Choice is the most powerful tool we have...

Over 25 years ago, when I worked for a large corporation, I was offered a place on a course called Believe & Achieve, run by a facilitator called Clive Gott. I had attended a number of leadership training courses at the time, but this guy was quite different. He packed a punch - and motivational speaking and influence wasn't as prevalent as it is now, so it felt new and exciting. He had overcome personal adversity, and turned things around in the most incredible way, and I admired him greatly.

The most simple message he offered, that I remember being most impacted by in my early twenties, was the question;

'What do I choose?'

The idea that I had control over my response in every situation I came up against was new to me then, and sometimes forgotten by me now. He used a simple example that most of us face pretty regularly, particularly in Mid Sussex where temporary traffic lights are a regular feature (!) ... if you're stuck in a queue waiting, what do you choose? What do you have control over? How do you use the time? What can you do to make this pause worthwhile to you? What do you choose not to do or feel?

It's not rocket science - not now anyway. But it's such a great reminder to us that we have potency in almost all situations. The choices aren't always what we might like, but choices they remain.

I had an unexpected last minute gap in my diary this week. My choices were - to feel uptight, to sit and do extra work and admin, to squeeze in an extra task, OR to choose to go for my favourite walk for 40 minutes, and feel refreshed, ready and grounded for my next appointment. And this time, I chose the latter. Not always. But this time I chose what felt good for me, and I was rewarded with the beautiful view you can see here.

What do you choose when work is demanding?

What do you choose when family life isn't straightforward?

What response is possible when you're having relationship difficulties?

No matter what happens to us, no matter what's going on, we always have some degree of choice about how we respond, and what we do next.

That still feels exciting to me.