Free Will and the Power to Choose: Navigating Life with Intentionality
Nov 05, 2024What it is the last frontier of human freedom?
The ability and the power to choose on how to respond to life circumstances.
It’s the faculty to be “response able.”
That’ s what separate the average performers from the masters’ performers.
I am coach Soul, welcome to our performance edge weekly wisdom, Where Spirit Drives Performance
So Today, we’ll be talking about Navigating Life with Intentionality- Free Will and the Power to Choose:
In The first part we’ll explore the concept of free will throughout human journey and we’ll understand the nuance on Why in time of constraints it doesn’t seem like human have free will.
In the second part we'll see how to embrace the power of choice and how the masters use understanding to navigate their performance with intentionality.
Ready? let’s jump in –
Let’s start with Free will with this powerful quote.
“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.
Let’s face it-The concept of free will, the ability to make choices that are genuinely one’s own independent of external forces, has captivated philosophers and theologians and it has been a central topic in philosophy for centuries.
Now let’s level set here on the basics so that you can decide for yourself.
To choose = to decide
Decidere -De- “off” or “away “and caedere (to cut or strike down - cut away all other options or alternatives.)
To decide is then the process of selecting one path while removing others –
Your decision determine your destiny-
How do I know?
When you decide it leads you into a Direction-
As you continue unto that direction it leads you into a Destination-
If that destination doesn’t change it becomes your Destiny.
So, yes as you can see it started with a decision and ending where you are now which becomes your destiny. And that’s the secret-
Whether it’s athletic performance, business performance, leadership performance or personal transformation, the world class performers have mastered the art and science of discerning Free Will and the Power to Choose by staying focused on what count the most in order to achieve peak performance.
What Is Free Will?
It’s the ability to shape our lives in alignment with who we are and what we want to achieve. This power of choice gives you ownership over your actions and allows you to become the architects of your own stories.
However, free will doesn’t mean freedom from influence. You are not an island.
Your upbringing, cultural backgrounds, and experiences shape your perspectives and choices. Still, the concept of free will suggests that we can rise above these influences, consciously examining them and making choices that align with our authentic selves.
Now Do we truly have the power to make our own choices, or are our actions predetermined by forces beyond our control?
This debate often boils down to determinism versus free will. While determinism argues that every action is a result of preceding causes, many philosophers and thinkers have argued that we do have real agency. Embracing this power to choose is crucial for living a meaningful, intentional life. Which we’ll talk about in the second part shortly.
Before we jump into that part - Are We Really Free? (Determinism vs. Free Will)
The debate between determinism and free will is complex.
Determinists argue that everything, including human behavior, is governed by causal laws. Basically, it’s the view, our choices are not as "free" as they seem because they are the inevitable outcomes of prior events and conditions. However, many philosophers argue for compatibilism, which suggests that free will can coexist with determinism. Compatibilists believe that, while our actions may be influenced by external forces, we are still free when we act according to our desires and intentions.
The existentialist French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre took this idea a step further, asserting that humans are “condemned to be free.” According to him, our lives are not defined by external determinants but by the choices we make. This freedom, however, brings with it the burden of responsibility; since we create our own meanings through our choices, we are also fully responsible for who we become.
So, this lead us to the second part which is all about Embracing the Power of Choice.
Which is all about Inspiring people to live with a renewed sense of agency, freedom, and responsibility.
Accepting our freedom to choose is both empowering and challenging. Recognizing our own power can inspire us to pursue personal growth, develop resilience, and live according to our values. When we see each moment as an opportunity to make intentional choices, we move from passive participants in life to active creators of our reality. Even small choices contribute to shaping our character and future.
This vantage point is particularly relevant for leaders and high performers that embrace and understand purpose.
By exercising free will and integrating with purpose, you can craft lives of integrity, pursuing goals that matter to you and taking ownership of your actions. It also fosters accountability, as true freedom includes the courage to face the consequences of your choices.
In a world where many factors—social expectations, past experiences, even genetic predispositions—attempt to define us, embracing our power to choose is a profound act of self-liberation. By acknowledging your freedom and making choices that reflect your truest values, you step into a life of authenticity, purpose, and personal responsibility.
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So, before I leave you today what are your thoughts?
Do you feel equip with Navigating Life with Intentionality- Free Will and the Power to Choose:
Do not forget by Embracing the Power to Choose in Everyday Life you are authentically, staying aligned with your personal values, and embracing responsibility.
If this served you today, subscribe, share your experiences in the comments below and share with your friends! and do not forget,
“Failure is a necessary prerequisite to human excellence.”
Till next time
Live your truth,
Coach Soul Out