Your command of "Free Will" or your ability to make choices.

There is a lot made of the ability to use "free will" in making your life decisions.   This concept indicates that there may be a limit on your decision making process. The fact is that may be in fact a manipulative approach to have you make a decision on an organization's "menu of limited selections".   As long as you choose within the range of ideas or actions recommended you're told you are making the most of your "free will".   This concept still says to you that and outside influence is calling the tune and in fact dictate right or wrong choices depending on an established dogma.

You as a truly intelligent person can decide on your life choices based on your own agenda.   This awareness of self-empowerment leads to self-confidence and is the final building block in a true awareness of "self".   Unfortunately influence groups in our society often are not comfortable with individuals who make independent decisions that make lie outside their influence.   Certain religions, political movements, social organizations and even corporations try to create an intellectual environment that sets up expectations of thought and action that conform to their agenda or culture.   This can happen without you being aware of it and sometimes its preferred by some persons because it creates a comfortable place to be and limits the need for creative thought or going outside your envelope or your range of experience.

Once you have in fact "pushed the envelope" the experience is so empowering it is doubtful if you ever can go back to comfortable conformity.