S5 Ep2: Why is Choosing Better than Not Choosing?
Choice is how you can take control of your life experience
Quite possibly the single greatest superpower that we have is choice. The rest of the animal kingdom on this planet largely has a very set life path. Humans, however, have choices, like to merely survive or thrive. Some are the product of environment, privilege, birth, etc. However, most are inherent to all and are immaterial/intangible.
This is due to the perception versus the reality of control. The perception of control is all about outward appearances. People doing things, having things, and being things that make them appear in control. Yet most of that is false, and not genuine control. Why? Because the only things we have genuine control over are our internal processes.
Specifically, thoughts, feelings, actions, intentions, life approaches, and so on. All of which are intangible and immaterial.
Why is this the only real control we have? Because we alone exist in our heads, hearts, and souls.
You alone control your mindset
We have zero control over anyone or anything apart from ourselves. We can’t control other people.
Change is inevitable and the one and only constant in the Universe. It can, will, and does happen. All the time. Who you were is not who you are or who you will be. Sometimes this is in subtle ways. Other times in blatant ways.
This is why beginning with mindset is important. Because by recognizing and acknowledging your mindset – which only you can do – you can gain control of it.
Mindfulness for choosing
What you have utter and total control over is your conscious awareness. However, this works only in the now, in the present. That’s where mindfulness enters into it.
The truth is that thoughts, feelings, intentions, approaches, and actions/inactions are most of what you can control in life. That’s because they belong wholly, entirely, unequivocally to you.
Being mindful empowers you.
Choosing is empowering
When you make active, conscious choices, you are taking control of your life experience. Via actively choosing, you make a decision and drive your life.
When you are consciously aware you can practice mindfulness. When you’re mindful, you enable yourself to exist here and now, in the present (which is the only measure of time that’s genuinely real) to actively choose.
Active choice is empowering. When you choose, you are deciding who, what, how, where, and why you are. Ultimately, that is how you can take control of your life experience.
Choice is like any muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. That’s why choice is empowering. Ultimately, choice is how you can take control of your life experience.
This week’s Applied Guidance for Mindfulness Tool:
Tomorrow, be mindful about all the following choices. Pay attention to them, and before you make them, consider why you make them:
· When you get dressed
· What you choose to put on
· What you have for lunch
· Any conversations you initiate
· What music you listen to
· Any website you choose to visit
· Any other active, conscious choices you make throughout the day
At the end of the day, write down anything you remember about your choices. How did they make you feel? Were they worthy of you? Did you feel empowered by active, consciously making your choices?
Keep this in mind going forward.
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Original cover art artist Fe Mahoney: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TaliasInspirations