Thursday, August 20, 2015

IF

I...F...two letters that make up a "big" word.

The longer we live, the more we can see behind us and sometimes that look back leads us to say "If only..." The reality is that we live in a world of "ifs". We contemplate the plethora of decisions we make or didn't make and wonder "If" I had made this decision this might of been the outcome or "if" I had made that decision, the direction of my life would have gone down that road.

The only problem with this "if" is that it is based on the past, on hindsight. We each live with the consequences of our decisions and we cannot go back. We can ask the "if" questions but they get us nowhere.

How do we avoid and deal with the "ifs"?

First, we seek to make the right decision at the front end. We must be able to see, with some degree of wisdom, the consequences of the decision we are faced with currently. We need to think through the "ifs" before we move forward. This is proactive not reactive.

Secondly, once our decision is made, its made. Whatever comes, as a result of our decision, it comes and there is nothing we can do to change it. We might be able to adjust it's course to some degree but once it is in motion, it accomplishes its duty whether good or bad.

Thirdly, if the decision led to the wrong or unintentional end, we must live with the consequences. It is futile to wonder or ask the "if only" questions. It is done and now we live with it. There ought to be a time of reflection and determine the cause of our misguided decision. Once that is
over, move on. There is nothing else to do but to move on and determine to never make that bad decision again.

Lastly, we need accountability in some of our decision making. Having a couple of other people close in our life can prove beneficial. The book of Proverbs has much to teach us about wisdom and the benefit we gain by having others around us.

"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed."
Proverbs 15:22

As we move forward in life, may our decisions be wise, may we celebrate the good and learn from our mistakes; never to repeat them and forget the "ifs".

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