Choice and Consequences

Standing before the fork of the roads, wondering what is the right course to venture on, sometimes, we marvel at the power and responsibility that we are being given, to make choices.

Every choice is an opportunity, and has an opportunity cost, allowing us to embark on one path that offers what the other path does not have. As Jarod Mankin once said, "Here I am at these crossroads again, wondering what will never become of me." For instance, if we choose to  study Law for career stability in future, we give up our dream of becoming an actress, which might be our passion.

Every choice comes with its pros and cons, which is what makes some decisions so hard to make, casting us in dilemma. There is no such thing as a "good" or "bad" choice - we simply learn to live and accept or change the choices we made, it is that simple.

Some choices come with dire consequences, but they were choices we made, we selected them on our own free will. As E.A. Bucchianeri said, "We are the sum total of our the decisions we have made." Whether we choose to help someone or not, whether we choose to believe someone or not, or harm someone or not, it has been a choice given to us. We took it.

Hence, the consequences that come along with them are what we have to learn to bear with. Some of us think that we can easily walk away from the bad decisions we made in life, but it never happens this way. The past is like a shadow that will follow us through life, but whether Karma deals first, or the one who was hurt by our bad choices deals first, we will never know. 

But remember, they will always be back. We have to bear the responsibility and burden for making the choice to hurt someone, either emotionally, financially, physically or mentally. What goes around comes around, so do not play the Blame Game - the choice was yours to make. Alfred A. Montapert made a very wise summation like this, "Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consesquences of his own choices." 

Similarly, some choices reap rewards that we enjoy as well, in lieu of negative consequences. A pot of gold landing in your lap, a fortune left behind by a distant relative we helped years ago without remembering it, etc, are deeds we have chosen to do that brings us blessings in the future.

Like bad decisions, the kind seeds we sown follow us around as well, as long as good Karma - protecting us, shielding us, keeping us with abundance etc for the rest of our lives. Especially when we are being given second chances in lives, to make up for a bad decision we once made - we should treasure it and make good use of it to right our initial wrongs. 

The most cruel kind of choices are the type of choices made by inducement, fear, threats or false hopes given by others, which in actuality are choices not made by free will but a controlled means to attain what others want. If you can get out of such a choice, do so, for you would never be happy trapped in a choice made under such circumstances.

Patricia Cornwell summed this beautifully, "We create our own worlds. We destroy our own worlds. It is that simple..."

We are constantly shaped by the choices we make in life. Think carefully, consider wisely, before making choices that could have adverse effects upon others' lives too. Because sometimes, if we make a decision that affects someone else's life adversely,  just so we could enjoy our current lives as it is, the past will come back to haunt and disrupt our new lives eventually.

Make a fair choice not governed by emotions or impulses. Be fair to yourself, your loved ones, and other parties involved in your decisions. Weigh the pros and cons and see the greater picture before committing anything - once the path is set, we are tossed into the wind and destiny takes over from where we made the choice. Good luck!


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