Thoughts on Choice

Sometimes things happen in life that are beyond your control. Life is like the proverbial roller coster. There are parts that are smooth and seemingly easy, while at other times they are chaotic and maybe even scary. Much of the chaos and fear are created within our minds. Are we not the ones who put ourselves in the situations we get into? For example, maybe you are in constant fear of not having enough money. Well, look at the situation you are in. Do you have a mortgage or rent? Did you not agree to that amount of money you owe? Do you have a credit card? Were you not the one who agreed to the terms when you signed up for the card or handed it over to the store clerk to be scanned and used? If you said no to any of those questions I challenge you to take a better look at those answers. There is always the option of saying  "no" or finding an alternative solution to our needs.

We are the ones who create our situations, although, I can imagine there are many who will disagree with me. Again, if you disagree with me, I challenge you to look at your choices. Where was it that you did not have a choice in your life? I can think of a few scenarios where this would be the case and they are pretty grim: you were born into a war torn area or an area of conflict, you were abused (sexual, physical, verbal, or all the above) as a child, rape, or kidnapping. I'm sure there are other extremes, and even with these I'm sure these experiences have shaped you into who you are. Can you imagine being who you are without these experiences?

Perhaps this goes deeper then when I began. We are certainly shaped by our experiences. As a child we are completely dependent on our parents to supply us with everything we need. I have even heard people state that all our life lessons begin with our parents. They will teach us everything we need to know. So, certainly, many of our early experiences shape who we are and drive us onto a specific path, but then there are the individual choices we make that define who we are. These small choices are the like fine details we can't always see on a piece of artwork from far away. It is only when we come closer to the artwork that we can see them. The same goes for the life we are leading. When we look at the details of our life, we can see how the choices we make affect and alter our life. In this way, we shape and control life.

But then, there are those things that the universe/god seems to throw at us from left field and we have almost re-wire our brain to accept them and move forward with life. However, I think even here we have a choice and maybe even a warning that life was going to throw a wrench in the plan. Maybe we just weren't listening.

Life is always changing. It is the only constant. How we choose to react to that change can affect us deeply. Each of us has the decision on how to react what is going on in life. You have the choice to react negatively or to find the positive and maybe even learn something from the situation thrown at you.

Where you walk is in your hands.