The National Football League Draft is here! Each NFL team will start drafting their next proclaimed savior who will lead their team to the promise land; a Super Bowl Championship. Over the next three days, the NFL will start selecting athletes to match their franchise needs and hopefully build a winning formula for their upcoming football season.
About 3-4% of all high school football players will play their favorite sport in college. There are over 25,000 football players in Division I and Division II football. You do the math. Only 259 players will be drafted this year, plus some free agents, who will have a chance of being a professional football player.
Each team goes through a meticulous process of choosing the precious draft picks they have acquired through wins, losses, trades, and random selection. Each potential candidate is scrutinized and studied based on their height, weight, body mass index, broad jumping ability, 40-yard dash, and unlimited variables that add up to a winning formula.
Each team has a secretive “draft board” ranking these prospects based on the team's needs or a hierarchy of value, sustainability, performance, and results.
When the team is “on the clock” they have precious moments to make their choice. However, the team executives, scouts, and coaches have spent endless hours in preparation for these sacred ten minutes of decision-making.
How do you make the important choices in your life?
Do you invest more time, energy, and advice when faced with an important decision? How do we recognize the difference in a random selection like choosing what we want to eat for dinner tonight to make a life-changing decision? My doctor would remind me that making the 'right choices in what I eat does make a difference in my health and longevity.
Yes, all decisions are important and should be valued, but some have a more transformative impact on our lives and the lives of others. Some decisions have a short-term impact while others can have a life-long influence.
I have personally experienced how my path through life has been changed and chartered because of decisions about college, marriage, finances, careers, friendships, and faith to name a few. I admit that I have made some very good decisions in my life but also some very poor decisions.
Many of my poor decisions were made out of lack of preparation, limited information, and impulsive decisions based on emotion or an irrational thought process. I did not spend enough time to understand the importance of the decision or how it would have an effect on my life.
People can make poor decisions because they have a blind spot. The blind spot may be a temporary issue or temporary insanity as my mother would call it. While in some cases it can resonate and be resolved around one’s personality, character, values, virtues, or external influences.
One decision might be a great decision for one person while it could be detrimental to the next person. Plato reminds us of the importance of "Know Thyself". It is important for each one of us to not only be confident in our strengths but also aware of our weaknesses. Self-realization and personal growth can help each one of us to make better decisions. I have found seeking wise counsel, prayer and meditation, reflection on scripture and inspirational writing, art and music, gathering substantive information, and taking more time has helped me make better decisions.
We do not want to enter a process of paralysis analysis. We need to make timely decisions but also the best decision we can make in the season of our life.
It is difficult to make good decisions when are experiencing fatigue and have not had enough rest. If you have a major decision on the horizon consider if your mind and body are rested and relaxed. Find a family member, friend, or mentor who will be an active listener and helpful in your decision-making. Seek wise counsel. Gather enough information about the decision, person, or situation you are contemplating. When in doubt, slow down the process and ask questions, be prayerful and reflective. Make decisions that are based on vision, hopefulness, joy, and faith.
Are you thinking about:
getting married,
deciding who are your true friends and who to hang out with,
choosing a college and what field you will major in,
making a career change,
buying a home,
a decision of faith,
investing or retiring, or
just thinking about what you want to have for dinner.
Renew, Reflect, Review, and Respond.
You’re on the Clock.
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