On the matter of choice and confusion

Sometimes in life we find ourselves in a state of confusion. Perhaps we feel like we need to make a decision about something but we are not sure what to do. Well, I often refer back to the words of Andy Puddicombe when I feel that way as I find them comforting. Yes, we do always have a choice – even when it doesn’t seem so apparent.

“So much of our confusion arises from choice. We are fortunate to have choice, but it’s no coincidence that when we simplify our life and reduce these options, we experience more clarity. This is a very personal thing and it relates not only to our inner world but also to our outer world as well, how we choose to live our life, the possessions we have in our life, the work we choose to do, the friends we have, the social network we have around us. All of these things – or many of these things – are choices and they are choices we make assuming – perhaps – that they have to be a certain way and we forget that actually we get to define a surprising amount of our life, we get to choose what will simplify our life, what will make us feel more at ease. These aren’t just things that can be done internally, these are things [that can be done] externally as well such as creating an environment that have a greater sense of clarity and calm and the result almost inevitably is a mind that feels much calmer and much clearer”.

I read it a million times because I find it is beautiful, fundamentally true and so simple at the same time – we just need to act on it 🙂