You decide what you
believe … what you do. You have ‘free will’ as the
ancient sages referred to it. No other creature has this
gift. They are programmed to act in accordance with
their instincts and conditioning. They do what they MUST
do. They are always predictable. Chimpanzees may make
apparent choices. But these cute, lively creatures are
always compelled to avoid pain, seek food, safety and
pleasure … to mate. They react to their circumstances
IMMEDIATELY according to their drives and learned
behavior. They do not rise above their situation and
reflect. No sitting down in a park or a pub and mulling
over what has been done and what to do. You on the other
hand can deliberate. You can ponder and imagine, accept
or reject. You are responsible. For you have the power
to choose. You alone can determine what you will be and
what you will do.
Adventurously paddling the waterway you decide to taste
an amber liquid, smoke a few weeds. Sharing the
experience encourages you. Mellowing and giggling you
want to embrace everyone. Even vile co-swimmers seem
attractive. After a few altercations and headaches
though, you determine to be more discreet. You paddle on
pondering why so many obliterate their minds. The river
run can certainly be uncomfortable but discoveries and
fascinations more than compensate for it.
CONCLUSION
You alone can say “hold on … don’t think I’ll do that.”
You can consider innumerable choices. Much of your life
is determined by your decisions. This is an amazing and
powerful human ability. You may murder a child. You may
save a drowning dog. You may have sex twice a day or
once a year. You decide. You have free will. But in
exercising it you ‘sense’ a ‘rightness’ and a
‘wrongness’. You must consider ethics and MORALITY.
with family or friends
tell one of them they have a nice smile
another her hair is looking great
embrace them
ask each to describe an activity they would never do
inquire why
discuss where their feelings come from
are they childhood legacies or adult ruminations,
fulminations?
talk about the merits of
coin collecting, bee keeping, playing marbles … whatever
inquire about their favorite foods
ask each what they would be if they could ‘be’ anything
if they were given ten lifetimes
what occupations would they choose for each
You are being spiritual when
you Choose,
When you alter
your appearance.
When you decide to wear a different shoe on each
foot.
When you dance to different music every night of the
week.
When you bid adieu to family and friends and
relocate far away.
When you buy three different beverages, mix them
together and take a sip.
When you attend different churches, synagogues and
mosques and participate.
When you write letters to five friends telling them
to call you Mooky from now on.
When passion ‘ignites’ your corpuscles to immediate
action and you ‘douse’ the flames.
When you rise early one morning and begin walking
backwards around your residence.
When you give a cloth bag to your child … ask her to
make a puppet, to color it, name it … then upon
completion ask the puppet questions.
overcome your fears and self-recriminations by relying
on your dedication to honesty and considerateness …
everyone faces difficult decisions … you do … but by
bringing to bear all your other abilities and being
sincere with your assessments, you will make choices
with optimism … bad judgment, mistakes, selfish
decisions … these will happen
constantly renew your efforts at maintaining empathetic,
respectful motivation
never let doubt hobble your powerful ability to choose …
for you will become what you want to become through your
choices … and they will ‘improve’ with experience and
maturity
despite adversity you can always find ways
TO BE THE BEST YOU for you and for others
DEFINITIONS AND ESSAYS - FREE WILL
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