Every action counts

This awareness can give us a true acceptance of the current moment, but it also demands that we be very aware that today’s decisions will affect tomorrow.

Maybe your tomorrow; maybe someone else’s tomorrow.  

The decisions your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents made that affect you today. The effects are not limited to your genetics but also the family, country, religion, socio-economic situation you were born into.

Our actions continue into the future and their effects are most often unknown. Look at your life and the 3 most important decisions you have made. For some, you could see the likely results. For some you simply couldn’t see that they would change your life or someone else’s life. I knew when I went to university, I was making a decision that would save me; but when I signed up for an 8 week mindfulness course I had no idea it would change me and my life. 

Think of the times people have thanked you for making a difference for them by saying or doing something caring or wise. Think of the times that your errant act or a careless word had long-term consequences. Often we didn’t think these little actions were important. But every action and inaction is important. It all counts

We must each set an overreaching intention to do well. To be an active agent of compassion and wisdom. To be passionately committed to making our corner of the world better. To make sure that our every action tilts the world towards the good. That means we need to make a real effort moment by moment, action by action to incorporate helpful actions, wise speech and caring into everything we do.