Prisons of Indecision

Mary Kay Ash, 1918-2001, American businesswoman, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, said, “Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try.”

Trying demands a decision and it is human nature to stand in the middle, waiting for a sign. No decision is still a decision. The freedom to choose includes the freedom to put off and the freedom to fail. Fear of failure often places human beings in prisons of indecision.

Max Gunther, American author, said, “It is true that when we take chances, we stand to lose. But it is also true that we will never win anything if we never even enter the game. Lucky people are aware of the possibility of losing, and indeed they may lose often. But, by being willing to lose they put themselves in position to make large gains.”

Failure isn’t failure until you give up. Someone throwing in the towel may think they are playing it safe, yet they will never discover what they could have done had they continued.

T. S. Eliot, 1888-1965, British poet and critic, said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.”

We all have deep reserves of talent and abilities, valuable things that we can do far better than most people. Yet, most people never push themselves far enough to discover what they truly can do.

What happens when someone pushes themselves further than they have ever been? Understandings of their personal strengths and weaknesses expand. In some cases, what they thought would happen did not - - and their fears were released. In others, transformations beyond reason occurred - - another way of saying miracle.

There is an element of our life beyond logic and reason. There are things we cannot explain and no matter how hard we try, we never will. Yet, everyday, someone somewhere does something that everyone else said could not be done.

The Cadet Maxim at West Point, the United States Military Academy, states: “Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.”

Shirley MacLaine, American actress, said, “I’m in love with the potential of miracles. For me, the safest place is out on a limb.”

What about you? How long has it been since you stepped out on a limb?