The Privilege of Having a Choice

By Dr. Wil Rodríguez

“Everything changes the moment you stop waiting… and start choosing.”

— From the book I Choose by Dr. William Rodríguez

There comes a time in life when we realize that waiting—on others, on permission, on a perfect moment—is not strength. It’s stagnation. And nothing changes until we choose change.

Many people walk through life unaware that they even have a choice. Conditioned by trauma, upbringing, cultural expectations, or fear, they live in survival mode, forgetting that within them exists a sacred power: the power to choose. To choose again. To choose differently. To choose freedom.

1. The Silent Weight of Non-Choice

Not choosing is, in fact, a choice. One that surrenders our agency to circumstances or other people’s expectations. When we don’t choose, we live by default, not by design. We become reactive rather than responsive, passive rather than purposeful.

2. The Awakening Moment

There is a pivotal moment described in I Choose, when a person wakes up to their autonomy—not as a concept, but as a felt reality. That moment feels like reclaiming breath after years underwater. You realize you can say yes or no. You realize you are not the victim of your story, but its author.

3. Choosing in the Midst of Chaos

Choice is not a luxury afforded only when things are calm. It is most powerful when things are not. In moments of pain, grief, betrayal, or loss—that is when choosing becomes revolutionary. Choosing gratitude over bitterness. Choosing truth over silence. Choosing to stand up when everything around you says “stay down.”

4. The Myths We Believe

We often believe lies that disempower us:

• “I have no other option.”

• “This is just how life is.”

• “I’m too old to change.”

• “It’s not the right time.”

But as I write in I Choose, the greatest lie we tell ourselves is that we are stuck. We are never stuck. We are waiting. And we can stop waiting—today.

5. The Sacred Act of Choosing Again

What if we allowed ourselves to choose again? Not from guilt, fear, or pressure—but from clarity and courage. To rewrite a narrative that no longer fits. To break inherited patterns. To live with intention. Choosing again is not failure—it’s growth.

6. I Choose vs. I Have To

Here is one of the most liberating shifts we can make:

“I choose to” instead of “I have to.”

You do not have to take your children to school. You choose to—because they matter to you.

You do not have to show up to work. You choose to—because you value providing and growing.

You do not have to heal. You choose to—because freedom is sacred.

When we say “I have to,” we carry the weight of obligation. We feel burdened, trapped, even resentful. But when we say “I choose to,” we take ownership. We reclaim our agency. We move from pressure to power, from resistance to responsibility.

This shift changes everything.

Choosing is a declaration of freedom. It’s standing in your own center and saying, “I am not doing this because I must. I am doing it because I choose to.”

This is the essence of I Choose—that even in the face of hardship, we still have the right, the power, and the dignity to choose.

7. Collective Impact: When We All Choose

Imagine a world where people choose healing over revenge. Connection over division. Courage over comfort. This is not just individual transformation—it’s a social revolution. A choice, multiplied, becomes a movement.

🔍 Reflection

• What choices have you postponed out of fear?

• What decision, if made today, could transform your tomorrow?

• And most importantly—what would your life look like if you stood fully in the privilege of choosing?

💬 Call to Action

Join the Tocsin Transformational Insights community and share your story of choosing again. Let’s create a ripple effect of empowered decision-making.

🔗 Join the Conversation

📚 Want to Go Deeper?

Explore these transformative insights in the book I Choose by Dr. William Rodríguez.

Available now on Apple Books and other major platforms.