“In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.” - Epictetus

What we choose is who we become.

I have made mistakes and poor choices. I have been lucky in that they haven’t lead to lasting difficulties. We make big and small choices with both a laisser faire attitude and full on deliberation and everything in-between. This happens fast and often below our awareness. We often don’t see the opportunity for choice until it is too late and already made by circumstances, other people, the media or ingrained tendencies.

Choices have consequences.

The consequences of our choices are outside our control, yet what I choice at any moment is within my control. This seems paradoxical, but I control my choices but the outcomes or consequences are outside my control. I can exercise choice under my awareness or not. Of course, if I didn’t make positive choices then my life wouldn’t tend towards the positive.

You are the culmination of all the choices you made in the past.

Designing life starts with designing days, one choice at a time. Choices lead to habits, habits become talents. Sitting in the presence of awareness is a choice. A keystone choice. A foundational choice. Being aware of your choice environment and architecture, watching for nefarious outside influences is worth striving for. Not perfect but better than yesterday.