Agency

Shane gets therapy. He stops drinking (mostly). He finds joy in chickens. He becomes, gradually, a person managing his depression instead of drowning in it. You helped. Your friendship mattered. But here’s the critical detail: You didn’t fix him. You were part of his support system. He did the work. And Emily? She’s on her own spiritual journey. Deepening her practice. Exploring crystals and meditation. Growing. Whether you befriend her or not. ...

At 3:47 PM on a Tuesday, I decided to quit my job and start a company. Or did I? Maybe the decision was already made by unconscious neural processes seconds before I became aware of it. Maybe my genes, my upbringing, my brain chemistry, and the exact configuration of neurons firing that afternoon determined that choice, and the feeling of choosing was just a story my brain told itself afterward. ...