UNDERSTANDING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

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It was the social scientists of the twentieth century that popularized the term "unintended consequences," also called unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences. These are outcomes of a purposeful action that were neither intended nor foreseen. How many times in our lives have we experienced this ourselves? This post is about honestly examining mistakes. We are focusing on the lessons that all mistakes teach us. The word "consequence" contains the word "sequence" which denotes a domino effect in the order of events. Making mistakes is a normal maturation practice. No one or what they do is perfect. Without embracing (owning) and learning from errors our perspectives become warped. Making mistakes comes right along with making amends. This should continue to be the consciousness/spirit of governance. Unfortunately today's present leadership culture and pace of "progress" is undermining our ability to rectify many errors in a timely manner. Consequently the effects of accelerated advancements are causing unintended consequences. What has become difficult to gauge is not necessarily the immediate impacts but more so the imminent affects that are occurring at an ever increasing pace. The manifestations we experience today are a by-product of what originated from years, months, weeks or days before. Our current state of affairs may seem to be a result of our present dictates or policies but that is not reality. In the majority of cases, cause and effect is measured over time and most present manifestations are not a by-product of contemporaneous decisions. Even most external effects and issues are produced by internal expressions of energy that span the spiritual, mental and physical dimensions of our existence. These areas are connected and collectively associated with any and all consequences . 

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The world we live in and the entire universe as far as we know is at such a balance that wherever there is a surplus of something; somewhere else there is a lack or need that such a surplus would fill. This includes everything from babies to beliefs. In other words any "excess" naturally produced will always compensate for a corresponding "void" that occurs somewhere else. This "Yin Yang" relationship is a common concept in dualism that describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary, interconnected, and/or interdependent in some manner. We see this in the over-abundance of water from rains and flooding contrasting with the lack of water due to scarcity and drought. This is also evidenced as well with food and other life sustaining resources. How is it possible that we have an overabundance of food in some places, so-much-so that it is wasted; while in other places around the globe there is not enough? The reason is that as a dominate species we lack worldwide balance. We should feel ashamed that some rats in "first world" countries eat better then many people in "third world" countries. This man made imbalance can be easily rectified. The reason it continues this way is that the "Will To Power" among the elite (We that have influence or control) has been contaminated. This force applies to the ontological, organic, psychological and societal areas of life. Those of us who have studied Nietzsche or embrace the "law of equilibrium" are aware of this fact. As far as we know balance is universal. Balance spans all realms. Balance is often overlooked until the evidence of it being corrupted becomes apparent. We are now seeing this phenomena in climate change and global warming. Today we are observing multiple environmental forces striving to slowly re-balancing our atmosphere through weather while we debate the causes rather then take more "affirmative" action. The main purpose for all of our regulatory laws and agencies are to insure that we do not accidentally throw things out of balance. History is replete with multiple examples of our failure to maintain balance and its unintended consequences. Hence the formation of the C.D.C., the E.P.A., the F.D.A., the U.S.D.A. and the D.O.J. These agencies primary roles were to protect us from the imbalances that allow profits to take priority over pollutants. Even justice required balance because laws without ethical or moral support are just words on paper. There are an abundance of things that can affect our balance. Bad air, bad food, bad mental or physical health, bad water, bad national, political and social environments all affect balance. Hearing or ear issues, sleep and rest problems, head or neck injuries, blood pressure and circulation issues, even brain chemical and neurological conditions can affect both physical and mental balance. 

