Only because genes/organisms can make choices (changes to its programming, or decisions) to optimize their path towards their goal. A rock is maybe not a good

Only because genes/organisms can make choices (changes to its programming, or decisions) to optimize their path towards their goal. A rock is maybe not a good counterexample, but a crystal is because it can grow over time. So in some sense, it tries not to break. However a crystal cannot make any choices; it's behavior is locked into the chemistry it starts with.