In this life, we all have a choice in whatever we do. The only problem is that we may not always have power over the results of our choices. It is just as the saying goes that beggars have no choice. In all honesty, beggars certainly do have a choice. Though they might not be able to control what they receive, they can decide whether to accept it or not. The giver cannot force them to take it simply because he is the one giving.
In this life, in my own understanding, we all have choices, and there are three major ones we make in this world.
The first is that you can watch things happen to you.
Watching things happen to you.
This is like observing life without being in control. You simply watch and allow things to happen willingly. It is like having a garden and doing nothing, then watching weeds, thorns, and other unwanted plants grow. But if you want something meaningful, you have to act, plant something, nurture it, and watch it grow into a bountiful harvest.
Choosing to watch things happen and not react is still a choice. Many people believe that “what will be will be.” To some extent, it might be true, but not in all cases. If you want to be educated, you must be deliberate about it. You don’t get rich by doing nothing. You don’t succeed by folding your arms and saying “what will be will be?" You have to be intentional about what you want in life and pursue it diligently with all you have.
Nothing happens without a reason. There is always a cause behind what happens to us. While there are acts of God, things that occur due to circumstances beyond our control, most of what happens to us is a result of our actions or inactions.
The second choice is that you can wonder why things happen to you.
You can wonder why things happen to you.
This is common among many of us. We wonder why our lives feel turbulent and unpleasant. We can either keep complaining and questioning, or we can choose to act and work towards change.
Many people wonder why their lives are not progressing but refuse to change what they are doing. We can not keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results. Sometimes, we need to change our orientation and mindset. We must learn, relearn, and unlearn in order to turn things around.
We can keep wondering why others are succeeding, or we can choose to learn from them and align ourselves with growth instead of watching from a distance.
The third choice is to make things happen.
You can choose to make things happen.
This is where we take full responsibility for our lives. We don’t just watch or wonder. We act. We take initiative.
We can decide to pursue education instead of watching others graduate. We can stop questioning why others succeed and start working towards our own success by being productive and intentional.
In the end, we must take charge of our lives. It is a choice, one we must consciously make every day.