The Boomerang Effect

Daily we face a vast array of decisions. Differentiating between doing what is "right" and "wrong" is a matter of perception and not always easy. Often our biggest challenge is to take action and do something! In making these decisions we can keep in mind our actions affect many, near and far.

Our instincts have one objective, to reproduce and continue to exist. Frequently, we believe our desire to put ourselves ahead of others is necessary for our survival. The lion in the jungle that stands to the side and lets the other lions eat first won’t last for very long. He will soon be history. Though we may view our circumstances as our own special jungles, we are not lions nor do we live in the lion’s jungle!

As human beings, we have marvelous minds which allow us to analyze and think of alte
ative actions. People who think only of themselves may achieve much at the expense of others, though they are likely to lead barren lackluster lives.

Fortunately, there is another way to achieve our desire. This includes fame, fortune, relationships and anything else, be it emotional or material. The key is to be useful to others because when we help others get what they want, we eventually get what we want.

Let's look at the analogy of a boomerang. We throw it and it comes back to us. While this works in theory, for those who have actually thrown a boomerang, it doesn’t always work in practice! If we don’t know how to use the boomerang, the results can be quite unexpected. If we throw it poorly, we can break a window or hit somebody in the head. When we learn how to work the boomerang, we can improve our results.

In many cases we give “good” or “bad” without realizing what we are doing. It is simply part of our daily activity and not intended as “good” or “bad.” In this case, the boomerang we throw will likely arrive someplace unknown because we are unaware of what we are doing.

As time passes, we grow in mind, body, spirit and experience. It is then when we often give “good” or “bad,” fully aware of our actions, though not necessarily the consequences. We know, for example, if we pick up our trash after an outing in the park, others who come after us will find the place nice and clean. Likewise, we know if we do not pick up our trash, those who come later will find the place disagreeable and dirty. While this is not always the case and some don’t think twice about leaving trash, they aren’t necessarily doing it to be bad, often they are simply unaware of the consequences of what they are doing.

We are all human and we all make mistakes. If only we could prevent the havoc we create! It is the evil we commit consciously which is ultimately the most damaging. When we know we are doing wrong, the boomerang will go its course and eventually return to deliver its devastating blow.

Similarly, it is possible to do the right thing without knowing it's right. In this case, we throw the boomerang and the positive effect falls on someone without our intention being so. Better yet is to do the right thing intentionally because the boomerang will positively affect those in its path before returning to us with sensational results.

Doing the right thing rarely costs money or resources and it can be something as simple as a smile. The results on own lives and those of others multiply and compound exponentially. Throwing a boomerang full of positive energy and spirit regularly is the best way to achieve the results we desire.