  Are you making good choices for your bodily health?  Make the most of your decisions, by consciously making those choices.  Simply having an awareness of things you put in your mouth can make a large impact on your caloric intact for the day.  Pay attention, and make conscious choices.

One approach to determine if you really want that cookie, is to use it as a sort of reward.   In the past, you may have eaten the cookie while being preoccupied, so you may not have enjoyed its taste.  Maybe you decide to go for a walk or run and will eat the cookie after you complete that task.  Often times after exercising, you may decide that you do not want the reward after all.  However, that choice is yours to make.

There are many decisions that we make throughout our day, and our lives.  The choices we make are sometimes made with the full engagement of our selves.  Other choices, are made without even thinking about the impact those choices may have to our future self.

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Start being aware of the choices that you make.  Simply knowing that you are making a choice, allows for you to recognize the impact a lifetime of choices make on one’s future self!

Written Thu, May 29, 2014 7:54 – 8:06 AM MT