Choosing in the Moment

There’s a phenomenon where people tend to commit to the choices they’ve made, even when they see signs that they’ve chosen incorrectly. In therapy, we try to make those choices more apparent in order to give back a sense of agency, a reminder that every moment has a choice, and that while we can’t change the past, we can always change the future. As C. S. Lewis once said, "We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive." Making a new choice is making progress! The goal isn’t to make it the furthest down any path, but it’s the path that you have no regrets choosing. The only way to get further down that path is to pay attention to whether or not it is right for you in the moment and make changes as you can.

"We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive."

~ C. S. Lewis