The Weight of Infinite Possibility: Why Less Choice Means More Freedom
A personal reflection, crafted through human-AI collaboration (more on this at the end)
At 29, I was the embodiment of freedom, no commitments, no fixed plans, no ties. So why did I feel so empty?
It was February 2020 in Leipzig, Germany. Fresh from a long-term relationship, I had good savings and a 50-liter backpack containing everything I owned. A valid Australian visa waited in my inbox, promising new adventures. On paper, I had it all: pure, unlimited possibility.
But standing there in Leipzig's winter, I felt a hollow ache in my chest, like I was floating untethered in a sea of options. I had spent my life cultivating this kind of freedom, from my hippie hometown in Argentina to New Zealand, mastering the art of keeping all doors open.
Each new place was a temporary stop.
Each relationship, a chapter that could end.
Each pursuit, something I could walk away from if it got too difficult.
Thatâs when I realized: maybe true freedom isnât about keeping all options open.
Maybe itâs about choosing which ones to close.
"I'm staying in Leipzig," I decided. Not forever. But fully. With a real commitment to see what could grow here. It felt like a leap of faith.
Weeks later, the world locked down. While many felt trapped by the sudden constraints, I felt oddly at peace.
I had already chosen mine.
The Power of Closing Doors
Before this moment, I saw commitment as a trap. Something that would limit my potential, not expand it.
That mindset led to mediocrity: many starts, few follow-throughs. One clear example? Physical training. For years I dabbled, quit, restarted, gave up again.
When lockdown hit, I gave myself one last chance. But this time, it wasnât about the workout plan.
It was about removing the escape hatch.
This wasnât a daily choice anymore. It was just something I did.
The result? Five years of consistency. Five years of growth. Not just physical, but mental.
The Compound Effect of Commitment
The human brain isnât built to grasp compound interest, not in money, not in life.
You commit. You show up. The change is invisible at first. Then, one day, it explodes upward.
But that only happens when you stop negotiating with yourself. When you remove the mental loop of constant decisions, you redirect that energy into actual doing.
Relationships: The Ultimate Test of Commitment
This shift changed how I love.
In past relationships, we kept things open-ended. Separate lives. Flexible futures. It felt modern, progressive, even wise. But that openness diluted everything. We were âfree,â but never deep.
With my wife, itâs different. Commitment isnât a constraint. Itâs scaffolding.
It lets us build higher, together.
It makes us safe enough to be all in.
The Paradox of Chosen Constraints
The most surprising part?
It feels lighter. Fewer choices means less noise.
You stop asking âwhat if,â and start asking âwhatâs next.â
This doesnât mean ignoring when somethingâs wrong. It means staying long enough to let things compound.
Letting growth do its quiet work.
That 50-liter backpack? It held everything I owned.
But it also carried the burden of endless options.
Now I own more, but carry less.
Because sometimes, the most liberating thing you can do is⌠close a door.
So,
what door will you close today?
What will you commit to, not out of fear, but freedom?
A Note on Creation
This piece was crafted through a unique collaboration:
80% lived experience and personal reflection,
20% AI assistance for structure and clarity.
I share this because I believe in honest processes, unconventional tools, and sharing the journey, not just the result.