The Art of Creating Choices

Pride is an inflated sense of self-worth and arrogance that you must put aside

Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash

I had tea with a colleague last week. He was feeling down and at a loss about his job and his future prospect. He didn’t know what to do as his current job would be restructured into something else that he may not fit well into, making him feel redundant. He has no real choice, either accept the new job—which he knew he wouldn’t do well, or leave.

Life can present us with circumstances that appear to limit our options, leaving us feeling demoralised, helpless and disempowered. But the ability to choose is a fundamental human right, defining our individuality and shaping our identities. It is through our choices that we express our values, beliefs, and desires.

We must recognize the importance of actively creating choices for ourselves. If we resign ourselves to accepting the choices that life presents us without taking an active role in decision-making, we surrender our power to external circumstances. Under this scenario, whatever path we take brings dissatisfaction, regret, and a loss of personal fulfilment.

Conversely, by taking responsibility for the situation, and actively creating alternative vantage and choices, we reclaim our rights and open ourselves to a world of new possibilities. Creating choices requires us to adapt and respond to the dynamic circumstances that life presents to us. By cultivating an attitude of adaptability, we develop resilience and the capacity to navigate through challenges. Instead of succumbing to a victim mentality, we proactively seek alternative views and explore creative solutions to overcome mental obstacles. This adaptability empowers us to transform adversity into opportunity, thus broadening our range of choices.