What Is a Cost Analysis of Life Choices?
Every choice you make has a cost. This is highly variable and subjective.
Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion states,
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
This is applicable, however, beyond the laws of motion. For anything and everything that you do – literal or figurative – there will be a reaction.
Some approach this from the notion that actions have consequences. I look at it as every choice you make is an action you take – while every choice you don’t make can stagnate.
All choices lead you somewhere. That somewhere could be good, it could be bad, or it could be relatively neutral. Not making a choice is also a choice and has the same outcome.
All life choices have a cost. Some are high-cost, some low-cost, and a few are largely cost-neutral. But recognizing and acknowledging the cost – by performing a cost analysis of life choices – can be enlightening and empowering.
What are life choice costs?
When you choose to do something, there’s often something else that you choose not to do. That’s what I mean by cost.
Allow me to clarify. I have had a recent situation where I had a choice to help someone or not help them. My gut reaction was not to help them. I was angry and annoyed by why they needed my help.
But then I did a cost analysis of this life choice. While I am annoyed and angry now, not helping them might lead to something I could potentially regret. The consequences of not helping them have a potential longer-term impact than the result of helping them in the now.
The short-term cost of anger and annoyance is less than the long-term cost of potentially far more unpleasant and longer-lasting consequences.
That’s a cost analysis of life choices.
The impact of a cost analysis of life choices
Upon performing the above cost analysis – looking at short-term and long-term results and ramifications that might come from the choice – the short-term anger and annoyance were of greater value than the long-term potentially worse consequences.
That’s what a cost analysis of life choices comes down to. If I choose “X”, what will come of it? What long-term or short-term issues will present? Will there be delight and/or relief – or – sadness and/or regret? What if I choose “Y” instead? What if I choose neither? Any of these will have a consequence or produce some sort of result.
What I have received from the cost analysis was beneficial. I didn’t choose what could lead to negativity and regret long-term, opting instead for the short-term cost. By doing this, I’ve made a clear choice – a mindful, consciously aware choice – here and now.
And I feel good and empowered by that choice.
Still annoyed over the issue at hand – but not so angry anymore. Thanks to performing the cost analysis of this choice, when I made it, I was empowered.
This feels very freeing. And it also leaves me feeling as though I have taken control.
Mindfulness and life choices
Performing a cost analysis of life choices is an act of mindfulness.
Mindfulness is active conscious awareness. That’s the act of being present, here and now, and actively aware of yourself. Specifically, your thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions.
All of these – thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions – are ultimately under your control. That’s how genuine mindfulness works.
When you take that control for yourself, you are empowered by yourself to make choices.
Big or small, important or trivial, or anything in between – choices about you and your life are yours to make. And when you make them, you become empowered and assume control of what you can.
That’s mindfulness in action. Performing the cost analysis of life choices asks what the choices before you make you think, what and how you feel, what your intentions regarding the choice are, and what actions to take now, later, or not at all.
Performing a cost analysis of your life choices is an act of mindfulness. And that puts you in the driver’s seat – and ultimately puts you in control of the elements of life you can control. No matter who you are.
A cost analysis is an act of mindfulness. That opens you to making better-informed decisions and life choices.
What if your cost analysis of life choices is wrong?
There will be consequences. But no matter what you choose – or don’t – there will be results
“For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
Choose “X” or “Y” or not at all – there will be an outcome. There will be consequences. And sometimes you will choose wrong.
It’s inevitable. I’ve chosen wrong before. Likely, so have you. Welcome to being human.
Your cost analysis may tell you one thing and lead you to choose “X” over “Y”. If that turns out to be wrong, however – it’ll be a lot easier to rectify why.
That’s because you performed a cost analysis, if you choose wrong you’ve already vetted the matter – and might more readily understand what happened. And of course, there’s always the possibility that there was never a right choice anyhow.
Right and wrong are not what’s important. Making the choice empowers you and gives you control of your life experience. Even when what you chose didn’t work out, because you chose you assumed control over what you ultimately can and do control in life.
That’s worthwhile and makes you stronger. Choice is a muscle like any other. The more you exercise it the stronger it gets.
You empower yourself when you choose. It’s not the choice that’s important when compared to the act of choosing. Because choosing is taking control of your life experience in that moment of choice.
I think that’s incredibly worthwhile and empowering.
Have you performed a cost analysis of your life choices along the way?
This is the six-hundred and tenth (610) exploration of my Pathwalking philosophy. These weekly essays are my ideas for – and experiences with – applying mindfulness and positivity to walk along a chosen path of life to consciously create reality.
I share this journey as part of my desire to make a difference in this world and empower as many people as I can with conscious reality creation.
Thank you for joining me. Feel free to re-post and share this.
The first year of Pathwalking, including expanded ideas, is available here. Check out Amazon for my published fiction and nonfiction works.
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