5-Minute Podcast Script: “Autonomy: The Power of ‘I Choose’”

Welcome back everybody, you’re listening to the Mindset Matters podcast, I’m your host Riley Jensen and today I want to talk about Autonomy and the power of the phrase “I choose”

Let me ask you something like I always do.

Do you love what you do?

Like, deep down… do you still love it?

One of my favorite sports movies of all time is The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid. If you’ve seen it, you know it’s more than just a baseball story—it's a story about rediscovering purpose.

In the film, Jim Morris, a high school baseball coach who long ago gave up on his dream of the majors, gets pushed by his students to try out one last time. Along the way, he wrestles with doubt, fear, and the question that many of us face at some point:

Is this still worth it?

And in a pivotal moment, his wife simply asks him:

“Do you still love it?”

That question changes everything for him.

So here’s my question for you:

👉 Do you love it?

👉 Even if you’re not winning every time, do you still love the process, the game, the journey?

Because you won’t always be at 100%. You won’t always feel like you’re crushing it. But when you have Autonomy—when you choose your path—something powerful happens: you start to show up differently.

💡 In sport psychology, we call this Self-Determination Theory. It’s built on three simple but profound ideas:

Autonomy – I choose

Competence – I can

Relatedness – I belong

Today, I want to focus on Autonomy: the power of “I choose.”

The truth is, when you’re doing something because someone else told you to—whether it’s your parents, your boss, or society—you’re less likely to stick with it when adversity hits.

But when you’ve made the decision for yourself—when you choose it—you’ll fight for it longer, you’ll have more grit, and you’ll stay more resilient.

This is true in sports. It’s true in business. It’s true in relationships.

Here’s a quick exercise for you right now:

📌 Think of something in your life that’s weighing you down. Maybe it’s a job you don’t love, a role you didn’t really choose, or a goal that doesn’t feel like yours.

Now ask yourself:

✅ Did I choose this?

✅ Do I love it?

✅ Is there a small decision I can make today to bring more choice and control back into my life?

Sometimes, it’s the tiniest choices that shift everything. In one study, nursing home patients were simply given the freedom to adjust their own room temperature, pick their meals, or move furniture. The result? They became happier, more active, and more alive.

You don’t need to quit your job or move across the country today. But you can:

✔ Choose how you respond.

✔ Choose one activity that fills your cup.

✔ Choose to say “no” to one thing that drains you.

And here’s the other truth:

Stop chasing motivation.

Start building commitment.

Motivation comes and goes. Commitment? That’s what makes greatness.

It’s not about waiting until you feel like it. It’s about showing up because you chose this.

So today, ask yourself:

👉 Where in my life can I say, “I choose”?

👉 Where can I move from should to want?

And if you’re stuck—start small:

✅ Write down one thing you’re grateful for.

✅ Take one small action that’s truly yours.

✅ Say “no” to something that doesn’t serve you.

That’s how you start living your “I choose” life.

👉 I’d love to hear your thoughts—DM me on Instagram @rileysjensen or tag me with your biggest takeaway from today’s episode.