Choose insanity wisely

How you think determines what you do now and how your life will evolve into the future. If you're foolhardy, or you act based on senselessness, where would you be headed? Your thinking influences mindset and virtually everything you perceive.  Do you realize the wider implications of this? Would you pretend to ignore how your attitudes are slowly revealing themselves and why? How you think matters.

As you reflect back on your childhood, you recall absorbing much of what you were told. You listened to parents, relations, teachers, mentors and role models in your community. Recall what they told you? Local police may have done a presentation at your school about road safety and how to cross the road when the pedestrian light turns green. A church minister or other religious authority may have drilled commandments or other standards into you head. Teachers and principals ingrained those school rules. Caregivers may have disciplined you for bickering with siblings of friends, or not doing what you were told. Which memories come rushing back?

As an adult, you were likely apt to analyze or question rules learned early on. You may walk across the street talking on your mobile phone regardless of the pedestrian lights. You may be rushing around so much and live a life that mutes the impact of religion as the guide it might've been. Being out of school has taught you rules of survival, approval and reward differ greatly in the real world. You may or may not keep in touch with siblings.  What do your past interactions teach you? How do your reactions to rules in society reflect your true personality and aptitudes?

What you do with what you know gives you hints about how you value or apply what you have learned. Where do your current perspectives and values stem from? Why do they matter to you? Other people may think you're crazy. How do previous life experiences shape you? Everything you have done makes you who you are.   Nothing is meaningless.  You'll eventually arrive wherever you're meant to arrive.  When you get there, what you learn along the way and how is up to you.

The time comes when each person arrives at a crossroads. You’re confronted with continuing along the lines of what role models have taught or, you’re prompted to develop the courage and inclination to redefine what you stand for. This includes values and principles, and what seems right or wrong for the person you are now.

Suddenly, what you learned before may be irrelevant. You may struggle to figure out why you think differently. As you start to question things you learned in the past, this may be a sign of growth and the prospect of positive change. The choices you made in the past were based on who you were and how you thought then. If you feel defeated, you may also be ready to think in new ways based on lessons learned. What you did before didn't work. Situations you face now could be new. Where would you seek alternative standards for your ethics, morals and behaviors?

Turning to nature isn’t uncommon. After all, animals behave in ways that may have some appeal. What would you choose to emulate? You can look at how specific species love, nurture and protect their kin, or trigger conflict. You can consider priorities of survival and companionship.  The choices are as vast as you imagine.

Then again, perhaps you would determine what feels right will benefit other people. Which kinds of choices would be preferable and for whom? Rather than act impulsively, you may be concerned with causes and wider consequences. How could you make the world a better place because of a path you follow? Decisions may be grounded in faith.  Your view of 'normal' may be someone else's idea of insanity.