We are free to choose our own actions. This is something we've always known since we were little. "You're not the boss of me" is something you often hear in a kindergarten class - and it's true.
We also choose our own consequences as a result of choosing our actions. I've had the conversation with my oldest daughter a couple of times about choosing her actions and thinking about the consequences of those actions.
This is a childhood principle that I think we need to re-visit from time to time as an adult - choose your actions by considering the consequences of those actions.
The first time I started thinking about choices differently was during a 3 day, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People course that was offered at my work. The first step of the 7 Habits is 'be proactive'. What Stephen Covey means by being proactive is not the normal 'acting in advance', but instead he means be aware that you have the ability to choose your reaction to any stimulus. Also in his definition, he explains that there is a gap between any stimulus and your response. In that gap is where you choose your response. He encourages people to make that gap bigger and bigger to give yourself more time to consider your response.
I really like this idea of thinking about choices and coming to the realization that we define our lives by every choice that we make.
We choose who we are. And we can choose to continue to be the same person or choose to make changes to become a different person. If you can take this to heart, the idea really can be life changing.
So, although you've heard it before, I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to consider your actions and the consequences that go along with them. Respond to stimuli in a way that is inline with who you want to be. Make the choices that move your life in the direction that you want it to go.