It's just turtles all the way down

When my personal trainer tells me that I ought to cut out the crisps, biscuits and chocolate, I know, of course, that he’s right.

Why bother killing myself in the gym only to go and eat like a bored teenager?

But if he really meant that advice, then why work in a gym surrounded by food?

His gym has an M&S local on one side and a Sainsbury’s local on the other and 4 artisan bakeries within a short prowler push of the front door.

Within 23.4 seconds of saying “cheers mate, see you next time”, I can have a bag of Percy Pigs in my hand and a guilty look on my face.

And trust me, that timing is accurate.

It’s like deciding to put your drug rehab centre in the middle of…oh I don’t know, somewhere where people buy lots of drugs? (That analogy would have worked better if I knew anything about buying drugs. Anyway. Moving on.)

Can I really stop myself from eating all the wonderful tasty addictive foods that we humans have managed to create?

I want to.

My PT wants me to.

But what choice do I really have? According to recent insights from neuroscience and psychology, there is no such thing as free will.

You see, even science wants me to eat that cookie!

What feels like free will might just be a series of decisions dictated by genetics and environment. Now, before you throw your hands up in defeat, let’s break down what this actually means for our lives and for my waistline.

The Illusion of Choice

Imagine that every decision you’ve made—what to eat, who to snog, what career to pursue—wasn’t really a “choice” in the traditional sense.

Instead, these decisions were shaped by factors outside your control: your genes, your upbringing and life experiences.

If free will is an illusion, does that make us puppets, mindlessly following a pre-determined path?

It might feel that way, but here’s where it gets interesting.

Consequences Still Matter

Even if our decisions are the result of forces beyond our control, the outcomes of those decisions still have real, tangible effects.

If I inhale that Big Mac, because I “choose” to, my PT is still going to be pissed.

And I, unfortunately, will still have to live with the consequences (he'll destroy me in the gym and I'll ache for days).

The key takeaway here is that while we might not control the initial input, we definitely have to deal with the output.

Compassion, Not Complacency

Realising that everyone’s actions are influenced by their background and biology should, in theory, make us more compassionate.

If someone messes up, it’s not entirely their fault—they’re playing out the cards they’ve been dealt. This doesn’t mean letting bad behaviour slide, but it does suggest we approach such situations with more empathy and understanding.

Success, Failure, and Luck

This perspective also shifts how we view our successes and failures. If we recognise that our achievements are partly due to “luck” (those external influences), we might feel more gratitude and humility rather than pride.

I've definitely experienced my fair share of luck over the past 30 years. I'm extremely grateful; proud of my kids; but still working on the humility (wish me luck!).

On the flip side, understanding that failures are also shaped by external factors can foster learning and growth, instead of anger or self-blame.

So when I hooked my drive into the lake yesterday, rather than swearing loudly and chucking my golf club further than the ball had just travelled, I should have, with hindsight, just acknowledged that it was just part of my genetic make up and blamed my parents instead.

How to Live with This Knowledge

So, what do we do with this understanding? It’s simple: We continue to strive for self-improvement, knowing that our environment and experiences heavily influence us.

We practice compassion—for ourselves and others—understanding that everyone is navigating a complex web of influences. Finally, we focus on the consequences of our actions, as these are very much within our grasp, even if the initial choice wasn’t entirely “free.”

In the end, whether free will is an illusion or not, our actions and their outcomes are what shape our lives.

I will therefore continue to act with intention and empathy as I march into M&S and head straight for those sugary pigs again.

Stay curious, stay compassionate.

Cheers,

Jon "The Daddy Turtle" Kaye