Choice - Look beyond the Framework

CHOICE - One of the choicest of words :)

When we choose, when we make a choice....it's that sweet sweet experience of freedom. At whatever level, whether to eat chocolate ice cream or vanilla, to wear pink or purple, to work at this company or that, to work or to not, to live in this city or that.....each is an expression of your own self.

What we, however, need to be aware is of is, how much we might be letting the framework limit our choices.

When we choose, we typically choose within our field of vision, within the given paradigm, within the existing framework. What happens when we question the framework.... push that boundary.....stretch that comfort zone. 

That's when it helps to be aware that the framework is built mostly on stuff like conditioning, pattern, expectations, habit, and an underlying fear of breaking through those.

There are times and situations where tweaks don't help, they need paradigm shifts, but the moment we think of that huge step.....want to stretch the boundary, there's a torrent of questions, constraints and fears that hit us. And they almost form a wall.

Awareness helps acknowledge and articulate all those .......see all the reasons for or against....know the significant ones from the not so significant ones. There's a clear hierarchy of importance there.

It's about being able to parse through all those to reach that one deep reason, the ability and courage to dig through those questions and constraints to the real 'why' of it, and that's the space of clarity. That's where facing consequences of a choice becomes a lark.  As written by Sadhguru, it's the space of real judgement 'There's a consequence to each decision, as also to each non decision. Are you ready to face the consequence?'

Let's do this through an example: In Google, I've seen folks not happy with the kind of work they're doing, but looking at solutions only within Google. And what influences the decision? The allure and comfort of Google, the perks, the branding, the freebies, the travel, the food....it's a tough list to resist :). It's so difficult to see beyond that. The peripherals have clouded the important.

And this list, in a more subtle form, exists for any new move you want to take, especially if it's pushing the boundaries.

Choice is to parse through the layers of peripheral and get to the core. While on the one end it gets you to where you really want to be....on the other, it gives you the strength to handle even the most difficult of situations.

Clarity.......make your choice......and that's when you can live wholeheartedly, give wholeheartedly, a hundred percent in whatever you do.....enjoy the chocolate ice cream, and not fret over the vanilla..... or find a vanilla chocochip......whatever....but by choice :)