Hold Your Horses!

(Watercolor study of horse at rodeo in Lincoln, NE)

Has anyone ever told you to "Hold your horses!"?  That is a phrase that urges you to slow down, be careful, you are going too fast before thinking about an action.  The command to "Hold your horses!"  begs a person to consider their course of action further before diving off the deep end of a decision.

(Charles Russell sculpure-Joselyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE)

Perhaps that describes where you are currently at...barreling straight ahead with an idea or about to make a major decision that will greatly impact all areas of your life.  Perhaps friends or family have urged caution.  Have you considered all the angles?  Are you asking for good council from a variety of solid, wise friends or fellow workers?  

("Sioux Warrior" , bronze, artist Matthew Placzek, Joselyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE)

When you are teeming full of enthusiasm and energy about an idea or decision, hold your horses!  The momentum that builds is necessary to undertake mighty endeavors, but before that final decisive moment when you can't reverse the consequences, take a deep breath and step back.  Pause, evaluate, pray for wisdom, and even give it some more time to incubate or percolate.  Then when you have done all that, you can move ahead with confidence.  

(Watercolor horse study)

King Solomon, considered the wisest man who ever lived and who had his share of 4,000 stables and 12,000 horsemen, said this about decision-making:  "Make plans by seeking advice....a man's wisdom gives him patience...listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." (from Proverbs)  Malcolm Gladwell has this savvy input about the decision process, too:  "Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking."

("All About Teamwork", Charcoal/graphite, 25.5" x 33")

So if you are on the brink of a decision, pull up on the reins a moment, think carefully and then proceed thoughtfully.  You won't regret it!  Then take heart and don't look back!

Live bravely and beautifully!