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   %FREE CHOICE ALTERNATIVE LACK PRISON BIND ADDICT 900109

     Often  we  are  imprisoned by the limited  number  of
alternatives which we consider before we make choices.  We
would  do  well  to  consider the  factors  which  may  be
limiting  the  number  of alternative  which  we  consider
before we make choices:

     We may be ignorant of the wider range of alternatives
which exist,  and we may have done nothing to become aware
of the wider range of alternatives which do exist. Then we
would do well to seek to discover more alternatives;   for
it may well be our fault that we are ignorant.

     We  may  be  prisoners of habits which  we  have  not
examined and so stick to them thoughtlessly. Then we would
do  well to take time for quiet meditation in serenity  to
consider our traditional habits,  and alternative possible
ways  of  spending  our time.  The  cure  for  thoughtless
behavior is thoughtful meditation which is unhurried. Take
time for meditation!

     We may be the victims of unexamined convictions which
run counter to experiences which we and others have.   Our
own convictions may cause us to exclude from consideration
alternatives which merit thoughtful consideration. We will
do well to seek evidence in our experiences which call our
convictions  into question.  Too often we are stubborn and
stick  to convictions,  even when our experiences indicate
that our convictions are not well founded.

     We may stick to our convictions because we lack  self
confidence and lack healthy self esteem;   over-confidence
in  our convictions may be a sign of a hidden and  nagging
uncertainty. The cure is not looking for more evidence and
clearer  logic.   The  cure  is in  seeking  friendly  and
trustworthy  help  in  dealing  with  our  lack  of   self
confidence and lack of self esteem.  There are people  who
can  help us if we thoughtfully seek them out and ask  for
help.

     We  may consider too few alternatives before we  make
choices because we associate with too narrow a spectrum of
friends. If all our friends think and feel as we do, we do
not have a very rich spectrum of alternative viewpoints to
consider  before we make choices as to what our  viewpoint
should  be.  The cure is to widen the circle of  kinds  of
friends  and associates upon whom we can draw when we need
wider ranges of alternatives to consider.

     We  may consider too few alternatives because we  are
trapped  in  collusive,   addictive,   and/or  codependent
behavior  patterns;   we may be victims  of  dysfunctional
games  of mutual self deception.  Dishonesty is a  disease
which  feeds  upon itself.  Misleading behavior  and  talk
tends to become more and more serious as it is taken to be
more and more normal.  Ultimately dishonest behavior leads
us  to be unaware of the range of alternatives which would
be  open to us if we were honest with ourselves  and  with
each other.

     We may consider too few alternatives because we  have
let others control our habits of thought,  mind,   spirit,
and  meditation.   We  may not be  able  to  easily  avoid
coercive  behavior;   but  we can choose  to  continue  to
recognize coercive behavior for what it is---and to  think
for ourselves. We need to keep in mind the alternatives to
yielding   our  habits  of  thought,   mind,   spirit  and
meditation  to  the control of those who seek  to  control
them.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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