Freedom or Not?

I don’t usually plan very far ahead for what I decide to post. I usually let the Universe inspire me. :-) One way I do that is by going back to my collection of quotes. Today was one of those days. What I found very quickly reminded me of a little conversation I’ve been having with a Face Book friend about Life and our existence as human beings.

My friend believes that everything we do in our lives as humans has already been pre-determined before we are even born. Whoever came up with that theory originally must have been seriously into the ‘victim’ frame of mind because with that theory, there’s no point to taking responsibility for your life, no point in trying to change and grow, and really, no point to life at all! I heartily disagree with this theory and it is contrary to everything I’ve been studying for the past two years.

This is what I found in my collection by Dr. Walter D Staples:

1. Winners are not born, they are made.
2. The dominant force in your existence is the thinking you engage in.
3. You are empowered to create your own reality.
4. There is some benefit to be had from every adversity.
5. Each one of your beliefs is a choice.
6. You are never defeated until you accept defeat as a reality, and decide to stop trying.
7. You already possess the ability to excel in at least one key area of your life.
8. The only real limitations on what you can accomplish in your life are those you impose on yourself.
9. There can be no great success without great commitment.
10. You need the support and cooperation of other people to achieve any worthwhile goal.

 And here’s a link to his website: http://www.doctorstaples.com/

When I checked out his site, I noticed something interesting. His publisher, Melvin Powers is the same guy that published one of my favorite books of all time, Psychocybernetics by Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon who decided to further his career by studying psychology and cybernetics. Absolutely fascinating stuff and I can highly recommend his book. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Maltz

Although I have not yet read Dr. Staples’ book, Think Like a Winner, I see that he is being endorsed by other self-help professionals of whom I do have personal knowledge. Either way, the numbered points are valid and not only valid but give hope and optimism. What’s the point of moving through a life of which you have no choice? I know I could not.

By contrast, there is great hope and freedom in learning that one does, indeed have choices and the only stipulation to that freedom of choice is in learning that we must take responsibility for our choices. This is no different than when most kids are growing up and receive an ‘allowance’ for taking on responsibilities of household chores. Freedom of choice = Responsibility

Of course, there is no responsibility where there is no choice and many of us go through life seeing ourselves as victims...of everything from auto accidents to failed marriages and everything in between...just because we believe that we have no choices. 

Maybe we just like it better that way.

I prefer to break the mold and choose freedom.

Here’s to Yours...

Cindy Hurd