If you were to chart the decisions in your life and place them into two columns: Good or bad, you would probably find most of the bad ones were the result of acting on a whim…

A whim is a momentary emotional spike that translates into action. The word probably comes from whimsical, because the situation, action you take and your reasons for doing it are out of context with your normal behavior. It’s the kind in life where you don’t think, you act and then regret it later. What differentiates a whim from a desire is that that whim is often an isolated experience. It’s seldom one of the steps you’re taking in order to achieve a goal or a dream.

A whim is a distraction.

You could say it’s a form of entertainment. As long as it remains a pipe dream. A whim quickly looses all entertainment value when you take some kind “spur of the moment” action that results in unexpected ramifications.

I don’t want to confuse a whim with insight and opportunity. Insight and opportunity are a part of a progression you are taking toward something. A whim is really nothing more than a distraction. It’s an idea with an emotional jolt that comes out of nowhere, which seems to be the right thing to do in the moment. Ironically, you are seldom if ever able to recreate the same mindset ever again.

Pay attention to what you are about to take action on.

It could be nothing more than a temporary chemical imbalance that makes you think and feel that what you are about to do is the best possible solution to a situation. Unless its a life and death thing and your in survival mode, stop!

Slow down, step back and think very carefully about what you are about to do!

-Bob Baran