Choice: The Human Prerogative*

Each person, from birth to the grave, is faced with the constant necessity for deciding between conflicting events. These decisions will determine his style of life. Important choices are those of occupation, mate, and whether or not to relocate. All of these are subject to the difficulties of the decision crisis. The dilemma of intelligent and perceptive prople who see the basic need for meaning in their lives is to be free to choose the route of authenticity, or to choose the safe but long, dull life of inauthenticity.

With authentic values, the creative person is free to change his style of life. He can choose a new course of action or, in common parlance, “Make his own music,” or “do his own thing.” For him, hope will replace despair, and he will gain greater vitality. Instead of being absurd, life will be meaningful.

Ability to move towards authenticity, however, presupposes a condition of freedom to choose. When one has achieved the goal of being free to choose, te will be in a painful state of non-choice — painful because it is filled with anxiety. This state of freedom to choose means that the responsibility for the decision rests squarely on the patient's shoulders. He is separated from the authoritetive structure — society, his parents, or boss — to which he previously delegated the responsibility for making his decisions.

When one feels anxious, the tendency is to take the easy way out. A person will play the safe role, imitating others, enslaving himself to them, distracted by the countless demands of living. The result is an inauthentic choice, and a routine conformist life without meaning or distinction. The person may then become a bored, apathetic social security number. However, if one has the proper support, either in therapy or through life's circumstances, he will have the courage to tolerate a state of anxiety-filled freedom. Further, he will have the courage to assume the responsibility for the authentic, meaningful choice.

The task of psychotherap