The Matrix poster - Courtesy of Wikipedia
Recently, I attended an exciting football game. One team had a choice to either kick a field goal for three points or run the football through the end zone for two points. Usually, a team with similar options would go for the field goal. So, it was shocking to me, and others, when the team went for the run. The team didn't score and eventually lost the game. This event inspired me to think about our life choices and consequences. With every choice we make, there is a corresponding consequence. Like Neo in The Matrix, every day we make life altering choices, so choose wisely. Let's discuss...
Idioms About Choices
Below are idioms about the duality of choices vs consequences. With every choice we make, there is a choice we didn't make:
- You can't have it both ways - means you must choose one out of several choices. Each choice has consequences.
- You can't have your cake and eat it, too. - either eat the cake or have it. If you eat the cake, then you don't have it anymore because it is eaten. If you have the cake, then you cannot eat it.
- For here or to go- either stay or leave. If you stay, then you remain in the same space. If you leave, then you move into a different space.
The Accountant, make a decision:
In this poignant scene in The Accountant, the father teaches his sons about the importance of making choices.
Bully scene from The Accountant, courtesy of YouTube.
We Create Worlds With Every Choice
With every choice we make, we create a corresponding world. For an example, you have a choice to either sleep all day or be active in the world. If you sleep all day, then you gain safety, but you will miss out on gaining knowledge and experiences. On the contrary, if you go out into the world, then you give up safety but gain knowledge from life experiences. Every choice has risk and a corresponding consequence.
Red Pill vs Blue Pill
In The Matrix, Neo had a desire to seek knowledge. In his mind, something was not right with the world. The thoughts nagged him, 'like a splinter in his mind.' Often in life, if you want to know more, eventually opportunities will present itself to you. All you have to do is keep seeking.
The Hero Meets the Mentor, the Hero's Journey
Neo eventually met Morpheus, which his name sounds like 'More For Us,' who presented Neo with two choices - either take the red pill and learn about the real world or take the blue pill and stay where he was. After taking the red pill, he could not go back to his previous way of thinking. After taking the red pill, Neo's world changed. He was reborn and became the hero of a movement to free others from 'The Matrix.' If Neo had taken the blue pill, he would have remained in his original life without gaining any new knowledge about the real world.
The Choice is Yours
What type of world are you creating with your choices?
- Attend college vs trade school
- Exercise vs sedentary
- Sleep vs awake
- Get married vs stay single
- Spend money vs save money
- Stay home vs travel
- Law abiding vs criminal
- Passive vs aggressive
- Freedom vs incarceration
- Watch movies vs read a book
- Positivity vs negativity
- Inclusive vs exclusive
With every choice, we create a corresponding world of experiences. Choose wisely.
What is The Matrix?
The Matrix is a symbol for a world of illusion. It can also represent self-imposed limitations. You either choose to think for yourself or let others think for you.
We Live and Learn - When you know better, then you can do better
We make better choices when we learn more information. Give yourself grace when you make mistakes. Cut your losses and make differnt choices. Life is a learning experience.
References:
The Matrix, vs Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix
The Accountant,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Accountant_(2016_film)