"How do I know if my life choices are wise ones?'
Here's what might be considered the two most important criteria from a Buddhist perspective
First -whatever the choice was it would lead to no harm to themself or to others.
This one is pretty straightforward and it's usually easy to pick up on when a choice might be harmful or not. I use this one too and it has many times kept me from engaging in actions that I might come to regret.
Second - it would create more happiness and less suffering for self, others, or both self and others.
I love this. Knowing what kinds of things create real happiness is very helpful in navigating life. I've also come to discern that genuine happiness is most often so much more than fleeting moments of pleasure derived from over-indulgence. A degree of discernment is needed to know what genuine and lasting happiness feels like.
Exploring further, you might discover that your day-to-day life will be enhanced by choices that enable more of your time feeling content and less of your time in any given day feeling anxious or struggling.
You can begin your own exploration with a five-minute guided meditation and come into your body with a focus on breath and then ask the question from the "inside" rather than trying to "figure it out". Ask your body "What makes my choices wise?"
Would you like to try? Find a quiet spot and take ten minutes and see what you come up with for your life?
And please join me for my live online webinar on April 19, on Making Wise Choices in Turbulent Times where I'll be sharing more practices, methods, and skills for navigating life with wise choices. I'm looking forward to sharing them with you.
Cheers,
Michael
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