Curbing Rashness

 There are some who take great pride in speaking their minds at all times, no matter the situation. An adage I learned in AlAnon was “say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it in a mean way”. I believe the first is centered in ego, the second in compassion. ‘Standing in one’s truth’ is vital, and is contrary to the need to please. It oftentimes needs to be learned and reinforced. That was certainly the case for me.

As I meditated on what rashness means to me, I was struck with the difference between it and spontaneity. Being spontaneous can be a positive trait - an openness to the joy of the moment taking precedent over the same old thing. Rashness, however, is a cold, hard word, implying a lack of both self-discipline and concern for anyone other than oneself. If I speak or act rashly, the chances of harm to myself or others increases. I have given myself over to the selfishness of ego and the separation of recognizing the sovereignty of others. I have place my needs ahead of anyone else’s. How then do I have or develop tolerance for opinions which differ from my own? 

When I take the action of conscious connection with a Power greater than myself, spontaneity becomes an aspect of the joy of living more freely, more happily, more peacefully. Speaking or acting rashly becomes more a thing of the past and less a way of simply reacting to life.