Effect is an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause. An effect can be the result or consequence of an action taken. Almost everything that can be done could have some kind of effect on us or others and things we do are almost always brought about by choice. It has been said that life is the sum of the choices that we make. From the moment we choose to get up in the morning until the time we choose to go to bed at night our lives are filled with choices to make.
Some of our choices have to be disciplined ones. For example, people who work possibly have to discipline themselves to wake up at a certain hour in order to get to work on time. However, people still ultimately have a choice of whether they will get up on time or hit that snooze button just one too many times. We usually have a choice of what we are going to eat for the day. Even if we are at a place where we can’t choose what we are being served we can choose to eat or not to eat.
Even people in places of bondage where they are forced to do things ultimately have a choice of whether they will be compliant or not. If a person has a gun to your head and tells you to do this or die you may not like your options, but you still have a choice. The point that is trying to be made is that almost everything we do is a choice.
There are things that happen in our lives that are not our choice, yet we can still feel the effects of what happened. No one chooses to be in an accident. No one chooses to be molested and no one chooses to be raped or attacked. However, someone may choose to run a red light which causes an accident and a person who is a perpetrator may choose who their next innocent victim will be. We at times feel the effects of other people’s choices. Knowing this no one can honestly say that they can choose to do whatever they want and it not impact someone else. Many people feel that if they choose to do drugs that it will not have an effect on anyone else, however we know this not to be true. Just ask anyone who has a loved one who is an addict.
The same thing could happen to several people and each may choose to respond to it in a different way. A boss may get mad and choose to yell at the employees. Some of the employees might get offended, others may choose to take their chances and yell back, and still others may let what was said to go in one ear and out the other. Many times we have a choice of how we will respond to others. There are times when others annoy us but we can choose not to let that person bother us. The other person might choose to do or say something that has the potential to make us mad but we can choose to not allow our anger to get out of control.
It is very important to be taught at an early age that the thing we choose to say and do can effect not only ourselves but others as well. People who want good things to happen to them could choose to live their lives by the boomerang principle, which is whatever you put out is whatever comes back to you. If good things are done then usually the effect will be good as well.
Take a look at your current situations. What choices have you made in the past that have led you to where you are today? If it is a place that you don’t like what choices can you make to make the situation better and how will your choices bring an effect on others?Each day strive to make wise decisions. For the choices that we make may have either a positive or a negative effect on the future.
Originally written 2/17/99 TRS
Rays of Hope 