🦮What Did You Really Choose? Exploring the Illusion of Free Will
🌀How much of your life is truly of your own making?
Welcome back to "The Microdose Diet" newsletter, your trusted source for achieving success, passion, and happiness in life and career through alternative medicines like microdosing psychedelics. 🍄
In the grand theater of life, we often pride ourselves on being the architects of our own destinies. We believe that every twist and turn, every success and failure, is a result of our deliberate choices. Yet, lurking beneath this facade of autonomy lies a complex interplay of forces that challenge the notion of free will. The saying "not choosing is a choice" echoes in our minds, forcing us to confront the uncomfortable truth: how much of our lives are truly of our own making?
I have been pondering this choosing / not choosing conundrum regarding my own life as I am looking back at choices I thought I actively made but now seem awfully predestinated! The interesting thing regarding predestination is that it works both ways: making the choices you were supposed to based on your background, but also making the opposite choices you were supposed to. In both cases theses choices are not based on free-will, but are made in reaction to your own circumstances.
Nietzsche illustrated it nicely in his critique of Christianity. He argued that Christianity emerged as a reaction to the oppressive forces of Roman culture, not as an expression of individual choice. Mind-bending, right?!
More importantly, what does it mean for you and what can you do about it?
🛝Strength of Momentum
Human existence is governed not only by the choices we make but also by the inertia of past decisions and experiences. Your path is shaped not just by your conscious intentions but also by a myriad of factors such as upbringing, social environment, and genetic predispositions. These forces create a momentum that propels you along certain paths, often without even realizing it. You may believe you are steering the ship, but in reality, you are passengers swept along by the currents of circumstance.
Consider, for instance, the career paths you choose. How much of it is driven by genuine passion and ambition, and how much is dictated by societal expectations or familial pressures? Many find themselves trapped in professions they never intended to pursue, simply because it was the path of least resistance or the one laid out for them by others.
Where do you stand when it comes to your current circumstances? Do you wish for changes but struggle to make them happen? Fret not, I have tips for you below, just keep reading ;)
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😶🌫️ Difficulty of Being Present
In our fast-paced world, the art of being present is increasingly elusive. Your minds are constantly bombarded with distractions, pulling you away from the moment and into a whirlwind of thoughts and anxieties. This lack of presence makes it difficult to make truly conscious decisions. Instead, you operate on autopilot, reacting to stimuli rather than actively choosing your course of action.
How often do you find yourselves scrolling mindlessly through social media, or reaching for comfort foods without even considering healthier options? These actions are not the result of conscious deliberation but rather the product of habit and conditioning. You and I are slaves to our impulses, unaware of the forces that drive us to behave in certain ways.
🧠 Consciously vs. Subconsciously
At the heart of the matter lies the distinction between conscious and subconscious decision-making. While you and I like to believe that our choices are the product of rational thought and careful consideration, studies have shown that much of our decision-making occurs at a subconscious level. Our brains are adept at processing vast amounts of information, often leading us to make choices before we are even aware of them.
This subconscious influence can be seen in various aspects of our lives, from consumer behavior to interpersonal relationships. Marketing experts exploit our subconscious desires to sell products, while psychologists study the hidden biases that shape our perceptions of others. You may think you are acting of your own accord, but in reality, your subconscious mind is pulling the strings behind the scenes.
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💡Why Does It Matter?
In a world where the illusion of choice reigns supreme, why does it even matter whether your decisions are truly your own? The answer lies in the quest for authenticity and self-awareness. By acknowledging the factors that influence your choices, you gain a deeper understanding of yourselves and your place in the world. You become less beholden to societal expectations and more attuned to your true desires and aspirations.
Moreover, recognizing the limits of your free will allows you to cultivate empathy and compassion for others. You better understand that everyone is navigating their own set of circumstances, and that judgment and blame are often misplaced. Instead of condemning others for their choices, you will strive to offer support and understanding, knowing that you too are subject to the whims of fate.
🔓How to Break Free?
🧘Be Present
One of the most powerful antidotes to autopilot living is the practice of mindfulness – the art of being fully present in the moment. Cultivate awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, without judgment or attachment. Learn to savor the richness of everyday experiences, whether it's the taste of your morning coffee or the warmth of the sun on your skin. By grounding yourself in the present moment, you break free from the grip of past conditioning and future anxieties, allowing for greater clarity and freedom of choice.
💻Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind
Much of our behavior is governed by subconscious programming acquired over years of conditioning and experience. To break free from predestination and autopilot, it's essential to reprogram your subconscious mind with new beliefs and patterns of thinking. Engage in practices such as visualization, affirmations, and hypnotherapy to implant positive messages and intentions into your subconscious. Challenge limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering narratives that align with your desired outcomes. Remember, the subconscious mind is a powerful ally in your journey towards liberation – harness its potential to effect lasting change.
