About this episode

Derek Sivers discusses the nature of personal choice and the external judgments that often accompany it.

No matter what choice you make, someone will tell you it’s wrong. It’s wrong because it’s not what they would have chosen. It’s not what they need. It’s not the choice of other people they know. It’s not what an expert recommends. The prosecution rests their case. You might feel a need to defend it, or argue why you’re right. Don’t bother. It’s not for them, or anyone else. It’s not even for your future or past. It’s only for you, and only for now. Your choice helps you do what you need to do, be who you want to be, or feel at peace. It improves your current actions. That’s enough. No need to argue that it’s true.

People in this episode

Host: Derek Sivers

Topics covered

• choice
• decision making
• self-acceptance
• personal growth
• philosophy

Keywords

• choice
• wrong
• self
• peace
• decision
• argument
• personal

More episodes of Derek Sivers podcast

• What next? · February 9, 2026 · 1 min
• Reframing death · February 8, 2026 · 2 min
• You are what you pretend to be · February 7, 2026 · 2 min
• Keep tuning and adjusting · February 6, 2026 · 1 min
• Take the first step immediately · February 5, 2026 · 2 min
• Talk with friends to solidify it · February 3, 2026 · 1 min

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