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Balance can be a delicate process. Our being and bodies get balanced while we sleep. Sleep is a daily surrender that confronts us with our limitations. When we sleep we are helpless. In that unconscious state we are forced to surrender to rest. Even if we fail to embrace our own fragility sleep reminds us of our limitations in this life. Surrendering to the spirit (energy) of sleep is an absolute and necessary daily indulgence for us. However, indulging or allowing any spirit (energy) total dominance over us should only be done temporarily and must be done wisely. Balance must be applied to every human venture. Whatever we do in the name of profit or progress should be carefully examined and subject to the regulation of balance. Although both profit and progress are two great sources of motivation, the aggressive spirit (behavior) of such actions require some balance and restraints. This is not a criticism against striving for achievements. The effort and commitment to reach a desired outcome is to be commended. However, to obtain any goal at the cost of "others" involves turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to empathy. In this case "others" include people, animals and the environment. There is always a propensity for abuse in the absence of some form of consideration or regulation. Greed is not good and pride is not productive when these spirits (behaviors) are allowed to run rampart or are left to their own devices. Any spirit (behavior) is subject to the person it dwells with. Spirits (the energy of behaviors) should not run or use us, we are suppose to run and use them. The most important commodity under our control is our energy (ch'i).  Although most people associate spirits (behaviors) with ghosts and other mysterious forces, spirit (behavior) and spirituality (the recognition of such energy) are a vital part of everything we do. Spirituality (the energy of all activity) is not about crystal balls, fortune tellers, mystical powers, palm readers or wizards, it is simply about how the universe connects. This earth, the solar system and the universe are both physically and spiritually in balance.

Regardless of what our beliefs are in regards to personal, social, political or religious preferences, the one thing we all can agree on is that we only have limited energy resources to address them. Each of us has a limited pool of energy divided between our spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical existence. How we distribute that energy is totally under our control but it must be renewed daily. This is why sleep is so important. What many of us fail to realize is that these energies are divided up among all of the activities in our repertoire but must also leave just enough energy, for our spiritual renewal pump (sleep), to have energy enough to constantly refill our tanks and balance us. Complete fatigue can be fatal! and may require outside energy assistance if our reservoir becomes depleted. Failing to properly address mistakes creates a spiritual imbalance that has multiple unintended consequences. No matter how we respond to the commission of wrong; whether they be errors or mistakes we must be mindful of not throwing out the baby with the bath water! When drastic action is necessary to remedy situations its only because corrective measures and truthfulness was not previously exercised in a timely manner. Rooting out "bad weeds" becomes an increasingly difficult task when they're allowed to steadily grow. The consequence of not rooting out the "bad weeds" early allows them to grow into and intertwine with the roots of the "good crops." learning from our previous mistakes and even more so from the previous mistakes of others is one of the best ways of learning. When we fail to heed the lessons of the past we are doomed to repeat them. When our "culture of caring" allows us to ignore regulations, violate laws or bypasses restrictions we will certainly reap those results. Reaping is not optional. Reaping is the universal law of balance. Sowing and reaping or cause and effect will be visited upon us or our children whether we believe it or not. History does not​ repeat itself, we are the agents that repeat history. When we lower our standards in any one area we spiritually compromise our behavior in every aspect of our existence. Although we may not immediately see these effects there will be unintended consequences. Balance and bio-diversity is critical. We share the consciousness and effects from disease, environment, food, medicine, policy, politics, war and weather. We are the conscious of our current culture and our character is critical! Banning whistle blowers and witnesses limits all scrutiny and oversight. We know that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. So for the benefit of all, everybody has a responsibility to hold everyone else to our established standards. Whether we follow the teaching of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam or any other religion or creed, it is time to enforce our codes. The code of ethics, honor and morality has to be embraced as a part of our expression or we will face unintended consequences! Maybe we should all take a breath. With accelerated change comes accelerated consequences; and change may not be the answer. The answer may be to pause, stop or wait before we do anything else. What's the rush? Why are our spirits in such a hurry? Our attitude and response to any experience is what makes it a teachable moment if we take the time to learn the lesson. These warnings are being presented in a concise - matter of fact - and simplified way through applicable information. But information alone may not be a sufficient agent for change. Information allows us to recognize and understand what we are experiencing. However recognizing a fact or truth presented to us does not mean we realize the depth of such a revelation. Information must spawn recognition which must birth realization that results in action. If any of our readers wonder why we continue in the same vein, on the same path beating the same seemingly dead horse; it because we're building an ark and we need all the help we can get facing unintended consequences.

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