How Choice Works, Really

You can’t make people change.

You can’t make yourself change.

People make choices based on the best information they have available, according the concerns most pressing at the time.

What’s more, we biologically constructed to resist and avoid change.

Change equals the unknown.

And we have deep genetic programming to avoid the unknown and stick to what we know and understand – even it doesn’t serve our greater good or better selves.

And we continue to choose . . .

We can’t not choose.

*  *  *

So, people make choices, and choices make the person.

We are nothing if not the sum of our choices.

So, the way to make your life better, more fulfilling, more “successful,” is learn how to make better choices.

But how?

*  *  *

We must develop greater awareness.

Greater awareness of our moment-to-moment mental life.

Greater awareness of the beliefs that determine what we focus on.

Greater awareness of who we are and what we deeply, truly, authentically want.

When we cultivate and sustain this greater awareness, we will choose better.

And because our choices make us, we become better, we will achieve more and be more fulfilled.

Similar Posts

  • Choose Joy

    We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy. – Joseph Campbell But remember, you can cure your world of some sorrows. And you can always choose joy. If sorrow creeps in, as it will, meet it with humanity, let it visit for a time and choose again. Choose joy.

  • Do You Have a Plan?

    When you’re going somewhere you’ve never been to, what do you do? Do you just wing it? Do you just start driving and figure it’ll all work out? Of course not, but that’s what so many people do with their lives. Sure, they might have a vague plan, likely a mash-up of family and social…

  • One Way To Be Strong

    The fool wonders, the wise man asks. – Benjamin Disraeli People say there are no dumb questions. It’s mostly true . . . . (There are questions that intelligently created and artfully asked, those are really not dumb questions). There’s no better way to keep yourself small and weak than to not ask questions. Ask questions:…

  • Who “Gets” Coaching

    The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge. – Elbert Hubbard This sentiment really captures who doesn’t get coaching – both literally and figuratively. People who don’t get coaching, figuratively, wonder what the fuss is about. “Coaching? I don’t play a sport, why would I need a coach?…

  • The Three Things You MUST Master to Create The Life You Truly Desire

    Change is hard. In a way, that’s good (so you don’t make bad changes too easily). But what about good changes? The ones you both need and want to make? How do you make those changes? You must master* the following three “meta” skills: Awareness There are things that are hidden, unseen or otherwise obscured that you…