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foodguypdx
Decision: to take action based on the information that you have and experiences that go with it.
Choose: to take action inspite of the information that you have and experiences that go with it.
Ah, the smell of LGAT speak in the early afternoon . . . . Brings a smile to my heart.
Interesting definitions foodguypdx. Just where did you glean these from? Make them up yourself? Seems you think that decisions have pre-determined outcomes -- we can only decide to do the most rational or most probable or most logical thing based on the infromation we have -- we're locked in based on evidence/ experience. Seems you also think that choices are the opposite -- take the unnatural path, the road less traveled, what doesn't go with the information at hand. Who fed you this? I know you think the LGATs are great, but these definitions are "created" to serve the LGAT. These definitions reinforce the LGAT philosophy of experience and "go with your emotions" and "logic is bad", etc, etc. etc. Well defined terms have been redefined in the context of the cultic mindset.
Thankfully, generations of human experience and knowledge have given us agreed upon definitions for these terms before Erhard blessed us with his presence:
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[b:c041293833]decide:[/b:c041293833]
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French decider, from Latin decidere, literally, to cut off, from de- + caedere to cut
transitive senses
1 a : to arrive at a solution that ends uncertainty or dispute about <decide what to do> b : to select as a course of action -- used with an infinitive <decided to go>
2 : to bring to a definitive end <one blow decided the fight>
3 : to induce to come to a choice <her pleas decided him to help>
and
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[b:c041293833]choose:[/b:c041293833]
Etymology: Middle English chosen, from Old English cEosan; akin to Old High German kiosan to choose, Latin gustare to taste
transitive senses
1 a : to select freely and after consideration <choose a career> b : to decide on especially by vote : ELECT <chose her as captain>
2 a : to have a preference for <choose one car over another> b : DECIDE <chose to go by train>
intransitive senses
1 : to make a selection
2 : to take an alternative -- used after cannot and usually followed by but <when earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy -- J. A. Froude>
source for both definitions is m-w.com
Decision and Choice are not as far apart as you make them seem. I can decide to do something completely illogical. That is also my choice. As the etymology describes, to me the sublte difference between the two relates more to decisiveness than information or sensibility.
My experience with those involved with LGATs is that they come out talking about choice and decision as you have, thinking that life should be about making "choices" which evidently means swimming upstream and "being courageous" and "unreasonable." Logical decision-making is a "racket." The "select freely" part of the definition is way overblown, to the point where critical thinking IS shut off, along with the decision-making process.
Fifteen years ago when I started hearing about near-death experiences and I started looking into them, all I found in the superficial media reporting and books by proponents were the stories about "good trips." Everyone went to heaven. All was light and happiness. Digging deeper the story changed. There are plenty of "bad trips" but they don't get reported or told because they aren't "positive" and people don't want to hear about them. That doesn't mean they don't exist. So the story goes with all this "choice making" I would bet. We hear story after story of the guy/gal who goes off to Montana or Colorado or the South Pole or wherever and fulfills their dream, or asks out the potential model wife or model husband and everything is all pansies and roses. But, I personally know those who have made "choices" as you describe that end up in a big mess, not just because they chose poorly, but because their choice process was poor. I expect there are scores of these and we don't hear about them because 1) we don't want to know, 2) they don't want to tell. Nothing but choice (using your definitions) in this manner is dangerous. Your post talks almost exclusively about choice. Evidently this is what you prefer.
You say: "You can not have choice without first having decision." This makes no sense given your definitions above. The way you describe them, they are mutually exclusive -- "based on" v. "inspite of."
Simple courage is all that is needed to break through barriers. Courage to follow through with whatever decision or choice you make.
You may reject these definitions since they come from the collective rackets of society, but that's your choice. You can decide for yourself.
-lightwolf