Thanks for this posting and ensuing threads. Its one thing to be aware that you create your emotions and circumstances, and yet, its quite another to realize how and why you feel compelled to change them. It seems the discussion has evolved into a quandry over where people have choices and where they exert free will, and how one view here would contradict the other.
From what I understand, awareness has many different levels including, subconscious, conscious and supraconscious levels. These levels of awareness don't always interface in ways that influence a person's conscious behavior. This helps to explain how you can exert free will consciously, deciding you will or will not engage in a relationship for example, without perhaps realizing you've already subconsciously decided to attract a different kind of person into your life. The result means you may send mixed signals, or you may not be happy with the results of your conscious decision.
People like Anthony Robbins share life stories and strategies to encourage other people to choose to change their live. This can be effective, providing someone sincerely desires to change and that person is willing to explore the root causes and reasons for why they are the way they are. Permanent change of habits tends to require an understanding of things like your physiology, environment, relationships, conditioning and a variety of things. This is why its rare for people to quit smoking, lose weight permanently or choose healthier job or relationship circumstances overnight. If you don't understand why you behave as you do, what is within and outside your control, its hard to make positive lifestyle change or learn what it means to feel good about yourself.
