'Voluntary' is a Delusion

Conscious will is delusional. The will itself suffers from delusions about being the Big Controller. In fact, when you think you have decided on an action and begin to take it, that action will have been initiated. You were already reaching for that cup. System commitment first, 'conscious' decision second. 'Conscious decision-making' is actually a bunch of story-filler made up after the fact. Even complex abstract decisions show neural commitment patterns that come before conscious deliberation. This suggests that the delusion of exerting our will may be one of the strangest gems of evolutionary development on record. A lot of Feldenkrais is about sneaking past that delusion and addressing the real influencers of movement.