The Power of Choice: Shaping Our World in Just Ten Minutes

It was 6:00 a.m., and I woke up to the soft, dusky sky. Bangalore had been soaking in rain for nearly two months straight, and the morning felt like it carried the last remnants of the night. But I woke up feeling refreshed, ready to embrace the day with energy and a light heart. Instinctively, I reached for my phone, which had been charging beside my bed. Though I could plug it in anywhere else, I kept it here, using the excuse that it doubled as my alarm clock.

As I unplugged it and walked towards the kitchen, the first thing I did was open BBC News, then CNN, and finally glanced at the news flash on Google. By the time I reached the kitchen, scrolling through headlines, my mood had completely shifted. I had gone from feeling joyful and relaxed to worrying about hurricanes in the US, volcanoes erupting in far-off places, and the looming threat of a global conflict. In just ten minutes, my mind was flooded with anxiety over the state of the world and the uncertain future our children face. Those brief moments were enough to remind me of the power of choice—how it shapes not only our day but our entire outlook on life. Every day, every moment, we are faced with choices: 'THIS or THAT?'

It’s fascinating to reflect on how the decisions we make paint the canvas of our lives with a spectrum of colors. Are we truly in control of these choices, or are we simply reacting to what's in front of us? It’s an important question when raising a young child, but what about adults? Strangely, this question still applies. How often do we catch ourselves saying, 'I had no choice'? Why do we sometimes choose the path we know isn’t right, even when we're fully aware of the consequences? The answer lies in a small but powerful word: 'WILL.' Used with wisdom, will has the potential to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary, like turning a dull stone into a glittering diamond. But if misused to feed the ego, it has the power to destroy everything in its path, including itself.

With Diwali just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to ignite the candle of will within us. Let’s explore its light and understand its power a little more. Wishing you a bright and joyful Diwali!