The Power of Choice

I hope your 2025 is off to a phenomenal start. So much has happened since my last post in December—Beyoncé-Bowl stole the show, Namibia elected Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah its first woman president, and Michelle Obama reminded us of a lesson that's both simple and profound: the power of choice.
One of the primary reasons people come to me as a coach is because they're ready for a change. Whether it's in their personal or professional lives, they want something to shift. And here's the truth: if we want something to be different, we usually have to do something different.
But change can be hard. When we explore new approaches or commitments, resistance often shows up in the form of questions like, “Do I really have a choice?” or “What will people think?” After all, when traditions or norms are deeply rooted, it's human nature to feel uneasy about doing things differently—even when the status quo no longer serves us or aligns with who we are becoming.
That's why Michelle Obama's decision to skip Monday's presidential inauguration was so powerful. Even in high-profile spaces, where expectations are rigid and public opinion is loud, she exercised her agency. She redefined what was “expected” of her, modeling that we are always at liberty to rethink our choices.
Another critical lesson Mrs. Obama demonstrated? “No” is a complete sentence. You don't owe everyone an explanation for your decisions. While I imagine Barack knows exactly why Michelle opted out, the rest of us—including the media—don't need to. She affirmed that our choices don't need validation from others to be valid.
This isn't always easy. Take the media's reaction to her choice. Many outlets focused on how “unprecedented” her absence was, ignoring the fact that Donald Trump skipped Biden's inauguration just four years ago when, unlike Michelle, Trump was actually an elected official and was then sitting president. Ironically, had Michelle attended, she likely would have faced criticism for that too. The takeaway? People will always have opinions. Your responsibility is not to please them but to make decisions that do not harm others and that are true to your values, purpose, and vision.
So, what about you? Are there choices in your life that you're ready to rethink? If you're feeling the pull to grow or make changes but aren't entirely sure what those changes look like, consider coaching. Let's explore what's possible together. Click here to book a call—I'd love to connect.
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