Self management is such a mysterious part of living. I wake up thinking of useful things to accomplish. As the day rolls out, my brain offers some other options. Yes, you could vacuum, or study French, or walk three miles or eat a healthy lunch. But also, you could scroll Facebook, read that not very elevating novel, snack on cookies and take a nap.
Will I exercise some psychological muscle, overcome some momentary inertia, or settle into the easy choice? Mostly it’s a little of both. Maybe I will edit a manuscript, then burn two hours on Facebook. Maybe I will eat celery and carrots. Maybe it will be half a dozen cookies. .
My brain is always standing by like a concierge. I wonder, do osprey brains tempt them with playing on wind currents instead of fishing or nest building?
In the having-done category, I derive satisfaction from fulfilling a plan, so why does my brain offer up all these other choices that in fact provide much less satisfaction at the end of the day.
This is the deepest essence of personal liberty, of free will. Every day, my brain gestures across the myriad possibilities. Which of my selves will do the selecting?
Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now 