How many choices do you need in any context?

Given any situation, you may come across a decision point on what is the appropriate thing to say or to do in the context. Typically, you may have only one thing to say or do which is your default option based on your perceptions, background, experiences, etc. Most of the time this is not be the best option to exercise. The second choice is the exactly the opposite of your default choice. Hence these two choices are in conflict.

When you are in a situation, you can think of at least one more choice beyond the default and its opposite choices. If you can clearly think, review, discuss you can find more choices as well. Once you have more than 2 choices then compare and contrast and choice the best possible choice.

Why do you need more choices?

If you have one choice then you are not free. If you have two choices then you are in conflict. You need to have at least three choices for you to choose an appropriate choice at any situation. Ideally if you have three to seven choices to choose from that is the best. Of course, you can have more than seven choices as well.

Having more than two choices and choose from helps to be a successful person by making sure that you exercise the best possible choice in the context.

Have multiple choices also helps in having freedom and happiness.

How to reduce/weaken the desire?

The desire is based on the perceptions, exposure, experience and tendencies. Given any situations the mind would desire something very narrow as per the above factors, which is not freedom or liberation. If you chose the desire as it comes by default it may look like a good choice, enjoyable and useful in short term. But in the long term it can create more problems and create long lasting sorrow and limitations.

Whenever a default desire comes up, you can think of the exact opposite of that desire. In some situations, choosing the exact opposite is the appropriate thing for better life. Actually, it is important to think and chose few more options anywhere from three to seven options. And then choose one of the appropriate ones for the context. This approach will liberate us from the narrowness and limitations and could lead to freedom. It can reduce your desire and look for universal choices which helps you and others as per the natural setup and natural laws.

What is the process to follow to reduce/weaken the desire?

As your desire and Vasana are very strong the mind will force you to say/act of the default choice coming of limitations. You can practice the following to overcome this challenge:

1.      Close your mouth – so that you don’t speak out the default choice you are getting

2.      Breath deep – so that there is a stop to the strong desire to say/act the default. It also helps the mind to get free from the grip of default choice and think more freely.

3.      Do the Japa/prayer in your mind – This creates more freedom and possibility in the mind.

4.      Now think of more options as outline in the previous section

5.      Compare and contract and choice the best option for the context

6.      Review the outcome based on the choice implemented and get the learnings. So that in next context you can implement this leaning and keep improving and reduce the desires.