Why Your Life and Business Looks the Way They Do
Written by Josh Kerpan, Success Coach
Josh Kerpan is a business owner and coach who empowers people to pursue their God-given potential in business, family, and life through mentorship, modeling, and practical systems that create clarity, freedom, and sustainable growth.
Will it be yes or no? What do you choose? How do you choose? Do you even have the ability to choose, or is the choice already made for you? This article will explore the power of choice and how it shapes your life and business. By understanding and harnessing this power, you can take control and direct your future. Have you come up with an answer yet? You are likely frustrated and about to move on to the following article if I don’t explain myself soon!
Do we really choose?
I didn’t give any context to the question, it’s hypothetical in nature, intended to make you think about whether or not you have the power to choose. I think it is reasonably obvious that you do have that power, and if you have that power for one decision, then it means you can exert that power over any decision. The consequence is that you can direct your life and are responsible for the results you get based on the decisions you make.
Willpower and responsibility
It’s called willpower, your free will, the ability to choose. The concept of willpower is linked closely to discipline. When we think of discipline, we think about doing the right thing. But relying on discipline to do the right thing is somewhat of an illusion. Studies show 95% of the things we do, the actions we take, come directly out of our subconscious, our paradigm, the multitude of habits fixed in our subconscious mind. Those habits result from ideas accepted as truth. Those ideas originated as thoughts. You are currently experiencing the results of your past thoughts. So when you use your willpower to choose, you are choosing what to think.
Infinite potential, real weight
There is some debate about free will and whether it even exists. When we study quantum mechanics and the activity of the smallest known particles in the universe, it becomes clear that there is no certainty in predicting the future. These particles exist in a superposition, meaning they are in every possible state at once until they are observed. It's mind-bending stuff. This idea mirrors our own potential, as we are capable of countless possibilities until we act or make a choice. It shows that our potential is as boundless as the universe when viewed through this lens of quantum uncertainty.
That’s exciting stuff, and a lot of responsibility. In the immortal words of Marty McFly, “That’s heavy!” But it's this very weight that makes every decision meaningful, each choice an opportunity to shape your future in line with your deepest values.
Paradigms shape outcomes
Paradigms are the set of subconscious beliefs that create the lens through which you interpret the world.
Habit installation
Your brain is created in such a way that it tries to make a habit out of everything you do, and it is very good at it. There's a good reason for this, too. When you store behaviors as habits, you can execute much of what is necessary to live life without using conscious energy. This frees up your higher intellectual skills to solve bigger problems, like quickly fixing that spreadsheet glitch at work or deciding how to address world hunger! By conserving cognitive energy, you can become more efficient in your work tasks and have more brainpower for creative endeavors.
Your habits are stored as ideas that you have accepted as truth. Now, you may not remember accepting them as truth, and that is because the subconscious mind cannot accept or reject. You can consciously reject ideas, but there was a time when your conscious abilities were not developed to the point needed to reason with all of the new ideas you were being introduced to.
Unexamined beliefs
Most of the ideas in your paradigm were etched in before you were 7 years old, and most people never do the work to examine the roots of the things they believe to be true. A woman was making a ham for Thanksgiving, and her daughter asked her why she cut the ends off the ham. She had no answer other than that it was what her mother did. So she asked her mother why she did it. Her mother explained that it was because she had done it. When the eldest generation was asked why she cut the ends off her ham, she exclaimed, "Because otherwise it wouldn’t fit in the pan!
You may be feeling slightly less empowered now, knowing that your paradigms were installed long ago. But the good news is you can change, you can start leaving your ham intact if you have a big enough pan! Recent research into adult neuroplasticity shows that the human brain is capable of significant adaptation and change throughout life. The evidence supports the idea that changing your habits and paradigms is not just possible, but a natural capability of the brain.
Neuroplasticity – Old dogs, new tricks
There is an old saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I can’t say for sure how it works with dogs, but I do know that humans can, and should, continue learning and changing throughout their lives.
From thought to habit
Every day, your brain is busy making new brain cells. Each one has your DNA, just like every other cell in your body, but the way that DNA shows up is different in each cell. What makes the difference? It comes down to the energy required to form those cells, which we’ve learned from the study of epigenetics.
Every day, we form new cells with new genetic coding, containing new thoughts and ideas. When we focus thought energy on these ideas long enough, they grow into self-sustaining ideas at about 21 days. If we nurture that idea long enough (studies show about 66 days or more), it will reach automaticity, otherwise known as a new habit!
If you have habits you want to change but feel stuck, you’re not out of options. All you need is a new idea. Focus on it every day for at least 66 days, and it will replace the old habit. Before you know it, you’ll be seeing new results from your new way of thinking.
Choosing differently
Does it sound easy? The truth is, the steps are simple, but sticking with them takes real commitment and a genuine desire to grow. If you want more out of life, you can have it. This is the process that will help you get there.
If you want a better life, you now have the master toolkit, powered by thought and directed by your free will. Remember, your potential is limitless, and every choice you make is a step toward the future you desire. Seize the journey with confidence and the belief that you can transform your dreams into reality. If you want to learn more about what your life and business could look like with better habits, learn more on my website.
Read more from Josh Kerpan
Josh Kerpan, Success Coach
Josh Kerpan is a business owner and coach who helps people step out of the operator trap and pursue their God-given potential in business, family, and life. Through mentorship and modeling, he teaches practical systems for clarity, delegation, and intentional leadership. His work is grounded in real-world ownership, disciplined thinking, and the belief that businesses should support a well-lived life, not replace it.
