Milo Blog Post Week 8: You Always Have a Choice

“I have to study for my upcoming chem test.”

“I have to go to soccer after school today.”

“I have to finish a project for Hebrew.”


Every day, we tell ourselves how much we have to do. But in reality, we don’t need to do anything. Actually. 

I hear you, already drafting a stupid comment below, "But if I didn't need to do anything, I woudn't be reading your boring blog post! I'm only doing this because I need to comment on your post by the end of the semester." Firstly, rude. And ouch, way to rub it in. But whenever you think you have to do anything, you’re telling yourself that you’d rather do something else but that you don’t have a choice. If you stop telling yourself this, you can see that you always have a choice.


Sure, you don’t have to do that project, but you choose to do it because you want a good grade and don’t want to get grounded. You don’t have to clean the dishes, but you choose to because you probably don’t want bugs or a messy kitchen. You don’t even have to go to school, but you choose to show up every day rather than end up in juvie.

The other lie you tell yourself is that you don’t want to do the things you choose.

For example, I might think, “Okay, so I’m choosing to do my science project, but I really don’t want to!” I actually do want to because I want to keep my science grade up and avoid getting in trouble. How you talk to yourself and your thoughts determine how you feel. When you tell yourself that you don’t have a choice or have to do things you don’t want to do, you end up resentful with your life. Conversely, (a word which here means "on the flip side") when you take responsibility for your choices and find why you want to make them, you can feel much more motivated to do those things.

In the comments, answer a few of these questions.

What is one thing you tell yourself you have to do? What is one reason that you’re choosing to do it? What would it be like to change your thoughts and never feel pressured to do that thing again?




Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 22, 2022 at 1:02 PM

    First off, I feel called out for the quote, yet, you're right! This is a great way to change your perspective. I always tell myself I have to do my homework when I am choosing to do it to maintain a decent grade. I’ll try using this strategy to do my work more effectively.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 22, 2022 at 5:56 PM

    Admittedly, I too fall under this category of telling myself what I need to do and not do. Sometimes I feel that the amount of work that teachers assign can be overwhelming and stressful, but I still put the thought in my head that I "need" to complete them.

    ReplyDelete

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