Taking Action for a Desired Reaction

Are you taking positive action in your life?

"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."  This statement, derived from Newton's third physical law of motion, poignantly describes the result that occurs when one body exerts a force that causes an action from something else nearby.  It basically says that if you take action (any type of action), something around you will change.

Think about that for a moment...

When a person does something to you (or near you), you immediately want to react... and when you do something to another person (or near someone else), they immediately want to react.  If you take a step forward, you end up closer to your destination; and conversely, if you do nothing, you end up nowhere.

So the questions for a self-made sage become "How will I choose to react in a particular situation?" and "What actions can I take to get positive reactions from the world around me?"
These questions can only be answered by looking inside and thinking about the action you will take in that given moment.  No matter what other events are unfolding around me, no matter who is nearby, and no matter what you have done in the past nor what others may expect of you in the future.

While they are all elements that can be taken into consideration, they ultimately can not answer those two questions.  The answers are found by deciding how your going to take personal accountability for your own actions (and reactions) and realizing that you have the ability to make the world around you a better place... both for others and for yourself.

This can apply in every aspect of your life no matter how big or how small.  Let's look a simplified example.

Have you ever caught eyes with a stranger in public?  For a split second there is a moment of awkwardness, and a microsecond of paralysis where you try to determine if you should quickly look away, or wonder if you've got any crumbs on your mouth from the jelly donut you were just eating, or wonder if you have any lint on your collar, or whatever.  And then that person smiles.  Nothing more, nothing less; just a bright smile.  How does that make you feel?  More importantly, how does that make you react?

Most people will offer a smile right back; nothing more, nothing less.  And as each person goes about their day, there is at least a brief moment of peace and happiness for each of them.  One action, one reaction.

From now on consider the power you have to control your actions and positively influence your surroundings.  Yes, there are many negative things around us and many many injustices in the world... but by taking responsibility for your own actions, and your reactions, you have a choice on whether you will contribute to those injustices or if you will act in a way that creates positive outcomes.

It really all starts from within.