Would You Rather? — Micaelyn Chedrawee

When you were a kid, did you ever play the game “Would You Rather”? I hated this game because I’ve always been notoriously bad at making decisions. However, I realized recently that I play this game every day—often without really thinking about it.

A man wearing a backpack is standing in the woods. We see only his back, and he faces the wood being divided into two paths. The path on the left is looks warm and is full of lush green trees. The path on the right looks cold and dark. — Photo by Vladislav Babienko on Unsplash

Would you rather have a focused two-hour work session or let yourself get distracted and have your work take twice as long?
Would you rather scroll on social media or make a real connection with a friend or family member?
Would you rather sit on the couch all day and let your back get stiff and achy or feel the sore muscles and sense of accomplishment that come after a long walk outside?
Would you rather mindlessly binge-watch TV or enter another world by reading a book?
Would you rather sit alone in front of a screen or spend quality time with your husband?

These are only some of the many “Would You Rather” questions I face daily. We all play this middle school favorite in our daily life, and we’ll keep on playing it until we take our last breath. What’s key is realizing that we’re in the game. If we’re mindful that we are playing “Would You Rather” against ourselves, we’ll be more likely to choose the things that give us long-lasting fulfillment.

It takes honesty with ourselves, too. Would I really rather watch TV or read a book? Many times, on the surface, I think it’s the former, but as an avid reader, I know that a book will give me much deeper fulfillment. Yet, there are times when I don’t have much capacity for reading, and maybe I really would rather watch TV. Still, I want to always seek after the things that will work toward my greater good and the good of those around me.

“A committed woman chooses what she wants most over what she wants now.” (Nikki Koziarz, author of 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit)

When I ask myself what I would rather do, I want to be a woman who is committed to choosing what I want most over what I want now. I want to pursue the good and the beautiful and the lasting. We were made for so much more than the limited existence so many of us are living. When I ask myself what I would rather do, I know my answer. I would rather live the abundant life.