Can one choose to BE something?

Question

Most will see doing as a matter of choice, but are qualities of being something you can choose. Can you choose to BE loving if you are not already, or can you only choose to do loving things in spite of the fact that you may not feel loving?

(Not questioning whether the doing is 'good' or 'bad' here, just whether it's possible to choose to be something)

Can you choose to be joyful, peaceful, compassionate, understanding, hopeful, courageous, fearless, etc, or can you merely act out these roles based on whatever your motivation? If the latter, can it affect your state of being (fake it til you make it)? Is it often done as a pretense of being that quality as an ego benefit? Can it become a self deception that slows the evolutionary process of becoming that quality?

If you can choose to be happy all the time, why would't you?

Answer 1

I chose to be happy all the time~ problem is I forget my choice time to time ^.^ I chose to be enlightened too, and forget that much often than choice of happiness ~~~
(((((((^.^)))))))
happy forgetful girl

Answer 2

This is a good question as it considers whether we have free will. I had a psychologist tell me once that I needed to learn to "control my emotions" and another psychologist later who told me, "one cannot hope to control ones emotions as they are as spontaneous as a sneeze but one could learn to control what they do about their emotions". The question of free will vs determinism is ancient.

Christians believe, "God is in control of all things." but at the same time one has the free will to choose between belief and doubt. Many scientists have believed that, ever since the first act of the "prime mover" all things are subsequently determined. Quantum theory changed this belief in many scientists with the introduction of chance into physics. But a recent series of experiments by a psychologist throws doubt on the existence of free will. These are described in:

Benjamin Libet; "Mind Time"; Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge Mass., 2004

In this work Libet asks the question, "is it possible that a physical act is initiated before the conscious will to act occurs?" He describes experiments which show that this does indeed occur. So if the experiments are true it is indicative that our free will is an illusion. WE THEREFORE CAN NOT CHOOSE TO DO ANYTHING! Something controls our every act.

Good luck with your will, good health, peace and love!

Answer 3

What we can do is choose to think and feel and change and grow. We can choose which elevator we will take to get to the 8th floor of an office building . . . and we can also choose to take the stairs. Each choice will get us where we need to be, but each choice will render a unique experience in getting us there.

If we think and feel something about ourselves (say, perhaps, that we think and feel we are the Messiah), but have not manifested that truth yet (say, perhaps, we have not ascended), that does not mean that we are being self-deceiving or that our evolutionary process has been degraded. It simply means that we acknowledge that this is who we are in the process of becoming.

While I do my best to choose to be content most of the time, continual happiness would be reflective of stagnancy, a lifetime lacking experience, balance. Without change that stagnancy remains, inhibiting our growth, and THUS degrading our evolutionary process.

Answer 4

I think you must clarify your question. One can choose to act as in loving or courageous or angry. One cannot truly choose to be that which one is not. You cannot choose to be a muskrat for instance. The difference is to be and to do.
One can choose to do or act as it were, in any manner they will to do, good or bad. The fact that most people will do the absolute minimum or the easiest path, does not discount the ability of the will to overcome the instinct. For example, smoking. I smoked heavily for over 20 years. Liked to. still would. One day four years ago. My wife asked me to stop in the gentlest most caring of requests. I blew it off . As soon as she left the room, I thought a moment, gathered up my cigs, cigars and tobacco, threw them away and determined I was no longer a smoker. Easy? No definitely not. Do I have a special superhuman will or a biochemical difference from any other human. Don't count on it. What was the difference?
I knew what I wanted and was not going to allow my baser instincts to interfere. Anyone can do the same.
I hope that suffices to answer your question. It was a little windy.

Answer 5

Hi Phil,

Interesting points. I think you can choose to be, or respond to things in a particular way/s, that minimise suffering & promote happiness for oneself & others.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is 'nothing': at others something more active is required.

Both these aspects are covered by the concept of 'right' effort.

The effort to increase good states & maintain them; and to prevent & eliminate unskillful states.

Whether we like it or not, life requires effort. By channelling this spiritually, we act in our own & others' long term best interests.

Religions give us standards of ethics & conduct: physical, verbal & mental.

We are the best to judge whether we meet them or not.

Where we don't, the answer is unfortunately, the simple one of 'more work needs to be done'.

Right Effort (neither overly active, nor too lax) is the solution.

With patience & courageous faith, we can come to realise our goals.

Even in the most adverse of circumstances. :-)

Answer 6

As Gandhi said:
"Be the change you want to see in the world"

To Be you must Be aware, then there is the Action of Being.

Acceptance of what is, is.

Yes, at times to "fake it to make it" is what is needed. To be confused as what to do next is the next stage. Seeking a spiritual teacher is a Must.. Our minds become self-deluded and self -masturbatory.

Going it alone in Spiritual matters is dangerous. Very dangerous!! Taken from personal experience. Novices Need guidance!!

All is One

Namaste

Peace and Love

Answer 7

What I do choose is equanimity regardless of mind arisings. Choice it is. Equanimity doesn't mean a no feeling state it just means I choose now not to get swept away by my emotions. I have passed trough the inferno of my passions enough thank you. Getting of a little wisdom me thinks. Happiness is subject to expectation. I have learned also to watch that mind that thinks
'this is it'. Happiness comes and goes the same way as our sadnesses do.

Answer 8

Be what you are:) who is the choise maker?;) we are already that- there is no need for effort to be something that which we aready are.simply be..... just being is all it is.
What you truly have you cannot lose. Were you well-grounded in your self, change of place,time would not affect it.
First return to your true being and then act from the heart of love.
lots of love,
Joson

Answer 9

The ability to choose to be something can always happen. It just takes the total sacrifice of your negativity on the choice. There is no half-asp effort.

Answer 10

The only choosing that we can do is to 'be there' with 'what is' (happening) as our life unfolds. Oh...on a more subtle level, we can choose not to attend to a thought.

P.S. The "unfolding" may include good, bad and everything in between.