Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

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Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

This is a discussion forum topic for the November 2022 Philosophy Book of the Month, In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All


Here is a quote from the book which appears on page 150 (of the hardcover):
Eckhart Aurelius Hughes wrote:
When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose.

What do you you think?

Does the above sentence retain its meaning well even when quoted out of context as above? Or does one really need to read the book and especially the chapter containing that quote to fully capture its meaning?

If we agree on the above quoted point, can we further agree on this elaboration:

As a conscious being in a present (i.e. a unique here-and-now), when you unconditionally accept what you cannot control (i.e. anything that isn't a choice you are making in that present), then you always get exactly what you want.


always-get-what-you-want.jpg
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Mounce574 »

I would have to agree with this statement. Looking at what you cannot control, you make the decision that will come out with what you want. Therefore, you always pick what you want.
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Sushan »

I saw this discussion topic before reaching the quoted page, and to be honest it did not make much sense. Now I have read the whole thing and I know what you have really conveyed through that quote.
If you don't control it, it's not a choice, not yours at least.


I think the above-mentioned quote can be added to what you quote (from the same page) and then it will make more sense. IMO, what we think of as choices are not really choices. We have to identify what choices are, and then only we will get to see the truth bbehind your quote.

Indeed, we get exactly what we choose. If we cannot choose, either it is not a choice, or it is not ours to choose. A brilliant thought.
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

– William James
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Mounce574 »

Sushan wrote: November 12th, 2022, 4:31 am I saw this discussion topic before reaching the quoted page, and to be honest it did not make much sense. Now I have read the whole thing and I know what you have really conveyed through that quote.
If you don't control it, it's not a choice, not yours at least.


I think the above-mentioned quote can be added to what you quote (from the same page) and then it will make more sense. IMO, what we think of as choices are not really choices. We have to identify what choices are, and then only we will get to see the truth bbehind your quote.

Indeed, we get exactly what we choose. If we cannot choose, either it is not a choice, or it is not ours to choose. A brilliant thought.


I completely agree with this. You have some choices made that you can't control; you just have adapt and look at the options you can control to handle that barrier.
"Facts don't care about your feelings." Ben Shapiro
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." NF from Motto
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Sushan »

Mounce574 wrote: November 13th, 2022, 12:57 am
Sushan wrote: November 12th, 2022, 4:31 am I saw this discussion topic before reaching the quoted page, and to be honest it did not make much sense. Now I have read the whole thing and I know what you have really conveyed through that quote.
If you don't control it, it's not a choice, not yours at least.


I think the above-mentioned quote can be added to what you quote (from the same page) and then it will make more sense. IMO, what we think of as choices are not really choices. We have to identify what choices are, and then only we will get to see the truth bbehind your quote.

Indeed, we get exactly what we choose. If we cannot choose, either it is not a choice, or it is not ours to choose. A brilliant thought.


I completely agree with this. You have some choices made that you can't control; you just have adapt and look at the options you can control to handle that barrier.
And I would like to add something to this idea. We should not mix this concept with laziness. It is different to just stop fighting for something because you are lazy to go for it from not fighting for something because it is not really up to you to decide the future, the direction, the result, or whatever the next thing that is related to that particular thing.
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

– William James
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Mounce574 »

Sushan wrote: November 13th, 2022, 3:10 am
Mounce574 wrote: November 13th, 2022, 12:57 am
Sushan wrote: November 12th, 2022, 4:31 am I saw this discussion topic before reaching the quoted page, and to be honest it did not make much sense. Now I have read the whole thing and I know what you have really conveyed through that quote.
If you don't control it, it's not a choice, not yours at least.


I think the above-mentioned quote can be added to what you quote (from the same page) and then it will make more sense. IMO, what we think of as choices are not really choices. We have to identify what choices are, and then only we will get to see the truth bbehind your quote.

Indeed, we get exactly what we choose. If we cannot choose, either it is not a choice, or it is not ours to choose. A brilliant thought.


I completely agree with this. You have some choices made that you can't control; you just have adapt and look at the options you can control to handle that barrier.
And I would like to add something to this idea. We should not mix this concept with laziness. It is different to just stop fighting for something because you are lazy to go for it from not fighting for something because it is not really up to you to decide the future, the direction, the result, or whatever the next thing that is related to that particular thing.
I concur, not making a choice is a choice.
"Facts don't care about your feelings." Ben Shapiro
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." NF from Motto
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Sushan »

Mounce574 wrote: November 15th, 2022, 3:34 pm
Sushan wrote: November 13th, 2022, 3:10 am
Mounce574 wrote: November 13th, 2022, 12:57 am
Sushan wrote: November 12th, 2022, 4:31 am I saw this discussion topic before reaching the quoted page, and to be honest it did not make much sense. Now I have read the whole thing and I know what you have really conveyed through that quote.



I think the above-mentioned quote can be added to what you quote (from the same page) and then it will make more sense. IMO, what we think of as choices are not really choices. We have to identify what choices are, and then only we will get to see the truth bbehind your quote.

