Understanding the Ethics of Your Actions: A Personal Reflection
Evaluating one's own moral compass is a profound journey of self-discovery, rooted in both societal norms and individual principles. Determining whether our actions align with what we consider ethically sound is central to leading a fulfilling and respectful life. In this article, we will explore how to assess the morality of our actions through self-reflection and practical considerations.
The Foundation of Morality: Societal Norms vs. Biblical Principles
Most people gauge their actions based on societal norms or the ethical standards set by a majority. These norms are often codified in laws, such as prohibitions against murder and stealing. Conversely, religious texts like the Bible provide a different perspective, where the right and wrong are dictated by explicit laws and principles. For Christians, these principles are best understood through Jesus, who exemplifies mercy, justice, kindness, and love in applying these laws.
Self-reflection and Ethical Evaluation
The simplest method to evaluate the morality of your actions is to consider if you would be willing for everyone else to perform the same actions all the time. For example, stealing a bike, would you want everyone to steal every time they have the opportunity? The very idea undermines the concept of ownership and reveals the logical fallacy of such a perspective. This is closely related to the Golden Rule, but with a critical difference - while the Golden Rule might only serve as a preference, it doesn't justify harmful actions.
Internal Compass: Your Thoughts, Beliefs, and Feelings
Your actions are deeply rooted in your thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Often, these are unconscious, habitual, and arise from your subconscious. However, it's crucial to become more aware of these subconscious elements to ensure your external world reflects your true internal self. Here are steps to gauge the ethics of your actions:
Step 1: Awareness - Become more mindful of the thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that drive your actions. Much of the time, we are unaware of these subconscious elements, and their impact on our actions. Awareness is key, as it mirrors the internalizations in your external world.
Step 2: Source Analysis - Trace each action back to its source within you. This involves a deep dive into your internal landscape to understand why you are making certain choices.
Step 3: Quality of Thoughts and Feelings - Determine if the thoughts and feelings behind your actions are good or bad. Good actions arise from positive thoughts and feelings like happiness, joy, love, care, and peace. Conversely, bad actions stem from negative feelings such as sadness, anger, anxiety, fear, hatred, and jealousy.
Step 4: Post-action Evaluation - Reflect on the state of your thoughts and feelings after an action. If you feel bad afterward, it likely indicates that the action was ethically questionable. Negative thoughts and feelings serve as a warning that something is amiss in your thinking and feelings.
Conclusion
Ultimately, as human beings, we should strive to make actions rooted in good thoughts and feelings. Negative thoughts and their accompanying feelings signal that there is something wrong with our thinking and feelings. By practicing self-reflection and ethical evaluation, we can lead more fulfilling lives and contribute positively to society.