The Mindful Choice
What does it mean to choose? Do you often feel you have no choice? Or, that you have too many choices? When you make a choice do you feel satisfied and happy? Or not?
Hello and welcome everyone. Today we are exploring choice. Choosing has to do with selecting among alternatives. What happens when we think we have no alternatives, and then realize that we do? We investigate how rather than reacting in situations when we think that we don't have a choice, by being mindful and open to possibilities, we can respond. Then, we explore what happens when we have many alternatives and how endless choosing saps our attention and energy. Having a plethora of choices leads to wanting, and wanting more and how that doesn’t make for a happy or satisfying life. Giving ourselves a respite from the seeming imperative of choice makes life more alive, creative, happy, and satisfying.
Bringing Mindfulness to whatever context is in front of us, helps us curate and pare down the number of alternatives at our disposal, make wise choices or forgo choosing all together by restricting choice.
This week, I invite you to eliminate or pare down your choices. Perhaps start with social media and your To Do List. Restrict the amount of time you spend each day with social media. Put a timer on and keep to it. Pare down your To Do List. Avoid the socially conditioned "busyness" trap. Ask yourself little questions: Is this really important right now? Can I put this on the back burner? How will doing this now serve me? How will I feel before doing tis? While doing this? And, after doing this? Happy, exhausted, satisfied or not. Open yourself to knowing that how you respond to choice has everything to do with how alive, creative, satisfied and happy you feel.
Enjoy the show. Listen, subscribe, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you listen.
Live, online Mindfulness Meditation class is in full swing, but you can still drop-in. Book a single class here. And, go here to sign up for the newsletter using the link in the footer.
I am grateful for you, my listeners, for your attention, curiosity, and willingness to explore Mindfulness. And, I am grateful for the people behind the scenes that make this podcast possible.
Allie Allen in San Francisco, California for logo and podcast cover design;
Gorgias Romero in Santiago, Chile for original music, audio engineering, and production;
Bill Rafferty in Sydney, Australia for technical web support; and
Margaret Haas in Los Angeles, California for announcing the show.
Be well. Be mindful.
Resources/Credits:
Williams, Alex, “Why Self-Help Guru James Altucher Only Owns 15 Things," The New York Times, August 6, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/fashion/james-altucher-self-help-guru.html Accessed May 13, 2022
Hansen, Phil, “Embrace the Shake,” TED Talk, February 2013. https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tedspread Accessed May 13, 2022.
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical or health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance and advice of your health professional.
