Acharya Prashant responds to a question about being unable to avoid distractions despite knowing that time is limited. He states that there is no lengthy answer because the questioner has already announced his decision. When one says, "There are some people I cannot stay away from," it is not a compulsion but a decision. After declaring this, asking how to change the decision is futile. He compares this to a court case where the verdict is announced at the beginning, rendering all subsequent witnesses, evidence, and arguments meaningless. He asserts that helplessness is not a valid excuse, and against a declaration of helplessness, no logic, knowledge, or practice can work. Starting a question with "I cannot do this" is a form of self-deception. Acharya Prashant directly challenges the questioner's claim of being unable to stay away from certain people. He asks if there is a magnetic force or if the police forcibly bind him and place him in their company. He points out that the questioner goes to them on his own two feet, which makes it a decision, not a compulsion. A decision made by free will can only be changed by free will. He explains that someone who doesn't know can be taught, but someone who knows the good and the bad, has weighed them, and still decides to go towards the bad, cannot be helped. There is no magic in spirituality or Vedanta that can force a person. Vedanta can explain what is beneficial and what is harmful, and the consequences of actions, but it cannot compel a young person. A person's nature is freedom (mukti), which includes the freedom to decide whether or not to move towards freedom. One is free to wear the mask of helplessness. The speaker then addresses another question about knowing the dreadfulness of a wasted life. He says one knows it by seeing, by pausing and looking, as nothing is hidden. However, people do not want to see, especially when there is pleasure, greed, and fun involved, because seeing would require acknowledgement. He uses the analogy of a bird flying towards grains in a trap, thinking only of the pleasure, and getting caught. The solution, he suggests, is to remember the teacher even in moments of pleasure.