Making choices is a privilege, privileges are always a responsibility.

If we knew the depth and true length of some of our choices, I’m convinced we would make better choices.  If we really understood or had the wisdom that is acquired from the consequences of the choices we make; we would make better choices.   It is impossible to see every angle to anticipate everything that could happen however, there are factors that we really can see, things we can take into consideration that often are overlooked.  Being anxious, the lack of patience and able to only see what we want right then and now make the vision and options short-sided.

From purchases with our money to choosing a mate, we tend to be very short-termed in our goals and the consequences of our choices reflect the time and thought, or lack thereof.   One of the things that stand out to me the most as I write this; are those choices that lead to the financial dependency from others.  I’m a reflective person and when I look back over my young adult years and choices I made that required other people to contribute financial, I’m exasperated and blessed at the same time.  Exasperated to see not only, all the money I wasted, both my finances as well as the finances of parents, grandparents, etc., but the enormous amount of bad decisions.  Decisions based on emotions, decisions made impetuously, decisions made based on current anger and decisions made based on temporary circumstances.

When, my decisions/choices, affected only my pockets, I heard and didn’t hear the advice of others but when my decisions cost others, I quickly learned that the choices are no longer just yours.  Accepting another person’s financial assistance inviting their opinion whether it is asked or not.  When it is a first time or financial assistance sporadically maybe not, but if one is rescuing another financially from multiple choices, it would be unwise of them to NOT insert their opinion.  It is obvious that either the choices being made that require continual financial assistance are not wise or at minimum require another view.

The depth and longevity of the consequences we endure based on the choices we make are greater than they first appear.  We would be wise to pass that on to our children but you cannot pass on things that you refuse to review, reflect and learn.  Some choices become generational consequences.  A few things to consider when making choices, life-altering choices.

1. BEFORE, you can make better choices, you must first be willing to admit you made them.  Admitting to a bad decision must be clear n concise, without the “but”; I did it but, it was because of this or that.  Any excuse attached to the admittance is removing or reducing your responsibility for the mistake.  ALL choices have a story!  The admitting of a bad choices MEANS realizing that the facts as you saw them then were inaccurate at best and more likely inaccurately misinterpreted by you, the choice maker.  When making a choice one should remember it is your job to know the facts not assume anything.  People usually accept the word of others only when it benefits them and their desire.
2. Review and rewind your consequences back to the place where the choices were made.  Easier said than done.  Most people chunk too many things to circumstances beyond their control or their ability to foresee.  Unfortunately, that is far from the truth in most cases.  Example: When two people have sex, or make plans to have sex, they know that pregnancy is just one of the options that can occur.  Saying that the outcome is something one couldn’t foresee isn’t true.  What they mean to say is, “I didn’t think it would happen to me.”  Those two statements are definitely not the same thing.  Emergencies do not happen nearly as often as we would like to say that they do.  Real emergencies are few and far between.  Other emergencies generally mean that we failed to plan, or made other choices hoping for better consequences EVEN WHEN there was no real evidence that suggest better would occur, the very definition of insanity (doing the same things expected different results).
3. NO ONE MAKES THE RIGHT CHOICES ALL THE TIME! Making bad choices is part of the learning process, it is when one consistently makes bad choices without even considering the consequences that a problem occurs.  Consequences by nature of definition are meant to be thought provoking, challenging and a learning process.  When people intervene in the consequences process, it can derail the learning curve resulting in repetitive bad choices.  Simply put, living through the consequences of bad choices is the way to not keep making them.
4. Before making choices, take time to weigh all the possible consequences.  Pros and Cons.
5. Take quality time before making decisions.  Rush decisions are usually reactions not responses.  Reactions occur due to emotions and unreasonable thinking.
6. When we take time to make better choices, the consequences of your actions do not become the financial responsibilities of others.
7. Bailouts should be real emergencies and not the results of impulsive choices.

Consequences of our choices linger longer than we care to admit sometimes.  Work to make better choices so that your consequences aren’t always bad and long.