Timshel - Choice and Personal Accountability

“…But the Hebrew word, the word timshel, ‘Thou mayest,’ that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’, it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?”
~ Lee, John Steinbeck’s character, East of Eden

What a wonderfully freeing reality it is to know that, indeed, at the moment of decision, you do have a choice. To deny “choice” not only condemns you to victimhood, it also negates all of your positive accomplishments and victories—past, present, and future. For, after all, if rain clouds seek you out for fierce punishment, how can you possibly control the sun?

It’s so very easy to deflect accountability for our actions, to cower in the shadow of our own behavior while we shuffle away murmuring and whimpering, “It’s not my fault, it’s not my fault.” You can choose to wallow in self-pity, cling to your persecution and project miserable images of your future, or you can draw lessons from your bad experiences and move forward. It truly is your choice.