Everything is a choice

The first time I started to grasp this concept was while listening to the book “The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund and Ben Zander.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The voice in my head said: Really? Everything? What about going to work every morning? That doesn’t seem like a choice, because without a job I wouldn’t have money or a house or food.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And the Ben Zander in my head replied: Ahhhh, but it IS a choice. . . a choice to trade your time at work for a relatively easy and standard existence. . .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My head-voice continued. It was not so easily convinced: Well then, what about having to deal with idiots and mean people? Those people who cut you off in traffic or throw trash out the window. That is definitely not a choice!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Imaginary-Ben was not put off at all, and replied: How you DEAL with them is a choice. Even driving a car is a choice.⠀If you don’t like being cut off in traffic you could stop driving a car.⠀If you don’t like feeling angry you could examine why you care.

Maybe they are on the way to the hospital. Maybe they are late for a job interview, Maybe they are a complete idiot who doesn’t care about you.⠀Does it matter that someone cut you off? Does it matter WHY they cut you off? Does it change who you are?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Lately I’ve been circling back to this idea. That everything is a choice.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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EVERYTHING!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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No exceptions.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So . . .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
. . . When I feel let down and don’t speak up, that is a choice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
. . . When I go to a job I don’t like to support my family, that is a choice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
. . . When I care about someone else’s feelings more than my own, that is a choice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And it feels freeing to realize this. There is more space and ease and possibility.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now I just need to remember this the next time someone cuts me off!