The Principle of "Due Reflection"

I recently read the following words which provoked this blog:

“An aversion to instant acceptance is really only honoring the principle of “due reflection.” (Yogananda 1946)

I spent a little more time trying to find more articles or publications on this principle, but have only found it referenced in the before mentioned book. This principle seems very applicable to me at this time in my life. Recently, I have had to make some important decisions that possess the potential of effecting the direction and quality of my life. I have also had the privilege of conversing with a number of close friends and relatives who have been very helpful.

Though I have since followed through with these specific decisions, the actual conclusions have been just as important as the process utilized in their formulation. If one of our main directives in life is to learn all that we can (a belief in which I am in complete agreement), then it is only logical to dedicate “due reflection” before and after decisions have been made.

One of the first steps in honoring the principle of due reflection is determining your values. Solidifying your personal morals and knowing what is most important in your life will eliminate a number of options that will never get you what you want. As you reflect on the many possibilities that life presents to us, reducing the choices that do not reflect our values will greatly elevate our likelihood of satisfaction.

After removing options that do not meet our moral standard, it is imperative to search both your emotions and your logic. The Doctrine and Covenants says, “…I will tell you in your mind and heart…” (D&C 8:2) Following only your heart or only your mind will create problems in the long-run. Leaping into a decision based strictly on emotional triggers is a risky situation. Solely emotional decisions (excluding logic or apparent “red flags”) require continuous replenishment and constant stimuli to be sustained. On the other hand, decisions based purely on a logical foundation (negating emotional sustenance) will likely feel empty and longing. Decisions made honoring both mind and heart are most likely to produce satisfactory outcomes.

Though the original quote at the beginning of this blog referred to pre-decision making, constant reflection is required to continue on a path that leads to happiness and positive edification. A friend of mine once told me, “On the way to something good, something better can happen.” This suggests that even though decisions can be appropriately processed and executed, there is nothing wrong with adjustments if it produces a better outcome.

One last though is that “due reflection” should also be accompanied with an appropriate statute of limitations in regards to time spent in the reflection stage. Action on a decision will ultimately determine the success or failure we will experience. Vincent van Gogh said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

Through applying the principle of due reflection in our lives, we can take control of valuable time that is too often spent backpedaling. Great things are out there and they are only a series of decisions away.

Think it through.

Act.

What are we waiting for?