When is a choice a choice?
While at the gym this morning I was, as usual, listening to podcasts. As is often the case, I jotted down a reminder on the notepad on my phone. The note said “choices or options”. These words came to mind because of hearing one of the many voices in my head saying, “But he had a choice!” Another voice said, “Did he really? There were many other factors which limited his choices.”
The question of choices is closely tied to the question of free will. We often talk as if the action we or someone else has to take is to make a logical decision, choose the moral high road or otherwise make choices which any good human being would make. For example, we expect those with the chronic illness of addiction or those with a mental illness to “simply” make decisions to get treatment. Yet, by definition, addiction, other so-called mental illnesses, the presence of brain tumors, certain infections, dementia and other conditions affect how the mind perceives, interprets and uses incoming information to make decisions and direct an action. Most of us know that we hear, see, and even smell with our mind. As recently as yesterday I was seeing clients whose post traumatic memories were triggered by something someone said said. Suddenly the persons were reacting as if they were back in a prior dangerous situation. They acted accordingly. They had no choice. There may come a time when they can experience this stimulus and have a different reaction, but yesterday they did not have a choice. I, on the other hand, heard something earlier today which triggered an old fear of mine. Suddenly one of the voices in my head was defending actions I had taken many years ago. That voice wanted to make the “choice” to remind the person speaking of why I did what I did. Fortunately, at this time in my life journey, I have many other strong voices in my head which can “reason” with the other voices thus allowing me some “choices” I formerly did not have.
My entire professional life work is based on the belief that many of us can have more actual choices in our behavior. A great many factors affect this possibility including:
Most of the time one has very little idea of all factors which have affected the ability of one’s neighbor in school, home, work, and larger community to have actual choices of how they think/put together thoughts or execute a plan of action. I think that the more we appreciate this fact the more we will be able to make more scientific and loving diagnoses and then formulate more “rational” approaches to educating children, treating those who commit so called criminal acts or treating those with mental illness. Perhaps when the Dali Lama, Jesus or other teachers suggest we “love our enemy” it is from the perspective of a much more advanced understanding of the factors which determine how individuals’ minds think and execute actions.
Written February 21, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
While at the gym this morning I was, as usual, listening to podcasts. As is often the case, I jotted down a reminder on the notepad on my phone. The note said “choices or options”. These words came to mind because of hearing one of the many voices in my head saying, “But he had a choice!” Another voice said, “Did he really? There were many other factors which limited his choices.”
The question of choices is closely tied to the question of free will. We often talk as if the action we or someone else has to take is to make a logical decision, choose the moral high road or otherwise make choices which any good human being would make. For example, we expect those with the chronic illness of addiction or those with a mental illness to “simply” make decisions to get treatment. Yet, by definition, addiction, other so-called mental illnesses, the presence of brain tumors, certain infections, dementia and other conditions affect how the mind perceives, interprets and uses incoming information to make decisions and direct an action. Most of us know that we hear, see, and even smell with our mind. As recently as yesterday I was seeing clients whose post traumatic memories were triggered by something someone said said. Suddenly the persons were reacting as if they were back in a prior dangerous situation. They acted accordingly. They had no choice. There may come a time when they can experience this stimulus and have a different reaction, but yesterday they did not have a choice. I, on the other hand, heard something earlier today which triggered an old fear of mine. Suddenly one of the voices in my head was defending actions I had taken many years ago. That voice wanted to make the “choice” to remind the person speaking of why I did what I did. Fortunately, at this time in my life journey, I have many other strong voices in my head which can “reason” with the other voices thus allowing me some “choices” I formerly did not have.
My entire professional life work is based on the belief that many of us can have more actual choices in our behavior. A great many factors affect this possibility including:
- Access to healthy, non-contaminated food which my particular body can safe process.
- An environment which is emotionally and physically safe.
- Access to medications which may help my mind function more effectively.
- Access to emotional and intellectual tools which give me new information or new possibilities.
- Access to other healing treatments, other tools and people.
- An unconditionally loving “we”.
Most of the time one has very little idea of all factors which have affected the ability of one’s neighbor in school, home, work, and larger community to have actual choices of how they think/put together thoughts or execute a plan of action. I think that the more we appreciate this fact the more we will be able to make more scientific and loving diagnoses and then formulate more “rational” approaches to educating children, treating those who commit so called criminal acts or treating those with mental illness. Perhaps when the Dali Lama, Jesus or other teachers suggest we “love our enemy” it is from the perspective of a much more advanced understanding of the factors which determine how individuals’ minds think and execute actions.
Written February 21, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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