166: Killer Word

Change Your Story, Change Your Life

KILLER WORD

Are you a prisoner to a simple word that you hear every day? Many people are.

It’s a common word that we all use and take for granted. And, it’s a killer word. Literally.

The word is DECIDE. Here are two dictionary definitions of decide:

• Come to a resolution in the mind
• Make a choice from a number of alternatives

In this episode of one word stories, you’ll discover the deeper meaning of the word, decide. You will learn what makes it a killer word.

Decide is a simple word. It’s safe to assume that all of you know what it means. Still, many people have trouble making simple decisions.

Etymology, the study of word origins, teaches us a few fascinating things about decide:

• Decide has two parts, a prefix and a suffix.
• The prefix (the part that comes before) is de.
• The suffix (the part that comes after) is cide.
• Both parts are derived from Latin – de means off; cide means to kill (from the Latin verb, caedere)
• Decide literally means to kill off.

I believe that decisions often feel hard to make because they require that you kill off every alternative but one. It means giving something up. We don’t like giving things up.

Our resistance to giving things up creates a lot of conflict. We get caught up in the “what if” game. Faced with a number of alternatives, we ask, “What if I give up _____ and lose _____?

The what if game is a losing game. It creates an endless cycle of indecision that drains our energy.

If you have trouble making decisions, consider this thought. It could liberate you. You’re not really giving anything up when you decide. You can’t give up what you don’t have.

When your mind is reeling with alternatives to choose, you don’t “have” any of them until you make a choice. By not choosing, you have nothing.

Stop asking, “Which is the best choice?” It’s a bogus question because it doesn’t have an answer. The best choice is THE ONE YOU MAKE.

You will discover the truth of that last sentence when you ignore your mind chatter and take a bold step in one direction by choosing one alternative.

You choice, your action, will energize and empower you. Then, commit 100% to your choice, and make this other powerful discovery. Nothing means anything, until you make it something.”

Decide today to kill indecision. Step into your personal power by taking the power away from a killer word.