Are you free to choose your own path in life?
FINDING MEANING
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? As I reflect on my life, I realize my journey has been filled with intense and exciting experiences. Still, I’ve found myself dreaming of living on a Greek island, workingremotelyon projects of my own choosing and at my own pace. Have you ever had similar wishes?
As a Westerner, I was raised with the mantra “if you want to, you can.” Let’s think about the thousands of decisions we make every day. We are the only ones who decide whether to jump out of bed or hit the snooze button for a bit, take a shower or a bath, become a vegetarian, a flexitarian, or a meat-eater. Every day, we are the ones who make the final decisions. While appealing, I find the theory of individual free will too simplistic and oppressive for some people.
What degree of autonomy do individuals have when making their choices?
Being free means being free from external constraints, so that you can do or say whatever you want. For example, I decided to stop eating meat and drastically cut back on my fish consumption. Why? Because I wanted to focus on what I could control in the fight against climate change. Besides, I wanted to live up to my values of responsibility and civic duty.
Yet, some people might say that I was actually influenced by my friends, what I read, or my work when making that choice. I can’t help but wonder: What if our actions were influenced by our environment and our thoughts rather than by facts? For example, despite the scientific evidence, some people believe that humans are not responsible for climate change.
Can external factors influence our ability to make decisions?
Many authors have shown that events are actually determinedby by pre-existing causes. Sociologist Durkheim explained that our ideas, thoughts, habits, and actions are in fact strongly influenced by the socioeconomic context in which we live. I wouldn’t be who I am—some people would say a “bobo” enjoying an international career—without my family’s social background, values, and network, among other factors.
I am sure my roots have had a strong influence on my current circumstances. Yet, is everything predetermined for us? Are we blind or naive when we make choices?
What if our freedom depended on our ability to perceive?
Rather than viewing humans as automatons or omnipotent beings, Freud introduced a third way of thinking through his concepts of the “ego,” “id,” and “superego.” These interacting components, representing our conscious, unconscious, and subconscious minds, are shaped by our environment, social norms, inner thoughts, impulses, and desires. Essentially, we are subject to various sources of influence, whether intrinsicsic or extrinsic, as we go about our lives.
Through psychoanalysis, we come to understand that our power and responsibility lie in transforming our unconscious patterns of thinking into conscious ones. By doing so, we can free ourselves from our limiting beliefs.
Would accepting our internal and external determinants increase our freedom?
Having the willpower to acknowledge and distance ourselves from the factors that shape us can give us the power to build our future. We can change our mindset regarding our circumstances. We can allow ourselves to imagine the future on our own terms. Yes, this may seem exhausting. Personally, I don’t always succeed in doing so. But it’s worth a try!
For the philosopher Descartes, true freedom is achieved when our will and our intellect (unlimited versus limited capacities) are harmoniously aligned. It makes me wonder: What if freedom were a matter of balance? The balance between accepting our roots as our inner determinants while freely shaping our future possibilities, the balance between our physical limitations and our boundless imagination, the balance between our expectations and our trust in the unknown.
UPDATING YOUR CHANGE
The tool
Do you want to regain the freedom to choose your own path in life? Start by understanding your deep-seated motivations and obstacles. Then align your actions with your expectations.
Easier said than done. I KNOW! Here are a few tips to help you make a difference: the twisted, four-year-old favorite game of “Why”!
First, think about your wish: "I would like X."
Then keep digging to find the root cause. Ask yourself, “What does X tell me that’s important?” You may discover that you need Y. Repeat the question: “What does Y tell me that’s important to me?” and so on until nothing more comes to mind.
Finally, take a step back and assess how such a core driver affects your behavior.
The illustration
Let’s take the example of a social entrepreneur who wants to bring women onto the board but is facing resistance from the founders. The conversation with a coach might go something like this:
The Coach: What is it about that wish for women at the board level that says something so important about you?
The Changemaker: Well, it's obvious: equality. And I'm angry because clearly this isn't recognized and …
The Coach: Okay , let’s focus on that idea for a moment, if you don’t mind. What does equality offer you that is even more important?
The Changemaker: Well , the recognition of the power of diversity
The Coach: Oh , and what does this recognition bring you that is even more precious?
The Changemaker: Hmm… acceptance of all human beings. Nothing is more important than that, don't you think?
The Coach: What is the value of being accepted fully and completely?
The Changemaker: I recognize myself and no longer need external recognition. I embrace my differences and those of others as gifts and assets.
The Coach: And how does that shift in perception help you with your initiative to advocate for more women on corporate boards?
The Changemaker: Well , women shouldn't be included just because they're women. We simply need to find different people who will enrich the debate and decision-making at the board level. So, yes to women—but not just anyone, and not only women. I need to find the talent and experience we're lacking. If the founders understand the value of such diverse people for our startup, we shouldn't have to fight about it anymore.
The Mantra
“Better an error-corrected one than no error at all”
It comes from Charles Pepin’s book *Ceci n’est pas un manuel de philosophie*, which beautifully simplifies philosophical concepts without compromising their depth and meaning.
Now it's your turn:
What life experiment do you want to start today?
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What did you find useful in this article? Click the "Reply" or "Comment" button and let me know! Also, if you'd like help finding (or refining) your purpose and increasing your impact on society and the planet through your professional activities, feel free to contact me using this form (English / French)
