You Always Have a Choice (Even When You Think You Don’t)

There’s a common misconception that life is something that happens to us. That we’re just hapless little meat sacks bobbing along in the ocean of existence, getting smacked in the face by the waves of fate. But let me tell you something that might just make you sit up and spill your coffee (blasphemy!): you always have a choice. Always.

Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “But John, what about taxes? What about gravity? What about the fact that my neighbor insists on mowing his lawn at 6 a.m. every Saturday like he’s summoning an ancient grass demon?” – I hear you. But even in those situations, you have choices. You might not control the stimulus, but you control your response.

The Fork in the Road (That’s Always There)
Every single moment of your life is a fork in the road. The choices might not always be obvious, and sometimes they look suspiciously like a rock and a hard place, but trust me, they’re there.
For example, let’s say you wake up, stub your toe on the nightstand, and then spill your coffee down your shirt (more Blasphemy!). The universe has given you what seems like a golden opportunity to declare that the whole day is ruined before it even starts. You could grumble, curse your furniture, and sink into a bad mood. That’s one choice.
Or…you could laugh, because honestly, it’s kind of ridiculous. Your furniture isn’t out to get you. The coffee isn’t conspiring against you (quite the contrary). And if you take a deep breath, change your shirt, and move on with your day, suddenly, the whole thing is just a funny little moment rather than a declaration of doom.
See what happened? Same situation. Different choice. Different reality.

Your Reality Is Just a Bunch of Choices Stacked Together
If you ever played with LEGO as a kid, you already understand how reality works. Every single thing in your life—your relationships, your job, your health, your happiness—is built out of little blocks of choices. Some people are building castles. Some people are building dungeons. Some people are just stepping on LEGO bricks over and over and blaming the floor.
Your choices shape your experience. They determine whether you see life as an adventure or a punishment. And here’s the kicker: even not choosing is a choice. Sitting on the fence is a choice. Letting someone else decide for you is a choice. Deciding that you have no choice is, ironically, a choice.

Excuses Are Just Fancy Ways of Avoiding Responsibility
I can already hear someone in the back saying, “Yeah, but what about when life just sucks?” Look, I get it. Life throws curveballs. Some of them hit you in the face. Some of them seem to be coming from a Major League pitcher who’s specifically aiming for your soul. But at the end of the day, how you respond is always up to you.
It’s easy to slip into excuse mode.

• “I can’t be happy because my boss is a jerk.” (But you choose whether or not you take that personally.)
• “I have no choice but to stay in this miserable job.” (But you choose whether you look for something better.)
• “I can’t move forward because of what happened to me in the past.” (But you choose whether you let the past define you.)

Excuses are just ways of handing over your power to someone—or something—else. They’re a way of saying, “I am but a humble potato in the garden of life, waiting for the farmer of fate to dig me up and decide my destiny.” But you’re not a potato. You are a full-fledged creator of your own reality, and you have the power to make choices that shift your experience.

The Myth of “No Other Option”
Ever notice how some people seem to thrive no matter what’s happening around them? That’s not luck. That’s not because the universe decided to hand them a VIP pass while the rest of us were waiting in the general admission line. It’s because they make choices that keep them aligned with the kind of life they want.
The truth is, there is always another option. You might not like it. It might be uncomfortable. It might require effort. But it’s there.
Feeling stuck in a job? You can start learning new skills, looking for another position, or even start your own business.
Stuck in a negative mindset? You can start practicing gratitude, changing your inner dialogue, or spending time with more positive people.
Feeling overwhelmed? You can choose to take a break, set better boundaries, or simplify your life.
When you tell yourself, “I have no choice,” what you’re really saying is, “I don’t want to make the hard choice.” And that’s fine! But own it. Own the fact that you are choosing—just choosing not to change.

Small Choices, Big Impact
The funny thing about choices is that even the tiny ones make a difference. Ever notice how one small change can create a ripple effect?
Choosing to smile at a stranger might brighten their day, which might lead them to be kinder to someone else, which might eventually lead to a chain reaction that changes a whole community. Choosing to take care of your body might give you more energy, which helps you make better choices, which then leads to a more fulfilling life.
The little things add up. And the best part? You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight. Just start with one conscious choice at a time.

The Final Choice
At the end of the day, the biggest choice you have is this: Are you going to live as a victim of circumstance, or as a creator of your own reality?
If you choose to be a victim, you’ll always find reasons why life is against you. You’ll find evidence that you’re powerless. You’ll see roadblocks instead of possibilities.
But if you choose to be a creator? You’ll start to see life as a playground instead of a battlefield. You’ll recognize that challenges aren’t punishments—they’re opportunities to make new choices. You’ll realize that no matter what happens, you still hold the power to shape your own experience.
And once you see that? You’ll never go back to believing you’re just a hapless little meat sack at the mercy of fate. You’ll know, without a doubt, that you are the architect of your own life.
So, what’s it going to be? Victim or creator?
I’d choose wisely if I were you—because that choice? That’s the one that changes everything. (and you'll stop spilling your coffee).  Http://JohnsJoe.com