Indeed, we get exactly what we choose. If we cannot choose, either it is not a choice, or it is not ours to choose. A brilliant thought.


I completely agree with this. You have some choices made that you can't control; you just have adapt and look at the options you can control to handle that barrier.
And I would like to add something to this idea. We should not mix this concept with laziness. It is different to just stop fighting for something because you are lazy to go for it from not fighting for something because it is not really up to you to decide the future, the direction, the result, or whatever the next thing that is related to that particular thing.
I concur, not making a choice is a choice.
Yes, if you choose to choose nothing, ultimately you will get nothing, as exactly the topic suggests. You choose nothing, you get nothing.
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Mounce574 »

Sushan wrote: November 20th, 2022, 4:49 am
Mounce574 wrote: November 15th, 2022, 3:34 pm
Sushan wrote: November 13th, 2022, 3:10 am
Mounce574 wrote: November 13th, 2022, 12:57 am



I completely agree with this. You have some choices made that you can't control; you just have adapt and look at the options you can control to handle that barrier.
And I would like to add something to this idea. We should not mix this concept with laziness. It is different to just stop fighting for something because you are lazy to go for it from not fighting for something because it is not really up to you to decide the future, the direction, the result, or whatever the next thing that is related to that particular thing.
I concur, not making a choice is a choice.
Yes, if you choose to choose nothing, ultimately you will get nothing, as exactly the topic suggests. You choose nothing, you get nothing.
Not true. If you choose nothing then you could end up with something that you don't like. Additionally, the result may affect others.
"Facts don't care about your feelings." Ben Shapiro
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Sushan »

Mounce574 wrote: November 22nd, 2022, 10:42 pm
Sushan wrote: November 20th, 2022, 4:49 am
Mounce574 wrote: November 15th, 2022, 3:34 pm
Sushan wrote: November 13th, 2022, 3:10 am

And I would like to add something to this idea. We should not mix this concept with laziness. It is different to just stop fighting for something because you are lazy to go for it from not fighting for something because it is not really up to you to decide the future, the direction, the result, or whatever the next thing that is related to that particular thing.
I concur, not making a choice is a choice.
Yes, if you choose to choose nothing, ultimately you will get nothing, as exactly the topic suggests. You choose nothing, you get nothing.
Not true. If you choose nothing then you could end up with something that you don't like. Additionally, the result may affect others.
I cannot agree with you since it makes the topic of this forum incorrect, to which we already agreed to. We choose what we want and then we get we what we want. If we do not choose anything that should mean that we do not want anything. So if we happen to have something that we do not want, then there is some flaw either in the topic or in this discussion.
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Alex Reeves »

Mounce574 wrote: November 13th, 2022, 12:57 am
Sushan wrote: November 12th, 2022, 4:31 am I saw this discussion topic before reaching the quoted page, and to be honest it did not make much sense. Now I have read the whole thing and I know what you have really conveyed through that quote.
If you don't control it, it's not a choice, not yours at least.


I think the above-mentioned quote can be added to what you quote (from the same page) and then it will make more sense. IMO, what we think of as choices are not really choices. We have to identify what choices are, and then only we will get to see the truth bbehind your quote.

Indeed, we get exactly what we choose. If we cannot choose, either it is not a choice, or it is not ours to choose. A brilliant thought.


I completely agree with this. You have some choices made that you can't control; you just have adapt and look at the options you can control to handle that barrier.
Sometimes in life you may be given a list of options or choices to make, and when you realize that none of them appeal to you, you'll have to make the least awful choice. In a situation like this, how can one control the outcome of his choice or option?
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Kelsey Roy »

I agree with this statement. Playing sports, coaches always say, “control the controllable.” If you don’t focus on what is outside of your conscious ability to choose, then you can’t be upset by what happens. I have always struggled with this concept, but this book helped me to see choice in a new light.
mrsperry410
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by mrsperry410 »

I believe the quote does maintain its power and meaning when taken outside of the context of the novel. We separate what we want to do from what we should do and complicate the idea of choice. This quote simply states that if you chose it, you wanted it. We don't need to overcomplicate things. Be present, and own your choices.
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by ilze herholdt »

Indeed, we get exactly what we choose. If we cannot choose, either it is not a choice, or it is not ours to make. I agree with this statement. Looking at what you cannot control, you make the decision that will come out with what you want
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by trevorlando »

This is one of the quotes that has stuck with me. It is vital to stay true to yourself and to stay critical about your own choices. Many people make choices based on how other people feel. When it comes down to it, the choice is always yours. It is essential to make decisions based on your own values, not because your choices will make someone else feel a certain way.
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Re: Page 150: "When it comes to your choices, you always get exactly what you want, meaning what you choose."

Post by Leasa Ana Maria »

I agree. After every choice that we make, we always get what we want because there is only one path to that choice, and if we choose it, it means that it was what we wanted then. Even if it's a bad decision, acknowledging its consequences and continuing with it may only mean that we get what we wanted. 
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