Think, Before You Act

“Nothing can produce so great a serenity of life as a mind free from guilt and kept untainted, not only from actions, but purposes that are wicked. By this means the soul will be not only unpolluted but also undisturbed. The fountain will run clear and unsullied.” ~Plutarch …

Although we have free will to make our own choices in life, it is important that we understand that when we make those choices, we are usually also deciding on just what is going to be in our minds afterwards. If we do something that we know is wrong, or may harm others, we are also deciding to live with ourselves afterwards–perhaps the guilt, the remorse, the feeling that you let you or someone else down.

Plutarch is talking about keeping our souls serenity–about keeping ourselves free from doing such actions that we know will result in us feeling guilty. Perhaps the cashier forgot to charge me for an item at the store… do I go back and pay for it, knowing that it will free my mind of guilt, or do I simply try to justify it, telling myself that perhaps I deserved it, and choosing to live with the guilt inflicted upon me?

Serenity is a wonderful thing–to be calm, peaceful, and without troubles. Why is it that we often trade our peace of mind for some temporary satisfaction? Often times it does not even bring us any satisfaction and simply adds to the piles of guilt and unhappiness we carry around with us. The only way that we can ensure our minds and souls are not polluted and disturbed is to make sure that our actions are agreeable with our conscience and are not harmful to others.

Prior to acting, think about how your actions might affect your mind negatively.

Questions to consider:

What are some actions that have cause you to feel guilty?

What are some things you can do to help keep your mind clear of the negative feelings of guilt, shame, or remorse?

Can we truly go through life with a clear conscience?

For further thought:

“A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession.” ~Albert Camus