“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way” Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning.
Owning and Exercising Choice
Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning has had a great impact in my life. It is one of the few books that I have gone back to over the years to read and re-read. I am always struck that In the worst of conditions imaginable that Frankl was able to hold on to his ability to choose. While being a prisoner in the Nazi death camps he made the choice on how to respond to his circumstances.
How often do we freely give up our ability to choose?
When we think about it for a little there are often choices we could, and maybe should be making, that we just let someone else or worse our autopilot brain choose for us.
Let us refer to some of these decisions as “Freedom Choices”. Like compound interest starting small and compounding over time making Freedom Choices more often will compound and help build momentum in going from grumpy to feeling great.
You could probably come up with a long list yourself. For sake of illustration below is a short list of Freedom Choices.
Freedom Choices
- How to respond to your alarm clock.
- Putting exercise clothes out the night before going to bed.
- Not getting annoyed at the kids for being a little messier than I want.
- Playing with your kids or reading to them instead of giving them the tablet.
- Eating a fruit or vegetable first thing in the day rather than a sugary pastry.
- Setting aside time to pursue a hobby or creative pursuit you enjoy.
- Practicing daily acts of kindness, such as paying for someone’s coffee or holding the door open
- Making time to connect with loved ones regularly, whether through phone calls, video chats, or in-person visits.
- Saying “no” to commitments that don’t align with your priorities or values.
- Making time to connect with loved ones regularly, whether through phone calls, video chats, or in-person visits.
We all have something we want to achieve. Regardless if the goals are related to health, relationships, personal growth, or wealth, reaching our goals or making progress towards them can be challenging. The challenge is never more real than when the demands of daily life start ramping up.
As seen from the list above. Freedom Choices can be small and manageable by themselves and help align with our larger goals. Although they might seem small in isolation they can add up over time to generate a powerful compounding effect.
Can you make choice a habit?
Consider the example of someone who makes a habit of setting aside time each day to read with their children instead of giving them a tablet. In the short term, this choice may seem insignificant. However, over the course of weeks, months, and even years, this habit can lead to stronger bonds with their children, and a deeper sense of connection and meaning in their family life.
In my case the choice was around choosing to find more things in my life I could be joyful about. The simple choice of making a practice of everytime I write in my journal to start off with three things I was grateful for started me off on this journey of going from being grumpy to feeling great.
Making freedom choices is not always easy. Although it requires discipline, self-awareness, and a willingness to prioritize our long-term goals over short-term gratification, we should hold on to these freedoms and not let them be taken or worse given up without thought. By focusing on small, manageable choices and trusting in the power of compounding, we can create meaningful and lasting change in our lives.
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