People often say, “I have no choice,” but that’s rarely true. Even in the most challenging situations, we can choose our attitude, response, and actions. These insights from Viktor Frankl, Stephen Covey, Peter Block, and Peter Koestenbaum remind us of the power and responsibility of choice.
How often have you said or heard someone say, “But I’ve got no choice.” We always have a choice, even if it is only between doing something or not doing it.
We all have the freedom to choose. Many wise people have commented on this. Here are the thoughts of a few of them.
Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl was an internationally renowned psychiatrist. In 1946, he wrote the book Man’s Search for Meaning.
In his book, he begins with a profoundly moving personal account of his imprisonment in Auschwitz and other concentration camps during the Second World War and his struggle during that time to find reasons to live.
In the second part of the book, called “Logotherapy in a Nutshell,” he describes the psychotherapeutic method that he pioneered due to his experiences in the concentration camps.
At the core of Logotherapy is his belief that man’s primary motivational force is a search for meaning.
One sentence in the book stands out:
Finding meaning in difficult times | Viktor FranklThe last of human freedoms — the ability to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances.
Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked.
In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life, he can only respond by being responsible.
Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey, in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, expresses a similar idea:
The idea that we can choose our response to any stimulus in any circumstance is powerful, but there is more.In the space between stimulus (what happens) and how we respond, lies our freedom to choose.
Ultimately, this power to choose is what defines us as human beings.
We may have limited choices, but we can always choose.
We can choose our thoughts, emotions, moods, our words, our actions; we can choose our values and live by principles.
It is the choice of acting or being acted upon.
Peter Block
Peter Block, in his book Community: The Structure of Belonging, says this:
The search for human freedom—freedom being the choice to be a creator of our own experience and accept the unbearable responsibility that goes with that.
Out of this insight grows the idea that perhaps the real task of leadership is to confront people with their freedom.
This may be the ultimate act of love that is called for from those who hold power over others.
Peter Koestenbaum
The work of Peter Koestenbaum has influenced Peter Block’s ideas
Leadership
We can all practice leadership to one degree or another, and so it’s the task of every one of us to remind each other of our freedom to choose, not only how we respond to situations but:
- Who we are
- What we think
- What we do
- and how we go about it
Choice is always present, even in difficult situations. Recognizing this gives us the power to shape our responses and actions. Take a moment to reflect on the choices available to you today. Decide with intention, act responsibly, and support others in doing the same. Small choices can lead to meaningful change.
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