Free Will

I was chatting with the production team over lunch one day and we chanced upon a pretty heavy topic that got me pondering.

Form simple a conversation about striking the lottery, we went on to the topic of predestination in life. Our bus driver who joined us for lunch was adamant about life being predestined and how helpless one is, in the realm of determinism. I can’t help but struggle with the whole truth of it all.

Yes, social structure is real for sure. Family fortune is limiting in many ways. But it is dangerous to eliminate the power of self will, more importantly, the concept of free will.

Most of us will acknowledge that we have a choice in many areas in our lives. So, what’s stopping us from utilizing that? One common possibility is the inability to see that we have a choice to break away, break away from the norm. A simple example: A traveler friend of mine was upset that his siblings were being sarcastic about the fact that he travels a lot and that he is so “carefree”. But, he does not spend it on booze, branded items and his lifestyle is an outcome of his choice.

The hardest thing about life is the various temptations, offered by the neon lights. The many 50% sale signs bidding you to enter, and the next flashy car launching soon… Indeed, we live in a consuming world and we think we are making choices. But the bigger picture is that we are consumed by the vicious cycle.

I refuse to believe that the mind is utterly useless despite its many weaknesses. All I am saying is that, give yourself the space and time to look in another direction. Especially those who feel lost in the mirage. Detachment can do wonders. It does not mean coldness, apathy, but it can mean having the opportunity to source out the options out there. Another way of life, perhaps…

They are there when you look hard enough.
If you feel something does not feel right, find it, fix it. The mind can be fooled, but the heart always tells the truth.