How to Make the Wise Choice
The quality of life is not a matter of luck - but of choice!
Some choices don't make much difference - like "What should I wear today?" (Although some people take an extraordinarily long time deciding this!)
Other choices can change the entire course of life - like "Who should I marry?" or "How does God fit into my life?"
Sometimes small choices can turn into disastrous outcomes:
"Should I cheat?"
"Should I take this drug?"
“Should I visit this website?”
"Should I protect myself and tell a lie?"
"Should I go out with this person?"
Think it through!
Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick invented the following six-point test for making excellent decisions:
1. Does the course of action you plan to follow seem logical and reasonable? Never mind what anyone else has to say. Does it make sense to you? If it does, it is probably right.
2. Does it pass the test of sportsmanship? In other words, if everyone followed this same course of action would the results be beneficial to all?
3. Where will you plan of action lead? How will it affect others? What will it do to you?
4. Will you think well of yourself when you look back on what you have done?
5. Try to separate yourself from the problem. Pretend, for one moment, it is the problem of the person you most admire. Ask yourself how that person would handle it.
6. Hold up the final decision to the glaring light of publicity. Would you want your family and friends to know what you have done? The decisions we make in the hope that no one will find out are usually wrong.
Poor choices bring negative results. On the other hand, things usually turn out better when we make the right decisions. It pays to think first and act second.
Some choices don't make much difference - like "What should I wear today?" (Although some people take an extraordinarily long time deciding this!)
Other choices can change the entire course of life - like "Who should I marry?" or "How does God fit into my life?"
Sometimes small choices can turn into disastrous outcomes:
"Should I cheat?"
"Should I take this drug?"
“Should I visit this website?”
"Should I protect myself and tell a lie?"
"Should I go out with this person?"
Think it through!
Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick invented the following six-point test for making excellent decisions:
1. Does the course of action you plan to follow seem logical and reasonable? Never mind what anyone else has to say. Does it make sense to you? If it does, it is probably right.
2. Does it pass the test of sportsmanship? In other words, if everyone followed this same course of action would the results be beneficial to all?
3. Where will you plan of action lead? How will it affect others? What will it do to you?
4. Will you think well of yourself when you look back on what you have done?
5. Try to separate yourself from the problem. Pretend, for one moment, it is the problem of the person you most admire. Ask yourself how that person would handle it.
6. Hold up the final decision to the glaring light of publicity. Would you want your family and friends to know what you have done? The decisions we make in the hope that no one will find out are usually wrong.
Poor choices bring negative results. On the other hand, things usually turn out better when we make the right decisions. It pays to think first and act second.
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