Something Is Better than Nothing

"In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing." Theodore Roosevelt

Sometimes worrying about what is the right thing to do becomes a form of paralysis. You cannot give yourself over to indecision. Indecision has created more havoc and pain in the world than is any way necessary.

When you approach a decision, trust yourself. More importantly, trust in the goodness of the world. Try to do the right thing. If the decision you make ends up being the wrong thing, then you have made a mistake. Mistakes are the opportunity life gives us to learn, to augment our skill set, to become better people. The learning we experience by making mistakes is a priceless investment in our fullness. Obviously, one shouldn't try to make mistakes. But, there is no need to fear making mistakes.

The worst thing anyone can do is nothing... not doing the right thing, not doing the wrong thing. Doing nothing surrenders you to whatever comes along. Contrary to what you might think doing nothing is a decision. Others will decide your fate, but you are making the decision to be accountable for the results of the decision to do nothing.


Doing nothing puts you on whatever path is in front of you. It won't be a good path for you because it really wasn't your path to begin with, but now it becomes your path. If you pay enough attention you may be able to go back to your life's true path, but it'll take increased effort to get to where you were supposed to be going. Most often people who choose to do nothing go through detours for years before they start to wonder where they were originally headed. In some cases, the experiences created by doing nothing are irrevocable and there really is no way of 'going back'.

Doing the right thing is always the best thing to do. Doing the wrong thing is the next best thing because you actively made the decision, so you remain attached to the outcome and know immediately when things go awry. This puts you in the position of rectifying the mistake quickly.

Doing nothing leaves you in ambiguity. There is no clear and immediate determination of right and wrong. It also leaves us with the excuse that it wasn't our responsibility when it goes wrong. It is the product of laziness and is intellectually dishonest.

It is the more difficult path to do the right thing. It is more difficult to be honest with one's self. But in the end there is no way to actually be yourself without being honest. So... Do the right thing. Decide. If you do the wrong thing, learn, adjust your position and return to your path. But DO something. Doing nothing will make 'you' invisible and meaningless. And, that my friend is a lie.