Which is easier, taking action or stopping to think about what you’re doing, what ramifications it will have and how it reconciles with your beliefs and the social mores of your community? The largest proportion of the answer to this question rests in your personality type. If you are reactionary you will predominantly react to things without pondering the potential damages or negative effects your action can have to you or others. Conversely, thoughtful people, who are many times considered weak, see things from a longer term perspective. They understand that a moment of passion can lead to a lifetime of regret, if not just in a mental sense possibly in a more permanent way.

Let’s take a step back from actions that have cataclysmic results. Say we focus instead on an action each of us might face during a normal day. If you are like many, you have stepped on a scale to see that some of your old friends, the pounds you shed over the last year, found their way home during the holiday feasts you love so much. You can’t believe that so many decided to rejoin you and you want to send them packing again. Here is our first thought and action; exercise.

You know that choosing that chocolate covered doughnut for breakfast is not the best choice. So, do you act, buying the doughnut that will side track your weight loss plan, or do you consider the effect and choose to eat some low fat cereal or perhaps some fruit? Here thought and action are in direct contrast. You may think one doughnut won’t matter, but there is a deeper issue. In order to attain your goal of losing the weight, your thoughts had to dominate your action. Acting on impulse can harm each of us, as we put aside the consideration that makes us pause for consideration.

Another example is in our interaction with a spouse, child or significant other. As we get to know our spouse we become more comfortable with the words we use and even the delivery of words we would never have considered using during our dating life. In the heat of disagreements it is easy to let our passion drive our words, sending hurtful phrases hurtling towards the ones we love most. I am sure many of us learn with time how to bite our tongue, taking a moment to consider how our words will affect the relationship, but unfortunately sometimes the action comes first, leaving us with damage to repair.

Probably my greatest example of the need for more though and action comes by way of a wise decision I made regarding how I treat people in my life. I have always been blessed to understand that my world is small enough that it is likely I will encounter the same people for the majority of my life. What this means in essence is if I treat someone in a wrong way, it will not be a “one and done” experience. In other words there will be repercussions that follow. Obviously this could mean someone being offended by my words or even physically violent. But that is not what I mean exactly.

More succinctly I consider the situation where high school classmates of mine have become members of my church or the places I enjoy entertainment, shop for groceries and so forth. By considering my actions before taking them, I have paved a smoother path for myself in the interactions with these people. I also consider the fact that as a member of my church, I do not want to go into a restaurant or store and be an obnoxious, overly-demanding customer. Not only do you potentially harm your image to other guests or restaurant and store employees who may arrive by chance at your church the next service, you can embarrass your family or set a bad example for your children.

Learning to favor thought over action takes effort. As I stated in the opening paragraph your personality can play a huge part in your tendency of action over thought. You must make an effort to be thoughtful before you let your impulses kick in. Thoughtful people are more respected with less baggage to clear in their relationships.