Sometimes, it really doesn’t make sense if we think about the idea of choice. Do we really have it? Do you really have a choice to make the decisions that you do make? Or more precisely, is there really a choice?
For example, having options to choose between what foods to eat at a food court. You might not have every single choice in the world, in fact, you are limited by the food court and whatever they choose to provide for you. That in itself is a lack of choice, and we don’t really have a choice. We just have to eat whatever is provided.
One of the biggest choice questions is one of naming. We are given our name, much like how we are given the body that we have. We have no choice in these things, and we are just dealing with what we have.
I think the illusion of choice is what we have come to think that is enough for ourselves. More than that, maybe we assume this should be the norm for everything that we go through, when honestly maybe it really shouldn’t be the case. We have to realise at some point that we could pretend that we have choice, but what benefit would that bring?
So what is the actual choice that we have, when we do exercise our choosing actions? We choose between presented options, and sometimes we try to have other options that might or not might exist just yet. Perhaps you would like to have sushi at said food court, that does not serve sushi. Maybe the immediate choice of having sushi is not present, but the possibility of a future choice of sushi is there, through appropriate feedback channels. But perhaps the sushi shop being present is impossible because of the lack of temperature controls within the food court stand. That then proves that choice is indeed not present, and it is just impossible.
This is the same principle that goes for career choices and study, especially in Singapore. The basis for studying as hard as you can is to open up as many options as possible. The less academic ability you show, the less chances for you to receive a job or a career in your choice.
But at the same time, one must understand one’s own preferences beyond the simple idea of opening up one’s options. For example, should a person realise that he or she enjoys building and construction, and not the planning of blueprints, the route to actual construction work might not require that much academic study. It would be useful to have spare information, but at the same time, does it help the construction work itself? Should a construction worker understand biology, or have an in depth knowledge on literary arts? It would be interesting for his life, but perhaps not for his career. At this point, the unnecessary illusion of choice creates more distractions, instead of focusing one’s choice and ability.
While this might seem like a small example, it spreads further into other ideas that we might have. The international city is one that gives us a multitude of choices. But we are often plagued with the daily “What should we eat today?” which also becomes “Where should I work in next?” and later “How should we be thinking about these issues?” This development is one that triggers our mindsets, and then, much like the unnecessary addition of academics within a choice range, we are given distractions to our main goals.
So therefore, what is the choice of our mindset, or our philosophy? Is it happiness? Is it peace? That aim within our minds is our choice, or at least we hope it to be. The larger question also is, does one choose to be happy? Is that possible? Some strive for this, at the expense of other people’s happiness, but at the same time, at least their happiness is achieved. Is that worth it? Perhaps.
But at the end of the day, that one person’s happiness at the risk of others not being happy, is usually deemed as selfish, or dictator like even. There will be added stress and frustration, as one attempts to reach his or her own happiness, because of the others that are around. They would feel less happy, if the one pursuing happiness was pursuing it at their expense. The one with that happiness, upon reflection, might come to a conclusion that he or she is not actually happy with the current state of events, and thus losing his or her happiness that was so carefully sought after. That leaves no one happy at the end of the day.
Therefore, there is really no choice, even in mindset. We might hope and attempt for it, unless achieved in group or herd, there might be a possibility, but eventually, the individuals within the group might start to fray, and question their own sense of happiness, beyond the group. The illusion of choice is dark, and becomes a gluttonous hole of emotion and effort. It would be, therefore, easier, if one takes reference from another to form the idea of choices and options, for feeling, for thought, or even for food.