The Decided Life - Introduction

This is the first in a series of articles on what is known as the "Decided Life."

A short book is in the making that will more fully explain and guide the reader to living "the Decided Life" and experience control beyond their current expectations.

It is important to set the stage with the following introductory thoughts...to help set the stage for living "The Decided Life"


THE DECIDED LIFE'S BEGINNINGS

It all started late one evening.  Although the actual "Decided Life" started long ago, it was a subconscious effort...I would like to say that it occurred naturally, but in retrospect I was probably forced into it simply to survive...

Regardless of how it happened, I am glad it did!

But let's look at the chance discussion that led to the realization and rationalization of "The Decided Life" and the subsequent impact that my sharing of this "way of life" has made a significant, positive difference in the lives of others.

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I was laying on the dock with a friend looking up at the stars...we were just reliving "childlike moments" by doing something that one seldom does as an adult.

For a while we just laid quiet and gazed skyward.  Then we began talking about the universe and time and other trivial things...in a very unique way we were sharing in that child-like awe of a beautiful evening that almost always passes us by...

Then out of the "blue" my friend asked, "How did you get here?"

"What do you mean?" I responded. "To this area of the US or this moment in life?"

The next words spoken almost silently was interesting...

"I wish I had your life!"

This exchange continued for quite a while; the details, of which, unnecessary, yet after a while I had to admit..."I got here because I decided."

From this came an interesting final comment, "That is so cool!  You are living a decided life!"

That conversation was initially forgotten...then in another contemplative moment it again arose...and it got me thinking about the important role that decisions make in our lives.  As I thought deeper, it is in fact, the single most critical element of our present state in life...

When I think back to that night...the most important part of the discussion was that I had a conscious realization that I was living "the Decided Life!" and began using it when others looked to me for advice and help...


SHIFTING GEARS

Dreams and dreaming are not the exclusive right of human beings.

All of the higher order of animals dream!

Some of the most viral videos on the internet show dogs, cats, monkeys and other animals sleeping and doing crazy things which we attribute to their dreaming...

When it was all said and done...

Dogs dream and then they wake up and do what dogs do...

...and the same holds true for us...we dream and then we wake up and go about the things that we do...

I find it amusing how many motivational/inspirational "gurus" and spiritual guides focus on the importance of dreaming as a critical element of success and fulfillment.

I will not deny that dreaming is an important element in our survival.  If it wasn't important, living organisms wouldn't dream.  Psychologists have yet to fully understand the role that dreaming plays in our development and day to day living, but its presence and persistence emphasizes the fact that it is important.

The important thing for us to understand is its place in our lives.  Dreaming occurs when we are semi-conscious or unconscious.  It is not generally an experience of the normal conscious or wake state.

So let's take a moment and define dreams...they are thoughts without substance yet they have the ability to control physical actions...and because of their timing have little or no impact on our conscious existence...

HUH?

Consider a dog dreaming of chasing a rabbit.  The situation lacks any substance, yet the thoughts cause the dog's legs to move as if it were running.  While asleep, the dogs believes that it is chasing a rabbit.  But there is no rabbit...

When the dog wakes up and again joins us in the conscious world...there is no rabbit!

We have dreams that cause physical reactions.  Although I can say I have never personally had dreams as such...I have been with people who screamed in terror during a dream.  Yet when I got them back to the conscious world they realized that it was only a dream!

Many philosophers have written about consciousness and dreams and the "goings on" of the mind...

Dreams may play an important role in our existence...but I am intrigued by the fact that most of the dreams that we have...we seldom can remember!  If dreams are important to success...then why are so many forgettable?

Let's keep dreams and dreaming where they belong...and stop thinking that dreaming is a critical element of success and authentic happiness...

Why?

Many of these success peddlers generalize dreams and dreaming.  They make the definition of dreams so broad that they allow it to permeate our conscious time.

They call our goals and aspirations dreams.  Subtly they have defined goals and aspirations as simply a mental state lacking substance or...(by our original and accurate definition of dreams...in reverse).

In other words...they say that our conscious state of dreaming (goal setting) is actually an state of unconsciousness, lacking true substance...

The first and most important thing in "The Decided life" is to recognize when you are conscious and take stock of your current state of existence...

There is a time to dream and a time to set goals and aspirations.

What is the difference?

Dreams are in the unconscious state and will always lack substance...

Dreams may cause physical REACTIONS...but they are not based in a real world...

Goals and Aspirations are conscious and affect things of substance...the conscious world...

Goals and Aspirations cause physical ACTION...

Do you see the difference?

Dreams cause REACTIONS...Goals and Aspirations cause ACTION!

Dreams and dreaming are uncontrolled and at the whim of ones thoughts...

Goals and Aspirations are controlled and conscious decisions...affecting the present and the future!

If it is a dream call it that...

If it is a Goal or Aspiration call it that...

This may sound petty and semantic...in a way it is,,,but do not underestimate the power of those subtle difference has on our thoughts and subsequent actions.

Enough rambling on Dreams and Goals and Aspirations...

"The Decided Life" sees the difference between the two and calls a dream "a dream" and a goal "a goal!"

For today...realize that the "Decided Life" is active and conscious...it is a decision...

More to come!