The Autonomy of Choice

Between stimulus and action, there’s a gap. That gap is your autonomy.

Autonomy is defined as “independence or freedom, as of the will or one’s actions“. Autonomy mostly goes unnoticed. When you get a notification, you have the ability to choose whether to respond to it or ignore it. Programmed behaviour means picking it up but you need to realise you have a choice. You always do.

The gap between stimulus and reaction always exists.

The Space You Have Forgotten

Viktor Frankl wrote: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.“

It highlights the fact that humans possess the agency to choose their reactions rather than merely acting on instinct or conditioning. He wrote this quote about surviving the Holocaust. This applies to your tech usage also.

Notification arrives, you pick up your phone. That’s what you’ve been conditioned to do. In that gap between the stimulus and the response, you made the choice. Minuscule but tangible. The choice exists.

You can ignore a notification, you can turn off your notifications, you can pick up the phone. Your autonomy depends on what you choose in that gap.

When you automate a behaviour, you just stop noticing the choice exists.

Automation Erases The Gap 

You didn’t always check your phone without thinking. All that means is that eventually you chose to. You actively choose to keep the app, allow notifications, keep your phone nearby, check it mindlessly, prioritise the notification over what you are currently doing.

Automating behaviours, programming yourself removes the awareness that you are choosing. It goes from choice to automatic. You stop noticing.

You keep choosing, you just refuse to admit you are. This is false. You still are.

It’s easier to say you have no choice instead of admitting fault. 

“Apps are built to be addictive”. Objectively true. You still open and use the app.

“It’s too hard to stop scrolling”. True. You still choose to scroll rather than trying to curb it. 

“I need to stay on top of what’s going on”. No. You’re prioritising that over other things.

Accountability is what prevents you from being a passenger in your own life. You choose. Every single moment, every single swipe. You just use language which eliminates personal liability. 

Widening The Gap

How to widen the gap? Notice the gap. Then choose to expand it.

A notification comes through? Pause before acting. 

You’re bored? Sit with the discomfort.

Want to check something? Decide properly if it’s urgent or just a habit.

Even seconds make a world of difference. The gap always exists. The problem is that it flies under the radar completely due to being so small.

What Does Autonomy Look Like?

Black and white thinking is rarely correct. It’s not about completely removing all urges or being perfect. It’s just about recognising you are choosing. 

A notification arrives, you notice it, feel the pull to check. You check it anyway. That’s what autonomy is. Not always making the right choice but making the choice consciously and choosing to live with the results. Owning your choices and actions.

Tech Consciousness Means Reclaiming Autonomy

Tech consciousness is about remembering the gap exists.

Platforms don’t want you to recognise the gap. The ideal customer is one who responds to stimulus instantly. Urge translates to action instantaneously. Perfect programming. 

Using language which reflects the fact that you do indeed choose. No “my phone made me”, no “I can’t help it”, no “I have to”. 

Everything is a choice. You can choose. You can choose differently.

The gap represents your autonomy. Give it space, widen it and let it breathe. Give it the oxygen it needs to live.