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Letters from Lans: Choices
Choices
Sometimes life seems chaotic and that chaos can lead to overthinking, bad habits, or toxic thoughts. A way I find comfort is focusing on intention. Now fair warning, I am about to get a bit philosophical on you, but seriously, hear me out. Something that sets humans apart is our intentional consciousness. By this, I mean that we have a self awareness and are self thinking, which means we are also decision makers. We also have a very special vibe about us, some call it a soul or an essence, this is what we are, other than just a body. Now this is where I am going to sound a bit nerdy… This “essence” is historically thought of to be made of two parts, our facticity and our transcendence. Okay yeah, kind of big words but again stick with me. Our facticity is thought of to be what is already established about us and already has this so called essence, that could be “I am a dancer” or “I am into reading.” The transcendence is the fun part of our essence; it is the part that is to be created, like “I am becoming a dancer” or “I am becoming a good student.” When you actually think about this, it is an extraordinary opportunity for us, sure we are in a way tied down to the facticity of our being, but we always have a chance to change, advance, and become. This brings me back to this idea of consciousness. We are beings that have the ability to make choices. Who to surround ourselves with, who to become, what to work towards. This awareness makes our consciousness a form of freedom. Our purpose is that of choice. We are free because we can choose and our decisions (for the most part) are our own. We are responsible for our decision making and although cliche, we are the “authors of our life.” We continually choose this so called essence and nothing, in general, about our future is fixed.
When I started making choices by thinking of them as little acts of freedom, I also started looking at things differently. I became more authentic. I try to avoid social pressures, peer pressure, and cowardliness when choosing. I realized that I choose how I see things, and the most freeing part of it all was that, simply, I can think whatever I want. I have total freedom over my thoughts because they are one of the only things that are purely mine.
When making a decision I usually follow a list of questions to make sure I truly am making the choice for me:
a. What is my intention?
b. Am I doing this to impress, to spite, to draw attention from anything or anyone outward from myself?
c. Am I willing to take responsibility for this choice?
d. Am I being aware?
So, whether the choice is big (what college to go to, if you should do something that may be harmful to you, if you should drive after that last drink) or small (what outfit to wear, if you want fries with that) YOU ARE FREE!!! Don’t play victim, stand up for yourself and your decisions, and give a second thought on intention, because, frankly, the choice is up to you. You are powerful!
I hope I helped lift your spirit today, or at least help you pass your philosophy exam.
xx
lans