“You decide, and you do.” ~ Dr. Randall S. Friese, trauma surgeon
I was impressed yesterday by this quote from Dr. Friese, one of the medical personnel who dealt with the aftermath of the recent shootings in Tucson. It appeared in the lead story of the NY Times online version, “From Bloody Scene to E.R., Life Saving Choices in Tucson. “You decide, and you do.”
How often do you decide and then waffle? Or alternatively, how often do you waffle and then do too late? Decisiveness in thought followed by decisiveness in action are two key traits that must be mastered if you are to live an uncommon life.
It is tragic to see windows of opportunity open and close for those about whom you care deeply. You may be familiar with the proverb, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”, which first appeared in Old English Homilies in 1175 (“Hwa is thet mei thet hors wettrien the him self nule drinken?” or “who can give water to the horse that will not drink of its own accord?). This immutable principle is what makes helping others so challenging and rewarding.
You cannot be effective in the service of others if you are wishy-washy in your own affairs. Decisiveness is as important as the ability to swiftly, quietly and deeply make changes when you recognize that decisions you’ve made are no longer serving you and others well. The ability to act and the ability to correct your course when necessary are central to a life uncommon.
Gregory Hake 
Agreed,
My wife has commented on my indecisiveness on occasion,lol
I can see how decisiveness would save alot of time and substance, while generating a stable quality of character that would certainly serve others, in a trustworthy way. Singleness of purpose backing all that we do, is most certaily inspiring to someone onlooking.
I resolve to actively generate that quality as I know my life depends on it, as does the Lives of others.
Thanks-Gregg for this consideration today, Look forward to an evening of clearing out some of the cobwebs that affect my decisiveness!
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I enjoyed this post and the links. I always look forward to seeing what comes from applying your ideas to my own situations. Thanks for the great writing!
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Great post, thanks!
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This is so true. If you are afraid to admit your current path is not leading you where you know you should go, then staying on that path will lead to unfathomable frustration and ultimately a wasted life.
It sometimes seems harder to make the necessary changes but I’ve found it was worth the pain. Also I’ve found that asking others if you should make a change usually creates even more hardship as most people don’t like change. I’ve found they would rather you stay in a miserable or futile situation because if you change, it forces change in their lives, and that is usually the last thing people want.
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Not the usual “waffles” I consider on a Sunday morning. Still, I never turn away good food for thought.
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Not being trained as a trauma surgeon or pilot, for example, where lives literally depend on fast assessment and action, these are definitely skills I want to consciously develop because other lives in one way or another will always be connected to my decisions and actions. Great meditation thus morning!
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Great topic! Thanks.
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