In life, we have to learn to make many decisions. Sometimes, we have a span of time to think through and then decide. Sometimes we do not have that kind of grace. We have to decide there and then what to say or do. That is what is difficult.
An angry word or a regrettable action. All of us have been there before. So, what can we learn from it? What can we do? To make the right decisions, I see the wisdom, response and truth as vital considerations.
WISDOM
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines wisdom as the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships or having good sense or judgement. The Bible tells us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). We need wisdom in all our decisions.
RESPONSE NOT REACTION
It is very easy to react to situations or happenings that cross our paths. By reaction, I meant that we get angry and flare up there and then because of what is said or done. We may get upset or feel rejected and withdraw to isolation, hoping to be spared of the negative emotions flooding our souls then. However, when we respond, we see the situation through the other person’s eyes and understand where the person is coming from. When we do that, we are less likely to flare up.
TRUTH
Truth is fact. It is the reality of things or events. Truth can hurt but truth is important if we want to see progress. When someone tells us some negative observations (careless, not good, selfish) in us, there is a tendency for us to go on our defence immediately. So, a war of words starts, escalating to negative emotions (anger, resentment, revenge) and sometimes regrettable actions. Can we avoid such a situation?
There is a thin line between wisdom and foolishness, response and reaction, truth or lies. We need to gain wisdom through fearing God and gaining knowledge through reading and interaction with the right friends. We cannot stay naïve or complacent about our world that is constantly changing. In trying situations, we must learn to respond rather than react, which is really hard to master but worth the effort. We must be ready to welcome truth even though truth can hurt us.
When we are caught in this thin line of decision, let us choose to do the right thing. Let us use the wounds and scars in our lives to be reminders and lessons for us to tread the right path. We may falter and fail many times but we can always get up and go on again towards a fulfilled and meaningful life.
By Mei Wong on 18 Nov 2022
Mei Wong is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav.
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