You Have a Choice

You Have a Choice

Every day, we are presented with hundreds of choices. Some are simple: what to wear, what to eat, which route to take to work. Others are harder: how to respond to a difficult conversation, whether to keep holding onto a grudge, or when to finally take action on a long-held dream. What often slips by unnoticed is that we are making these choices, even when it feels like we’re not.

How many times have you said, “I didn’t have a choice”? Or “That’s just how things are”? It’s one of the easiest ways we give up our power, by convincing ourselves that we’re stuck. But here’s the truth: you always have a choice. The choice may not always be between something easy and something fun. Sometimes it’s between something uncomfortable and something even more uncomfortable. But the choice is still there.

Let’s get real, sometimes, choosing the easier path feels like survival. Saying yes when you want to say no. Staying silent to avoid conflict. Holding back on your goals because you’re afraid of what others might think. But each time you do that, you’re choosing short-term comfort over long-term growth. And over time, those little choices shape the story of your life.

I’m not writing this from a place of perfection, I’ve made the “easy” choices many times. I’ve blamed circumstances, people, timing. I’ve told myself I was waiting for a sign or that the moment “wasn’t right.” But eventually, I had to face the truth: I was choosing fear. I was choosing to stay small.

Here’s the thing: choice is where your freedom lives. When you start to own your decisions, especially the uncomfortable ones, you start to reclaim your power. You begin to act with intention, not just reaction. You start choosing how to show up in the world, even when it’s hard.

Need an example? Let’s say you’re in a job that drains your energy. You might think you have no choice but to stay. But that’s not true. You do have a choice. You can start looking for new opportunities. You can learn new skills. You can create a plan. The choice might take time, effort, and courage, but it’s there. The more we remind ourselves that we are not powerless, the more empowered we become.

This mindset applies to relationships, careers, habits, and even the way we talk to ourselves. You can choose to forgive. You can choose to grow. You can choose to pause instead of react. You can choose to believe in yourself, especially on the days when it’s hardest.

So the next time you catch yourself saying, “I had no choice,” take a step back. Ask yourself: What choice did I really have? And what did I choose instead? You may be surprised by how often you’re giving away your power without realizing it.

Owning your choices isn’t about blaming yourself. It’s about liberating yourself. It’s about recognizing that while you can’t control everything, you can control how you show up, what you prioritize, and how you respond.

You are not powerless. You are powerful.

If this message hit home for you, I invite you to listen to my latest podcast episode: “We Have a Choice” on the Mindset Minute Podcast with Lana Shabdeen. In that episode, I dive deeper into the ways we can shift from autopilot into conscious living, and start choosing our way toward a better life.

You always have a choice. Today, choose you.