Understanding I
Have you ever wondered why people get surprised about the outcome of their decisions?
The building block of understanding distinguishes people.
It is one thing to know what to do; it is another to know how to do it, but yet another to be aware of the full implications of the decisions and be happy to live with them.
There is so much knowledge out there that anyone could try them out. However, some people may struggle because they do not know how to apply it well, while others may crumble because they cannot live with the consequences of their decisions.
People who are aware of the full implications of their decisions and are willing to take full responsibility demonstrate understanding. For example, anyone may find easy access to cash that belongs to someone else. It is a temptation that can draw anyone, but everyone reacts differently. One person may think he could take the money and get richer and probably not get noticed, so it is an excellent opportunity for easy win or gain. Another may think of the implications of that action and decide against it.
“People who are aware of the full implications of their decisions and are willing to take full responsibility demonstrate understanding.”
Imagine two people walking into an electronic store; one thinks of taking away one of the electronic devices without paying for it. He may successfully walk away with it without anyone noticing immediately or for some time. On the other hand, he may get caught immediately or sometime later and arrested with painful reputational and financial consequences. He probably did not realise the full implication of his actions or thought he would get away with them without a negative impact.
The second person also walks into the same store, with similar circumstances as the first person, but chooses not to follow that line of action. Two things were responsible for his choice; both were implications related. The first was the potential damage the consequence might cause him, being arrested, fined, or having a criminal record. The second was that of the implication for the company. He thinks beyond himself and considers the potential loss to the business, the company, the owner, the shift manager, or the workers. However, he also sees that it could affect the company’s viability, so he refuses to entertain or execute that thought. Instead, he put himself in their shoes and considered the impact of such an experience.
“The actions you choose to implement will affect more people than you may think.”
Which one of the two would you consider to have understanding, and which would be happy to live with the outcome of their choice? Naturally, you would say the latter.
Some people find it surprising when they get the outcome of their decision. They need to be fully aware of the implications of their choices. They only think of what they can gain, not what others might lose. They love the action but do not want or expect the corresponding consequences.
A young man, excited about sleeping around with ladies, may not consider that he may end up with a baby he cannot take care of with his current circumstance. The experience becomes a part of him. He could also be bound to a lady for whom he cannot take responsibility but has become part of his life. He could get an invitation to court for some charges even when he has forgotten about the whole episode. It is like pushing obstacles or stumbling blocks to his future which may show that he needs to be fully aware of how his actions may affect him. Some have become great stars only to get dragged down in the mud by pleasures they enjoyed in the past. One thing all of them would wish for is that it never happened. You will find that people who avoid the pitfalls make better choices by avoiding the unnecessary and avoidable baggage of unpleasant surprises.
The actions you choose to implement will affect more people than you may think. Therefore, it should not be about your gain but how it will affect you and others, not just now but for the time to come. It is a demonstration of understanding. You can decide to be one of those that act differently.
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