Bill Crawford, Ph.D. | Keynote Speaker, Psychologist, Author, Consultant

My guess is that one of the reasons for the phenomenal popularity of the Harry Potter series of books and movies is that both adults and children are finding these stories to be more than just a source of entertainment. In fact, as a fan of J. K. Rowling, and a person whose mission it is to support and inspire, I continually find little nuggets of wisdom in these charming tales, and it is always a delight to include them in my weekly offerings.

This week's quote is certainly an excellent example in that it speaks so simply, and yet eloquently to the importance of choices. For those of you who have been following this service for some time, you will no doubt notice the thread of "the power of choice" that has run through many of my quotes and comments. In fact, I would bet that regardless the topic, you could find some allusion to this power in the vast majority of the over 175 currently in our archives (http://billcphd.com/archives.htm).

Why do I keep coming back to this theme? Because I believe that making purposeful choices is a key ingredient in creating a meaningful, fulfilling life, and because I know that if we aren't making choices "on purpose," they are being made for us by habits or others. I further believe that this lack of awareness and purpose is the cause of 90% of our frustration, stress, and failure to succeed.

More on this later, but first let's acknowledge the gist of Professor Dumbledore's wisdom which speaks to the importance of choices, even over talent or "abilities." Of course, this distinction isn't new. I'm sure we have all described others in terms of their talent or potential, and on the surface, this week's quote speaks to the importance of taking one's natural talents and honing them to achieve success.

What I really like about the good professor's quote, however, is that it goes deeper than this, and speaks to how we define/create "who we are." ("It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities.") Again, as many of you know, this is another recurring theme in my seminars, books, and weekly quotes that alludes to the fact that everything we believe (which means every thought to which we give value and validity), as well as everything we feel, say, and of course, do, defines us.

Whether this definition exists in the hearts and minds of those who are observing us, or whether it is reinforcing an internal self-concept, the truth is, for as long as we are on the planet (and maybe before and after as well), we are all in a continual process of self-definition.

In this week's quote, we have the opportunity to focus on how this process relates to our talents or abilities. In other words, who we are isn't just a reflection of our talent for music, art, sports, persuasion, design, teaching, organization, healing, or even "magic," but instead is determined by the choices we make on a moment-to-moment basis.

If we believe this to be true, then the real question becomes, how are these choices being made? Are we consciously choosing to practice bringing our best to the table, or are we living by default and allowing these choices to be made by old habits and beliefs? Are we living "on purpose" and making deliberate choices which purposefully reinforce who we are to ourselves and others, or are we falling into the trap of believing that we are powerless to choose, and thus at the mercy of the world in which we live?

One of the consistent themes that runs through J.K. Rowling's work, as well as, other mythic tales is that many people have "abilities." Whether it's Professor Dumbledore or Lord Valdamore, Darth Vader, or Yoda, the Wicked Witch of the West, or the Good Witch of the East, Harry Potter or Draco Malfoy, having the ability to (fill in the blank) does not define who we are. Instead, it is how we choose to use these abilities, or how we make choices in general that will determine our experience of life and our ultimate success or failure.

Therefore, I suggest that we take the advice of the great wizard and focus on our choices as a way to define who we are. Then, in doing so, we will be performing the ultimate transformation, changing from child to adult, from powerless to powerful, and from the habitual survivor to someone whose highest purpose is to thrive.