Which are you? Do you act… and then think. Or think… and then act? The latter is the much preferred method. The former can, or does, result in multiple missteps, apologies, scrapped knees, bumped noses, embarrassment – and the list goes on. Personally I prefer the latter but more often than not act the latter. Oh I can give you a number of reasons why and even some of them make some sense. But the potential problems do outweigh adopting this mindset.
Why? Why, I ask those of us in the latter category, do we do that! We’ve sufficient evidence from our own lives that point to the potential disastrous ends from our behavior. We really do KNOW. So why don’t we change? We can… if we choose. And we have sufficient support from scripture, especially in Proverbs, about the importance.
“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” [Proverbs 4:23]
The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge and inquires after and craves it, but the mouth of the [self-confident] fool feeds on folly.’ [13:14]
These are only 2 verses that show us the value of prudent thinking over over quick actions. And then we have the verses in the New Testament that tell us to renew our minds, that we have the mind of Christ. But we have to choose to do this.
I’d like to say we act quickly because we’re more passionate … or we don’t want to miss the opportunity … or we have enough to proceed (we really don’t) … we don’t wait well. Honestly… there really is no excuse. And we should focus on growing up. Acting precipitously is folly. Sometimes we strike the mark and that can seem as confirmation but we also miss some of the unspoken cues.
For me, if I catch myself, I try and stop to look at my motives (why I want to act now), look at the recipient of of acts (are they ready to understand what and why I am acting or speaking), and the options available for me to present a lucid and compelling (fill in the blank) to affect a positive result. It really doesn’t take as long as we typically imagine answering these question take. Sometimes starting at the end – the desired result – can be the impetus for the right action. In the final analysis … it’s never a case of IF I should act, it’s when and how I should act.
