The choices we make and their impact on our lives

The choices we make and their impact on our lives

This week I thought about the choices/decisions we make in life.  There is a key principle in the universe that is never unfailing in its application. It’s called the Law of Cause and Effect. As much as we try to bury our heads in the sand we cannot avoid this phenomenon.

It’s currently the wettest season in my home country. This runs from late September to early December. The road infrastructure has been tested and found wanting. Some funny memes and videos showing the effects of the road conditions have been circulating in social media.

Individuals fell off motorcycles in the flooded and potholed roads. Luckily, they escaped unscathed but it reminded me, that as a collective, both the citizens and its leadership, have failed in carrying out their responsibilities in ensuring a proper road infrastructure is maintained.

Lack of proper accountability, in the use and deployment of road and transport infrastructure funding and implementation has its consequences. The overall cost to the economy of endemic corruption and poor planning has led to the current situation.

Our Destiny is determined by our Decision/Choices

The conditions and environment we live in are the results/effects of previous actions/causes.  If we embrace a life of diligence, accountability and integrity we generally expect a trajectory of good results, trust, harmony in our lives and relationships.

If we embrace sloth, indifference and lack of accountability, we should expect general results of chaos, disorder and the breakdown of society. Aristotle the great Greek philosopher summed it up in three quotes

We are what we repeatedly do.

Quality is not an act, it is a habit.

Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.

Our Daily Choices

Our destiny is the average of the aggregated daily choices and decisions we make in the long run. Great decisions, choices and habits ultimately lead to great outcomes. Poor decisions, habits and choices ultimately lead to poor and terrible results.

Both on an individual, community and national level our choices and decisions matter. The only difference between poor and rich countries are the strategic and tactical decisions/choices they make.

We can have great plans but if we choose not to implement them (a choice in its own right) we end up with poor outcomes.

Summary

We have to deal with financial, health, spiritual and relationship matters daily. Paying close attention to the decisions and choices we make, in each and every sphere of these areas, is crucial.

We need to make conscious decisions to do the right thing every day. Quality decision making every day pays in the long run. That universal law called Cause and Effect truly works if you know how to harness it for your own good.

Poem Decide  Source You Decide, 10 Short Poems on Decisions (stresslesscountry.com)
Poet: Edgar A. Guest

You are the fellow that has to decide
Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside.
You are the fellow who makes up your mind
Whether you’ll lead or will linger behind
Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar
Or just be contented to stay where you are.
Take it or leave it. Here’s something to do!
Just think it over – It’s all up to you!

What do you wish? To be known as a shirk,
Known as a good man who’s willing to work,
Scorned for a loafer or praised by your chief,
Rich man or poor man or beggar or thief?
Eager or earnest or dull through the day,
Honest or crooked? It’s you who must say!
You must decide in the face of the test
Whether you’ll shirk it or give it your best.

Nobody here will compel you to rise;
No one will force you to open your eyes;
No one will answer for you yes or no,
Whether to stay there or whether to go.
Life is a game, but it’s you who must say,
Whether as cheat or as sportsman you’ll play.
Fate may betray you, but you settle first
Whether to live to your best or your worst.

So, whatever it is you are wanting to be,
Remember, to fashion the choice you are free.
Kindly or selfish, or gentle or strong,
Keeping the right way or taking the wrong,
Careless of honor or guarding your pride,
All these are questions which you must decide.
Yours the selection, whichever you do;
The thing men call character is all up to you!

21 thoughts on “The choices we make and their impact on our lives”

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