I recently came across an article I wrote some years ago, discussing the points of action and inaction, choice and no-choice. The premise of the article was exploring how characters in a story are always making choices and generating action, even when they don't appear, in that moment, to be doing so. After some thought, and wondering what I was going to write about today, it led me to what I wanted to touch on this morning.
Throughout our daily life, we are all faced with choice. The choice of action, inaction, going, staying, doing something, or doing nothing. No matter how you slice it, these are all still choices. I make this statement to make a point. When faced with anything in life, there is no such thing as 'choosing not to act'. On more than one occasion I've heard someone say that they didn't try something because they were afraid it wouldn't work out. Instead of trying, they determined that by not trying, they've avoided the risk of failing. However, and I typically point out, by making the choice to not try, you have already failed. In this sense, the choice not to try meant making a choice to automatically fail.
Why?
When we choose not to do, we've still made a choice.
Another example that, I'm betting, most of us have heard at least once in our life: when given Option A and Option B, told to choose one, and someone says, 'I don't like either, so instead of supporting either, I'll not make a choice at all.'
In the above example, a choice is still made. I this case, it was the choice to not make a choice.
The point I'm getting at is this. When we look to the next steps in anything that we do, there's always a choice to be made. They're inescapable. The decision of inaction is taking the active step to not engage. The decision to not go forward because of a fear of failure is to accept the defeat as a default by not trying. The world is filled with obstacles whether or not we like it. The world is also very efficient at reminding you that you're behind the curve, not quite there, or too far back to make it through. That’s where the importance of this article comes in.
When we believe in what we're doing, believe in one another, and support the notion and the idea to make a choice to move forward DESPITE what the world tells us, we will make a difference. Even if a choice leads to a failure, the choice to try in the face of adversity proves to be stronger than any amount of nay-saying. In addition, you still have the opportunity to learn about yourself in the process. Belief, determination, and the tenacity to choose to try can send ripples through the fabric of humanity. It can also change your life.
I've said it before and I'm sure to say it again, failure is only failure when you never try at all. Choosing to not do is still making a choice. We have to power to take a step forward in any situation, regardless of outcome. We gain power within ourselves and the world around us with each step. Don't let the world convince you that you don't have the power to take control of your own life. To do, or not do, is still doing - almost Yodaish.
Justin