Our future depends on the decisions we make today. We’ve got three basic directions to choose from—the good (smart) one, the bad (unwise) one, and the same one we’re now on. This last one is the easiest. This is the path where we go with our old habits. Easy choices here. They may be good habits or not-so-good ones.
The second direction—the bad or unwise one—also tends to be easy. And often fun. A double cheeseburger with onion rings instead of a grain bowl with beans and veggies. Fun! And the degree of “unwise”? It depends on the frequency of the choice.
The first direction—the good or smart one—is that grain bowl. Perhaps not quite the rush of pleasure like with the cheeseburger, but not the health problems or bad karma either. So, not the guilt. Not the worry. The good, and smart, direction is the hardest because it requires maturity and discipline. And self-respect.
And although harder in the beginning, it’s the real winner in the long run.
Article originally appeared on a buddhist perspective (http://www.abuddhistperspective.org/).
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