Imagine yourself without freedom. Or imagine yourself without the ability to make your own choices in life. Chances are, you would not want that to be your reality (if you have a choice).
Everyone should be entitled to make their own decisions. Your ability to make your own choices represents your degree of control over your own life.
For many people, the decisions they make are heavily influenced by the people around them. This can be especially true in situations where individuals are being controlled by others, such as in cases of abuse or manipulation.
In these situations, it can be difficult to exercise your own free will and make choices that are in your best interests. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and powerlessness, making it challenging to break free from the cycle of control.
Even outside of these extreme circumstances, societal norms and expectations can influence our decision-making processes. For example, some people may feel pressure to conform to a certain standard of success, which can lead them to make decisions that are not truly reflective of their own desires and values.
This pressure to conform can be particularly strong when it comes to career choices, where many people feel pressure to pursue a particular path even if it is not what they truly want.
Despite these external influences, it is important to remember that we do have some degree of control over our own decisions. While it may not always be easy to exercise our free will, it is important to take steps to assert our independence and make choices that reflect our wants and needs.
This can involve setting boundaries with others, seeking support from trusted individuals, and taking time to reflect on our values and priorities. By doing so, we can take greater control over our own lives and make decisions that are truly meaningful and fulfilling.
Why You Need to Make Your Own Choices in Life
Whether by default or by choice, every day we make our decisions. From tiny actions such as either getting out of bed on time or snoozing your alarm clock, you are making a choice that leads you to a particular outcome. When you choose to get out of bed on time or you choose to snooze your alarm, your day will reflect your choice.
It may be super productive by getting up on time, or you may be late and possibly miss some important tasks if you hit the snooze button. These may be little acts to you, unconscious choices even, but they define how your day starts and influences how the next 24 hours will unfold.
Knowing that we have a say in our life choices ultimately comes down to our sense of accountability for the decisions we make. While many things in life are beyond our power or control, we must own our choices when we make them.
Making our own choices is powerful as it has beneficial effects on us and can positively impact our personal growth.
Here are some of the benefits of making choices for ourselves:
- It increases our self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-reliance.
- It improves our sense of responsibility.
- It keeps our motivation high.
- It can encourage and empower us.
- It minimizes uncertainty and powerlessness over our lives.
- It encourages independence.
While there can be times when you are unable to be fully autonomous and own your choices, you should take every opportunity when given the freedom to do so. Make the decision-making your own!
On Making Decisions – Always Make Your Own
The ability to make decisions for your life is powerful as it gives you responsibility over your life. It can help you cultivate your decision-making skills so you are also more mindful in the process of making better choices.
You may be tempted to ask for others’ opinions when faced with difficult choices, and it is not wrong to ask. However, you must have the final say in the matter when making your decision, and own your choices. Do not let someone else’s opinion overly influence you.
The choices you make will ultimately define your life. It is best to make ones that you freely choose. Some choices may be successful, while others may be poor decisions, but that does not matter. Learn from them! You will learn from both successes and failures. The most important outcome you will want out of making your own choices is how you grow.