🍄The Microdose Diet
I know easy to say to be “more present” or to “reprogram your subconscious mind” but how does one actually do that?! Fret not, I have you covered! The Microdose Diet guide you every step of the way on how to rewire your brain, calm your body, master your emotions and increase your energy to reach more success, passion and happiness. TMD is a 90-day plan that incorporates alternative medicines like microdosing psychedelics, tapping, visualization, and journaling to reprogram limiting beliefs, feelings and emotions into more expansive ones. This approach involves using microdoses of psilocybin in a safe and strategic manner.
❓Question Everything
The first step towards liberation is to question the assumptions and beliefs that have kept you tethered to preconceived notions of destiny. Challenge the narratives that dictate your choices and behaviors, and dare to explore alternative perspectives. Ask yourself: Are my current beliefs and actions aligned with my true desires and aspirations? By questioning everything, you open yourself up to new possibilities and pave the way for genuine self-discovery.
👣One Step at a Time
Breaking free from predestination and autopilot is not an overnight endeavor but rather a gradual process of self-transformation. Start by identifying one area of your life where you feel particularly constrained or stagnant. It could be your career, relationships, or personal habits. Take small, intentional steps towards change, whether it's pursuing a new hobby, initiating a difficult conversation, or setting boundaries with technology. Remember, progress is measured not by speed but by consistency and perseverance.
In conclusion, the notion of free will is a complex and multifaceted concept that challenges our understanding of human agency. While you may like to believe that you are the masters of your own destiny, the reality is far more nuanced. Your choices are shaped by a multitude of influences, both conscious and subconscious, making it difficult to discern where your true agency lies. Yet, by embracing this uncertainty, you can embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, unearthing the forces that shape your lives and learning to navigate them with grace and resilience.
Share Your Thoughts and Join the Conversation
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😎 About The Microdose Diet
I'm Peggy Van de Plassche, a former banker and VC with 20 years in financial services and technology. "The Microdose Diet" combines alternative medicines like microdosing psilocybin for personal and professional growth.
Pre-order my book, "MORE! The Microdose Diet - the 90 Day Plan for Success, Passion, and Happiness," available on Amazon.
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Remember, this newsletter is for entertainment and information. Always consult a medical professional for health advice. 🩺
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Thank you so much Graham for sharing your story and your thoughts! What an adventure!! The orient express is on my husband’s bucket list!
My move to Canada definitely changed my life and was probably one the most powerful decisions I took so far. I do go back to France often enough (going there next month actually!) and seeing my close friends is always a reminder of how much predestination is present in our lives. I could have written when I left 20 years ago how their lives would turn out and I have to say I would have been 90% correct (if not 99!).
I believe it is fine to live a life very much aligned with one’s upbringing. The challenge I have is when it is done on autopilot and that no decision becomes a decision. From the career you have, to the matrimonial status, the city you live in, the activities you do, I am always mesmerized by how similar and homogeneous people’s lives are compared to their family of origin. To your point we have free will, but how much do we really exercise it? It is one thing to once in a while exercise it and go in a different direction than the stream but how about using it all the time?! And maybe it will bring us at the exact same destination, and it is fine but we would have exercised our personal power. As always thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experience!!
The three months I backpacked through Europe was a study in Karma. We didn't have too much of a plan, other than to start in Amsterdam. From there, we almost literally drifted. There were certain things on our "must-see" list of course, but timing meant nothing.
Case in point: we missed the train from Vienna to Salzburg by five minutes. Not a big deal -- there was a train to Salzburg literally every hour. So, we sat down to wait. But as we're gazing up at the list of trains, we notice that The Orient Express is leaving for Budapest in 10 minutes. It was a famous train of course, which drew our attention. But this was 1991 and just a few years before, the thought of being able to go to Soviet-influenced Hungary was almost impossible. We didn't think about it for even a second. We ended up spending a week there with a very kind family, and learned more about that culture than we could have imagined.
If we are built from our experiences, then exposing ourselves to experiences like this will help shape us. So I would argue that we have free will in some ways. But it's not every day you have the luxury of being able to hop on the Orient Express on a whim. And, let's not forget that you need to have the predisposition and the financial means (among other things I'm sure) to plop yourself down in the Vienna train station in the first place.
The fact that most of us have to work and most of us tend to work in the country we grew up or in a similar culture, then yes, our experiences to a certain extent are predestined, which means in turn our paths are somewhat predestined. But if you can break the path/experience loop, as you point out, you have a chance to change your destiny -- at least as far as your personality will let you... lol
I imagine you see this yourself, moving from France to Canada as you have. Somewhat similar cultures, relative to the wide spectrum on Earth (Canada was made in part from French culture!), but different enought that it probably changed you in some ways. How do you think you and your life are different because of the move?
Great post!