I think that when a man can feel and emote, and also make healthy and functional choices and follow through with them, it is a good thing.

To mirror Victor Frankl, between stimulus and response is a choice, and in that space is the freedom to choose. And as a person makes choices and follows through with them relative to what's healthy, functional, and good ideas (because acting on good ideas generally produces a good life), they become more powerful and free to make new choices in their zone of proximal development.

Therefore, "the ability to choose" is a good answer.