Actions and Reactions
(4 minute read)
The Law of Causality (Cause and Effect) states that every effect has a cause and every cause produces an effect.
This universal law is immutable—it does not change and cannot be changed.
Nothing simply happens on its own. Every effect has a cause behind it.
Therefore, your thoughts (and attitudes; Rule #5) are the cause; your actions and reactions are the effect.
Actions are what you choose to say and do.
Reactions are what you choose to say and do in response to what someone else says or does… or in response to some situations or circumstances that occur.
Together, your actions and reactions make up your behavior; good behavior and bad behavior.
Rule #2 applies here as well. Like the thoughts and attitudes that produce them, actions and reactions are either good or bad, but they can’t be both at the same time and they can’t be anything other than good or bad or whatever else represents good and bad— happy or unhappy, friendly or unfriendly, respectful or disrespectful, for example.
For a believer, the attitude modifier “Christlike” best describes the attitude you should reflect when acting and reacting; in what you say and how you say it and what you do and how you do it.
Christlikeness is a graceful attitude that treats others with kindness, patience, dignity, and respect, regardless of how they treat you. To give others a little grace when they don’t deserve it should always remind us of the grace that God gave us when we certainly didn’t deserve it.
Good actions and reactions can never cause bad results and bad actions and reactions can never cause good results.
Your actions and reactions are choices that should always reflect your character. Bad behavior should always be viewed as “out-of-character.”
When resetting from “out-of-character” back to “in-character,” all you have to do is “reset to default;” reset to whatever good character looks like (body language), sounds like and acts like. Minimize, and better still, make every attempt to eliminate recurring “out-of-character” behavior.
Repeated bad behavior reveals a character flaw that must be addressed. Repent. Do a 180. Turn away from it. Catch yourself in the act. Reject it. Forsake it. Distance yourself from it. Walk away from it. Leave it behind. Learn to hate it as much as God hates sin.
Make your bad behaviors rare and brief—they don’t happen very often and the don’t last very long. Catch them quickly—perhaps even before they occur—and stop them immediately and replace them with good behavior.
You have both the ability and the responsibility to control your behavior at all times. Disciplined thinking, self-control and wisdom are required. Ask yourself: Is this good or bad? Right or wrong? Appropriate or inappropriate? Will it help or hurt? Is it in your best interests? Are there benefits or consequences? Christlike or not? Does it please God and bring Him glory?
‘Yes’ for one is yes for all.
Sometimes it’s just better to say nothing and do nothing. And you might just have to “turn the other two cheeks” and walk away from a potential conflict.
Do not reciprocate (DNR) the negativity of others. Do not respond to bad behavior with bad behavior. Instead, model the attitudes and actions you hope to see in return. You will be surprised how often good behavior is reciprocated simply because you chose to act first.
Decide in advance how you will respond to situations before they occur. “If this happens, this is how I’ll respond.” Heres a simple rule: Respond to both good and bad behavior with a good attitude. The results will surprise you. Remember, a bad attitude makes both good things and bad things worse.
Never overreact to anything unless the situation is dangerous or life-threatening. Most situations are neither.
Whatever happens, always conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; Christlike, pleasing to God and bringing Him glory in all circumstances (adapted from Philippians 1:27). This works every single time.
Notable Thoughts about Actions and Reactions
“What changes lives is making decisions and taking actions that produce the results you want.” (Tony Robbins)
“Change your thinking and your behavior changes. Change you behavior (actions and reactions) and your thinking changes. The mindset and the behavior must always be in harmony.” RAC
“The greatest weapon you have over anxiety, fear, distress, negativity and the bad attitudes of others, is your ability to choose a good way of thinking as your response;” a non-reciprocal positive response. ‘How should I react and respond to this… if at all?'” If you do respond, make the response be 180 degrees in the opposite direction. RAC
“You cannot control all the circumstances in life, but you can always control the way you think and act in every circumstance.” RAC
Memorize and Use This Rule:
Rule #3 – Your thoughts (and attitudes) cause your actions and reactions.
