The Choice That Will Change Everything

This morning, I found myself sitting with a thought—a heavy one, yet strangely liberating. It was one of those moments where the quiet of the morning, combined with a bit of reflection, allowed me to piece together something I hadn’t quite seen before. Looking back on my own journey, I could finally see how every little step had led to this realization—this shift in perspective that landed like a “penny dropping.”

We are all conditioned, every last one of us.

As I let that fully and unequivocally sink all the way into my soul, I couldn’t help but wonder: what can we do about it? What can I do about it? And, more importantly, how do we start to change this world? Because here’s the thing: change will come—but only when we realize the truth about where we are now. We’ve been living in a story that doesn’t serve us anymore, and the only way to get out of it is to step out of that narrative.

The Conditioning We’re All In

It’s hard to see, but we’ve all been handed a script. It’s a narrative we didn’t write, yet it’s the one we’re living by and living out. It’s the story of who we should be, how we should act, and what we should believe. A script written by a long history of social norms, traditions, and systems of power over that encourage us to stay small, stay in line, and most importantly, stay unaware of the choices we can make.

We’ve all been shaped by this conditioning—though not in identical ways. Different cultures, social contexts, and experiences influence how we internalize and act on these outside forces. What I realized, looking at my own life, is that while these forces are universal, the specifics of our conditioning depend on who we are, where we come from, and the circumstances we face. But regardless of the details, many of us are living a version of the same story, one that tells us our worth is tied to external validation—careers, status, and social standing.

We’ve been told to chase these things, while our true power and freedom have quietly slipped through our fingers. What I’ve realized, by looking at my own story with fresh eyes, is that it’s not just a personal issue. It’s a collective one.

We’ve all been conditioned by the same underlying systems, and it’s time to recognize it.

Facing the Facts—And Choosing Something Different

The world, as it is, is not going to magically shift overnight. We have been handed a narrative that keeps us passive, keeps us waiting, and keeps us playing small. But here’s where we start: the only way to change it is to choose to see the world for what it really is—not through the lens of what we’ve been conditioned to believe, but through the lens of raw, uncomfortable reality.

Once we can see things clearly, we need to stop telling ourselves the same old stories. We need to step out of the narrative we’ve been living. This isn’t and won’t be easy. It’s uncomfortable, and it challenges everything we thought we knew about ourselves and the world. But discomfort, while challenging, is also a tool for growth—if we use it constructively.

It’s a monumental task? Yes, undeniably. But also a choice. And it’s the only choice that leads to any real change.

For Ourselves, For Our Future Generations

The question that keeps coming up for me is: how do we change this for our children, for our grandchildren, for future generations? How do we break this cycle of conditioning and empower those who come after us to truly live their lives, to feel they have the agency to make the choices that are theirs to make?

Here’s the thing: this change is bigger than us as individuals. Yes, we have power, but it’s important to recognize that systemic forces often limit how much agency we truly have, especially for those who are marginalized or oppressed. But even within those constraints, we can choose how we respond.

Change won’t happen overnight, and it’s not all on one person or one generation. It’s a process, one that requires us to push against the narratives we’ve been handed, challenge the systems that hold us back, and work toward a world where more people have meaningful choices and opportunities.

Our responsibility isn’t just to ourselves, but to those who come after us. To our children, our grandchildren, and every generation that will inherit the choices we make today.

What Will You Choose?

I don’t have all the answers. But I do know this: change won’t come until we choose to make it happen. Until we choose to step out of the stories we’ve been told and take responsibility for the world we want to create.

But this isn’t an abstract idea. It’s a daily practice. It’s about the small, sometimes difficult choices we make in our own lives. It’s about recognizing that the power to create change lies in our hands, but also acknowledging that we are part of a much bigger web of influence. It’s about using our agency to break free of the stories that limit us—and ultimately, to create new stories that empower us all.

The question is: what will you choose?

Note: If you're ready to take action, I invite you to start small. Reflect on where you’re still playing into the old stories. What can you choose to do differently today?

Let’s start this together.

🧡

Cynthia Jamieson, CHRL, PCC, ACPC

Transformational Coach & Podcast Host of “Unchartered and Unfiltered” A Journey Back to You