41 JANUARY 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Consequences by Tim Connor Ever had an undesired consequence happen in your life? Be honest - who hasn't regretted some action or decision that ended in a negative consequence they wish they could have avoided? All decisions, actions, and choices which result in outcomes have consequences - some are immediate and some take time to manifest. Some are positive, while others can be negative, but the simple truth is, you can't avoid consequences. The trick is to always do what is right, act in a mature and noble way, and always make intelligent decisions to reduce the negative consequences. Possible? Unlikely, as we all act opposite of these mindsets from time to time, therefore inheriting some bad outcomes, sooner or later. The question is - are all bad outcomes really bad, or are all good outcomes really good, or just not what we hoped for or wanted? Consequences are the relation between a result and its cause. Pretty straightforward, wouldn't you agree? Yes, then why do so many of us often interpret our consequences in a negative way? I'm not talking here about not winning the lottery because you didn't buy a ticket, but more everyday circumstances like lying, cheating, or exhibiting negative emotions like anger, hate, vindictiveness, or even self-absorption. Everything has a consequence. If you took physics in high school, you are aware of the basic truth of cause and effect. This truth is not just in relation to physical events like the way you drive, what you eat, or whether you exercise, but even in your thoughts, beliefs, values, and attitudes. Consequences can be teachers helping us to make better choices and decisions in the future by learning from our actions. Note I didn't say “mistakes”? Mistakes are generally considered to be things we did wrong, but in many ways, things we did wrong in the present can often be blessings in the future - not always, but it happens every day. So the question remains - are consequences good, bad, or neutral? It depends. No one can predict the outcome of a decision, action, or choice. Life has a unique way of using some things to reward us and others to punish us (note I didn't say God here), and still others to teach us. The question is - how do we interpret these outcomes and then respond or react to create a less painful future? Let's discuss briefly the lessons which can be learned or the actions that can be taken to impact consequences in a more positive way. Yes, I know this could be a book, but I only have a few hundred words to work with here. Consequences can: 2 Teach us how to make better decisions in the future; operate in reality rather than “fantasyville”; function in a more mature and healthy way. 2 Strengthen us - Everything in life can make us stronger. The problem is, we often resist the opportunity to use what comes into our life to strengthen our resolve, purpose, faith, or increase our personal development. TGWA Annual Convention January 23-26, 2024 San Marcos Conference Center - San Marcos, TX Tuesday, January 23, 2024 12pm - 5pm Exhibitor Setup www.tgwa.org Wednesday, January 24, 2024 8am - Noon Continuing Education Classes 2pm - 5pm Exhibits Open - Meet and Greet with Exhibitors 5:30pm TGWA Scholarship Foundation Auction Thursday, January 25, 2024 8:30am - 11am Exhibits Open 12pm - 1:30pm Awards Luncheon 1:30pm - 5:30pm Continuing Education Classes 6:30pm Social Event Friday, January 26, 2024 8am - Noon Meetings (Schedule is tentative and subject to change.) Connor Cont’d on page 42.
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