“Our lives are the sum of our choices.” That’s what Luther Stickell (played by Ving Rhames) says to Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in the first part of the new Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. I watched it a while ago in the cinema with my friend Timo, and that sentence just came back to me.
Because today, Anke and I are in Honningsvåg, Norway, aboard the Mein Schiff 7. From here, it’s only a 41-minute ride to the North Cape – the northernmost point of Europe. The travel guide says: “Most visitors come for the breathtaking views and the unique natural scenery, like the midnight sun in summer.” Sounds fantastic, right? Well, last time we visited, we saw… absolutely nothing. Just a wall of fog. No stunning view. So, what now? Take the risk again – and possibly see nothing again? Spend time and money, only to be disappointed? Or… what if the weather’s great this time? What if it turns out better than we ever imagined?
Our lives are the sum of our choices.
So I asked myself: Do I want to deny myself a potentially wonderful experience in the now, just because a similar one in the past didn’t go well? Because really – what if it does turn out well? Or even better? That applies to everything in life. Things can always turn out better.
And yet, we so often hold ourselves back—because we’re afraid of being disappointed again.
But the chance that things improve is always there. So why do we so often cling to what’s not working, instead of moving forward bravely and possibly succeeding? Because the pain just isn’t big enough yet.
Our North Cape example is harmless. But what about…
a job that brings you no joy?
a social circle that drags you down?
bad habits that numb your pain in the short term but offer no real solution—and maybe even lead to addiction?
I am the person I am today because of the decisions I’ve made. And if there’s something in my life I don’t like, it’s up to me to look at it—and make a different decision than last time. If money matters more to me today, then it’s no North Cape, round two. If experience and adventure matter more, then today we launch: Mission North Cape – The Sequel.
There’s no right or wrong. Just one question: Do I like my life right now? And if not—what do I feel is missing? That answer is just one decision away. Complaining about how bad the view was last time doesn’t help. It just poisons the present moment. So: What do I want now? Breathtaking views from the North Cape? Or saving a bit of cash? That’s it. That’s the decision.
And what do you want?
Because what you want is just one decision away. If the path you’re on hasn’t brought you closer to your goal, then choose a new one. (Of course, you can also stay on the same path and blame the world for your frustration. That’s an option too.) But that makes you the victim. And wouldn’t it be awesome if you became the creator of your life again? If you took back full responsibility for your decisions? That’s when Mission: Impossible becomes: Mission: Possible.
And in case you’re wondering: Yes, we’re on our way to the North Cape right now. Because—what if it turns out to be the clearest view ever?
Sending sunny greetings from the land of reindeer… and from us. This message will self-destruct in five seconds. Nope—just kidding. Let’s leave that to the Mission: Impossible agents.
