It’s what creates our lives, though we may attribute that to things beyond our control. And, of course, there is a certain degree of that also. But choice we can control.
How are choices made? I used to think that a choice was made after much deliberate contemplation, weighing of pros and cons, and careful consideration. And yes, that’s part of it. But recently I’ve felt that the choices that were made in action were made somewhat impulsively. The only true choices were made in a moment.
After all, something being done is really only what happens when action is being taken, and what is a choice if no action is taken? If someone “makes a choice” to eat an orange a day, but then eats an apple a day instead, or only eats an orange some days, has he really made that choice?
I experienced in myself a dynamic conflict regarding choice-making. I made the “choice” to skip lunch one day. Not a good choice, seeing as how my metabolism is not suited to skipping meals. I made it about three, four hours staunchly being congruent with my choice, and then, in the space of about a second, I crumbled and got a hot dog. So much for that choice.
So, a choice is more than just an intention. It’s an action. The true choices are the ones made when we crumble, when we’re vulnerable, or when we’re strong. In a certain moment, that’s when the choice is made. The preceding contemplation leads up to it of course – my firm decision not to eat lunch was leading up to my equally firm decision to get a hot dog – but the choice is made in the heat of the moment.
Choices = Action = Life.
Thoughts? Outbursts? Have you ever “made a choice” that was soon (or later) to be replaced by a new choice in the heat of the moment?