by Patricia Feager, 5/6/2018
The weekend news:
Nour Malas from The Wall Street Journal reported on May 5, 2018, "Hawaii Officials Step Up Warnings as Kilauea Spews More Lava and Gases." In the article, a resident by the name of Gary Hoffeld told the reporter, "Many make calculated choices to stay home and monitor the situation because they feel they are safe for now."
As I dwell on the news and weave together my own thoughts, my focus remains on two important words in the English language that has many difference consequences. For that reason, my topic today is as follows: Know the difference between dilemma and making a decision.
Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude
toward it, for that determines our success or failure.
The way you think about a fact may defeat you
before you ever do anything about it.
You are overcome by the fact because you think you are.
--- Norman Vincent Peale
Dilemma
Based on observations of life experiences, facing a dilemma puts people in a quandary. A predicament unfolds and the problem may become worse before it gets better. Because there is no proof that a problem will go away, it is a catch-22. People must decide, what are they going to do? The really scary part of the problem is in everyday life-threatening situations, emotional intensity impacts other people too. Although "dangerous high concentrations of sulfur dioxide," poses a threat to those who are facing the dilemma in Hawaii today, others throughout the world are sensitive to the news. When faced with a dilemma, even though everyone reacts differently to a dilemma, it becomes a problem for other people too. The adrenalin rush for the individual facing the dilemma may never come, or if it does, it may be too late, or worse, at the expense of other people. All lives matters.
It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
--- Tony Robbins
Decision
The way I see it is, everyday we are faced with making decisions. If it is the people's choice, than a choice is a decision in taking action, taking a chance to avoid an action on taking a risk, or making the decision to do nothing at all. The challenge of making a decision under duress or emotional stress may pollute the mind with doubt and indecisive actions that have consequences. Duress may have legal consequences. Doubt clouds your thinking.
When local authorities say, "Evacuate," a procrastinator may panic, or have an excuse why they can't make the commitment to leave a dangerous situation. Take for example: The person who can't get out of bed in the morning when the alarm rings. The probability of consequences are high. And if the person does get out of bed, and is running late, others can become victims of circumstances outside of their control if they happen to be in the path of people rushing at the last minute. In conclusion, know the difference between dilemma and decision. Know that every dilemma; every decision has a consequence.
Photo Journal by Patricia Feager, 5/6/18
