Gestalt psychology, which focuses on the principles of awareness and living in the present moment, emphasizes the importance of conscious choice. This concept refers to a person’s ability to make choices based on their genuine needs, desires, and feelings rather than on automatic reactions or societal expectations. Conscious choice is a key element for personal development and achieving harmony in life.
What is Conscious Choice?
A conscious choice is a decision made with a full understanding of one’s own needs, desires, and the context of the situation. It is not merely a reaction to external circumstances but a deliberate decision that reflects a person’s true values and priorities. From the perspective of gestalt psychology, conscious choice is a process that allows a person to be authentic and take responsibility for their own life.
Gestalt psychology emphasizes that our choices should result from self-awareness, not external influences or internal conflicts. A conscious choice allows a person to avoid rigid behavioral patterns and adapt to new situations while maintaining authenticity.
Why is it Important to Make Conscious Choices?
Reducing Anxiety and Tension: Often, people feel anxiety and stress because they do not control their decisions. When a choice is made consciously, it becomes a source of inner peace because the person understands why they are making a particular decision and how it aligns with their needs.
Increasing Personal Responsibility: Conscious choice helps a person take responsibility for their own life. This reduces the feeling of being a victim of circumstances or other people since the individual understands they are accountable for their decisions and their consequences.
Enhancing Life Satisfaction: When a person makes choices that align with their true needs and desires, they feel more satisfied with their life. This reduces the risk of feeling empty or unfulfilled, which often arises when a person acts according to someone else’s script or automatic reactions.
Developing Authenticity and Self-Knowledge: Conscious choice promotes a deeper understanding of oneself and one’s desires. A person becomes more authentic when their actions align with their internal values and beliefs.
How to Develop the Ability to Make Conscious Choices?
Practicing Mindfulness: Gestalt psychology emphasizes the importance of mindfulness practice, which includes the ability to notice one’s thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations in the present moment. This helps a person better understand what truly motivates them and what they really want.
Working with Unfinished Business: Unfinished business from the past can prevent one from making conscious choices in the present. Addressing these issues helps free oneself from old patterns and open up new possibilities for decision-making.
Analyzing Needs and Values: Understanding one’s true needs and values is a key aspect of conscious choice. Gestalt therapy offers various methods for exploring inner needs, such as dialogue techniques or drawing, to gain a better understanding of oneself.
Reality Testing: This means asking oneself: “Does my choice reflect my true desires and needs, or am I acting under external expectations?” Such reflection helps avoid automatic reactions and make decisions that align with a person’s true nature.
Conscious Choice and Gestalt Completion
In gestalt psychology, completing a gestalt is a process in which a person finishes an internal psychological task to free up space for new experiences and choices. Conscious choice helps complete a gestalt because a person consciously chooses how to act in each new situation, leaving no unfinished business.
Conscious choice is a crucial element from the perspective of gestalt psychology because it allows a person to live authentically and responsibly. This process requires self-awareness, understanding of one’s needs and values, and the ability to resist automatic reactions and external expectations. Developing this ability not only reduces internal anxiety and conflict but also fosters greater life satisfaction and personal growth.