The Five Most Important Choices You Make

I have been thinking about the important choices we make in life, and being an analytical chap, I have whittled down the following five things that I believe are the most important choices you will make in your life.

I carefully use the word ‘choices’ because I believe these are cognitive choices you can make or not make. Like any list, this is open to spirited debate, constant picking-at, potential revisions, and absolute disagreement.

The list starts with the least important of the five and builds to the most important of the five:

5. What You Choose to Be (in Your ‘Work-life’)

This is the least important of the five choices, but it is very important nonetheless. You try to decide on this when you are young and can/will adapt and change throughout life multiple times.

This choice is important since this is where you will spend most of your waking hours, and it can/will be a great source of satisfaction and pain (sometimes both on the same day). This choice also includes the decision to be a stay-at-home parent … as that is surely a full ‘work life.’

What you choose to ‘be’ is something you wake up to just about every day—so choose wisely.

4. Who You Choose to Marry or Be With

The next most important choice involves picking that special someone with whom you will spend the bulk of your life. This will also be a source of great fun, great challenges, and maybe great pain.

While this choice is No. 4 on the list and super important, it is also ‘changeable,’ even though that decision will surely carry some heartache. I read once that “your commitment is not only to the person but also to the marriage,” which I felt was a good perspective.

For some, marriage may not be in the cards or something that is not high on their list… once again, it’s a choice!

3. Making the Decision to Have Children

Now, the decisions get serious … and this one is big … and irreversible. There are no do-overs like there are in Nos. 5 and 4.

While this generally will/could be your greatest source of joy and satisfaction, it can also have downsides. Once you have a child, they are yours for life—for life! Through all the ups and downs, you are on-call as a parent, no matter the circumstances.

Additionally, whatever the health/situation is with your child/children, you are signed up for the entire ride. This one is not reversible, and while you have control over some things (nature vs. nurture), you do not have control over many things. As the saying goes, “A parent is no happier than their saddest child” and this has some grains of truth to it.

I’m not trying to scare you, but recognize this is a BIG choice.

2. Deciding to Be Healthy

There is a saying: “Without your health, you really have nothing,” I think it’s somewhat true.

The decision to stay as healthy (physically and mentally) as you can, genetics aside, is a really important choice you have. Even if decisions 5, 4, and 3 are going great … not having overall health can detract from them.

While you will all be dealt momentary, sometimes serious, even life-altering setbacks, you need to strive for healthiness, be active for your family and friends, and be able to do the things you enjoy.

You also need to prepare your body (and mind) for the later years of life. You make daily decisions to stay fit, flexible, and healthy. When you make the decision to be healthy and fit – almost all things are possible. If you are ever dealt a health blow that is really difficult, you still have to find your way to the No. 1 choice below—somehow.

1. Choosing Happiness

This is, without a doubt, the most important decision you will ever make! No matter what life throws at you in the four choices above, you can always choose happiness—always.

Don’t get me wrong, we all know there will be bad days/weeks/times, and being happy is not some fake sense of emotion or trying to kid oneself. Choosing happiness is about looking for the good in things, believing there is an upside, and generally being grateful about being alive and finding ways to enjoy it.

We only get one life/chance here on earth—so choose happiness while you are here. As an added benefit to this choice, you will find that others like to be around happy people and, conversely, will avoid unhappy or mean-spirited people. By choosing happiness, you will surround yourself with happiness.

So, debate and disagree with these as you may, but make sure whatever your list is, you choose wisely.

Originally posted on Forbes.com