Be Careful of Your Actions

Actions are powerful. Choices are impactful. Even the little things we do in passing can mean the world to someone or destroy another. Drifts and fallouts in relationships usually start with simple decisions. Some of your actions can result in consequences that can continue to affect people even in the years to follow. And the scary part is you might not even know.

Don’t lie to people who trust you.

Don’t be a source of negativity.

Don’t manipulate people.

Don’t take people for granted.

Don’t lead people on like they’re experiments.

Don’t promise the world when you don’t even have a fence.

Don’t expect people to be “mature” enough to get over things quickly. I doubt you would if you were in their shoes.

Don’t act like you’re the only being who exists.

In all, try to treat others like you’d like to be treated. I’m speaking to myself too. It’s not easy, but before you do something or make a decision, especially towards people who are close to you, put yourself on the other end of the decision and ask yourself whether you’d be able to take it if it were you. Living carefree is like initiating a shooting spree. A lot of people could get hurt in ways you couldn’t even have imagined. You might get away with it but your careless actions could change someone forever.

I’m not saying you should suddenly develop OCD, trying to not hurt anyone (because whether you like it or not, you would) but be careful. If nothing, take special attention to the ones close to you. How do you treat people who are loyal to you? Do you take the kind and nice people in your life for granted? Do people make sacrifices for you? What do you pay them back with? Can people look at you as an investment in their time and energy well spent? Or just another mistake to avoid.

Think of all the kind people you know. Imagine a world where they stopped being kind. A world where they sealed up and wouldn’t give a damn about anyone. People don’t just change. Circumstances are catalysts for change. What kind of catalyst are you?

Try to remind yourself that people are not robots. You can’t expect a programmable response for everything you do.

Start to see life and people as an ocean. Think of the ripple effects of your decisions. By affecting one you could affect a hundred. That hundred could affect a thousand. Try to make a habit out of being future oriented. It could help you in your own life as well. If I do this, what are the possible repercussions? Is this detrimental to others?

This isn’t an excuse to carry grudges if you’ve been hurt before, though. In many cases your freedom is your own responsibility. Treat life like you don’t need an apology from anyone. You’d definitely enjoy it better.

Try your best to live at peace with everyone unless it’s out of your hands and there is absolutely nothing you can do. If you hurt someone, try to make amends. If someone hurt you try to let go whether they are apologetic or not. Your life is too important to capitalise on things that happened in the past.

When you can though, avoid being the person that someone has to forgive. Your relationships in life would be better off for it.