Dec 3, 2022

CHOICE(S)- THE PRESENT & THE REFLECTIVE

Hello,

As a kid I spent many hours gaming and one of my favorite genre was "RPG" (Role Playing) because these game were open ended and played out based on the choices that the player makes based on internal & external considerations. The effects of these choices are consequential. Everything in a good RPG effects the outcome but nothing plays out without the players consent. Here is what that taught me-

Perhaps the most frequent, and psychologically damaging event we can experience is having other people try to make us feel inferior. Friends, collogues, teacher, parents, and our peers have enormous influence on our state of mind-if we let them. We can assess our circumstances and make our choices or let the words and influence of others effect our present. We can feel good about ourselves or the careless mocking words of someone else can change our state immediately— if we let them.

Why?

Like RPGs, the foundation of our lives are internal & social and we let people affect out state of mind intrinsically by loosing ownership over our choices. We worry about being accepted and willing pay the price for that approval. Sometimes we are aware of this. Many times we are not, until the game (life) pushes us to reflect on our choices.

In truth, our concern for what others think of us occupies way too much of our time. This worry is like living a half life for the duration we spend immersed in it. It yields nothing for us — except distraction. It solves no problem. It does not enhance our life, nor moves us forward.

It's time we make our own choices. React positively to our circumstances. Life plays out either way. Lets do the best WE can.

Thank you for reading,
Vatsav

Vatsav Beerapalli

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