Who shuts down our ability to create choices?

The reason we sometimes cannot see the other options, when faced with a
challenging situation, is because our deepest learned habit is to create
fear and then react from that fear, and it's fear that shuts down our
ability to create choices, not to mention paralyzing our ability to assess
the strengths and weakness of each option and make the right choice. We have
been taught to believe that the fear is normal and natural. But the truth is
that the fear paralyses our ability to create what may be much more
appropriate and effective responses. Fear is a learned habit and very soon
we are generating fearfulness at the slightest perceived threat. Contrary to
popular belief, fear has absolutely no value to our well-being. E.g. You
don't even need fear to respond effectively to the unexpected encounter with
a tiger. You need the cool, calm and concentrated focus of the gymnast and
the creativity of the artist to respond effectively. It's not the tiger that
scares you, it's what you do with the tiger in your mind that generates the
fear. Who or what are the tigers or fears in your life? What are you doing
with them in your mind?*


Shri Guru Amar Das ji says-
(Page no-647 in shriGuru Granth Saheb ji)


ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
सलोकु मः ३ ॥
Salok mėhlā 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:

ਪਰਥਾਇ ਸਾਖੀ ਮਹਾ ਪੁਰਖ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ ॥
परथाइ साखी महा पुरख बोलदे साझी सगल जहानै ॥
Parthā▫e sākẖī mahā purakẖ bolḏe sājẖī sagal jahānai.
Great men speak the teachings by relating them to individual situations, but the whole world shares in them.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਭਉ ਕਰੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥
गुरमुखि होइ सु भउ करे आपणा आपु पछाणै ॥
Gurmukẖ ho▫e so bẖa▫o kare āpṇā āp pacẖẖāṇai.
One who becomes Gurmukh knows the Fear of God, and realizes his own self.

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ॥
गुर परसादी जीवतु मरै ता मन ही ते मनु मानै ॥
Gur parsādī jīvaṯ marai ṯā man hī ṯe man mānai.
If, by Guru's Grace, one remains dead while yet alive, the mind becomes content in itself.

ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇ ਕਿਆ ਕਥਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੈ ॥੧॥
जिन कउ मन की परतीति नाही नानक से किआ कथहि गिआनै ॥१॥
Jin ka▫o man kī parṯīṯ nāhī Nānak se ki▫ā kathėh gi▫ānai. ||1||
Those who have no faith in their own minds, O Nanak - how can they speak of spiritual wisdom? ||1||