Consideration

Brightening the lives of others brightens my own.

It is evident to me that after having this virtue card for the last several days that I need to strengthen the practice of consideration in my life. I have a tendency to not mindfully consider what will result from my choices before I act. I know it is a scientific fact that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. On reflection, the results of my actions are obvious and inevitable. What is it then that propels me to perpetuate a pattern that only leads to sadness and sorrow? Consideration must be one of those virtues that exists when I practice the "pause". It is a difficult and elusive space for me to find when my emotions are high and mind chatter is constant. Pause is something I have experienced, but when things have gone pear-shaped and I take the time to look back and acknowledge my mistakes and mis-steps, I find that the point where I ought to have paused, I instead stormed through like the proverbial bull in a china shop, heedless of the consequences, sparing no time to consider what the effect of my actions may be. And as I look back at the damage left in my wake, I am remorseful wishing that I had taken the time to practice holding decisions with care and discernment. To compound this problem I then isolate, withdrawing from others in an attempt to regroup. Consideration encourages me to put others first and look to their needs. I enjoy bringing joy and happiness to others, and it is an activity I ought to engage in even when I am sad. I recall now that I have heard from friends how this practice of doing some service even when they are in the deepest despair, serves to lighten the emotional load. Perhaps this is the pause, the bringing happiness to others while putting aside my tendency to dwell on unpleasant things. I have read a quotation from 'Abdu'l-Baha, about doing service when negative emotions are high and even prayer seems not to shift my mood. I will take the time today to bring joy to others with the knowledge that this will bring joy to me too!