Tag Archives: choices

The best choice

A key part of being human is making decisions. Some are routine, for example deciding to get up in the morning and start your daily routine, while others are unique and much more complex.

Decision making oft results in positve or negative outcomes with varying level of impact (magnitude) but on the whole we seek to make good decisions, those with a high degree of positive impact.

It’s a Process

Ultimately we can act with little thought or a great deal of analysis. This is often related to how impactful the result will be. Also as noted routine decisions generally are overlooked, it’s just easiest to act routinel as usually, no harm seems to occur.

Surprisingly, because so many of our actions are autonomic, the first step to good decision making is concious realization that a decision, a fully aware decision, is in order.

Of course this can take up time and effort for what may seem to be an inconsequential item, so little value. Frequently it is the little things that can in fact have significant impact.

The Butterfly Effect

In chaos theory, the butterffly effect is thesensitive dependence on which a small change can result in large differences in a latter state.

For example a butterfly’s movement in the arid air of the gulf of Mexico creates a minor disturbance which is the catylst for what is later a powerful hurricane.

The concept is simply that a minor decision overlooked today (treated as routine) could become a missed opportunity for a major positive impact down the road.

Why take the chance? Take a moment to consider if your minor choice is as minor as you think. Good things may unfold.

 

Freedom

Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.  Freedom is a choice, not a right.  If you choose not to be constrained, then you will not be. 

Some argue the ability to make a choice can be overridden.  When the exercise of the power needed to be free meets a stronger power, your freedom can be diminished.  That is the strength overcomes resolve. 

Take It

If you choose to behave without hindrance or restraint there should be no need to request or even demand the right to do so, rather it is a case of exercising your prerogative to act as you see fit.

Realistically, there are obstacles to this approach and caveats that should be considered.   Social and cultural considerations are valid constraints on your freedom. 

Choosing freedom does not mean disregarding your environment.  Consideration of others is a cornerstone of appropriate behaviour, albeit a subjective assessment to some degree. 

It is reasonable to have an expectation the behaving freely is a choice you can make but to take this approach without recognizing the impacts on others is not recommended.  

Overcoming Opposition

As alluded to earlier, others may exercise their power and this can appear to effectively limit your options to act freely.  For example, armed aggressors may threaten to harm you for not following their dictates. 

You may choose to fight this aggressively or passively, whatever you decide it is your choice, not theirs.   The point, you do not need to accept the limits on your freedom but you can choose to do so.

In some cases the consequences drive your choice to adhere or not, but it is still your choice to accept rather than overcome the constraints.