Power Lies in Choices

Viktor Frankl wrote, "What is to give light must endure burning." In other words, to bring light into this world, one must endure a little heat or in yogic terms, tapas. To have a child, one must endure the pain of childbirth and the heat of raising and loving a child and the knowing you must let them become their own person. And yet, sometimes events come our way, we are dealt cards which scorch us and to come through we must enduring the burning. 

Photo by FRANCESCO TOMMASINI on Unsplash

Bessel van der Kolk defines trauma as "an overwhelming experience that leaves you in a state of befuddlement and helplessness. Like if you're unable to do something to protect yourself, to activate your fight-or-flight response. Then, a pathway gets activated of helplessness and collapse."
Are we ever truly helpless? Or do we just perceive we are helpless? Is there really nothing we can do?
Imagine those in a concentration camp, no choice. Constant fear of both death and continued living. But some did choose to live. Some did attempt to survive. They did not collapse. 

Where does one find the power to choose life. Life is not easy. Life has its moments of joy, and love. But it also has many moments of suffering. The spiritualists find reasons and faith that it is all for some higher purpose. The pragmatists find fortitude in the wisdom of "keep calm and carry on." 
There is always a choice.
Each day you get out of bed, you choose to get out of bed. When you chooses to brush your teeth, you are choosing. What you choose defines, becomes the foundation of the future choices. We can choose to have a optimism or pessimism. We can pay attention to our power to choose or to feel helpless.
True power is the recognition there is a choice even when we may not like the options.
Choose wisely today.