Life presents us with a lot tough decisions – the kind where the consequences are hard to predict or uncomfortable whichever way you go. Some of the time we duck these decisions. We don’t make a conscious choice and things just play out. This can feel safer, but we end up with consequences anyway. We just gave up our influence over them.

What’s the alternative? That’s become one of my favourite questions.

If I’m prevaricating – hovering around opting out instead of choosing – I remind myself I’d rather exercise influence than relinquish it.