Acting Mindlessly: Ultimate Consequences - Essay Example

Acting Mindlessly: Ultimate Consequences Acting mindlessly, under its best interpretive definition, is the process where an individual does not pay careful attention to both the external environment and the internal thought processes of the mind. When acting mindlessly, a person generally does not recognize how their desires impact their behaviors, nor do they take into consideration whether their current state of emotional health might carry long-term negative consequences on their future.

With this definition in mind, I would like to share my own personal experiences where acting mindlessly led to less-than-positive outcomes. I believe that we all experience turbulent situations in the home, especially when dealing with members of the family who maintain opposing viewpoints. During my earlier high school years, I often believed that my opinions about the world around me were 100 percent justified. During this period, I never even considered that another person might have a valid position, thus I refused advice and parental guidance, which often lead to family disputes.

At this particular time, I would offer that I was acting mindlessly, completely dismissing the valid wisdom and experience that authority figures were offering. My parents warned me of the dangers of improper studies, suggesting that I work on issues such as time management and homework scheduling to prevent failure in the classroom. However, I was so transfixed on my own importance and self-proclaimed intelligence that I did not recognize that they were quite correct. At the same time, my parents were witnessing a sudden change in my normal behavior, constantly badgering me for insight into my emotional state.

At the time, I did not realize they were being caring figures, attempting to help balance my life. Not knowing why, I continuously lashed out at my parents, arguing every one of their viewpoints. I found myself growing more and more frustrated, leading to lowered grades and even social isolation.During this same period, I simply attended school because it was expected of me and I did not recognize the value of a quality education. At the time, of course, I was acting mindlessly, not realizing that my frustration with coursework was actually stemming from an ignored emotional state consisting of lowered self-confidence and a fear of the future.

If I had understood, then, that my emotional instability was actually being caused by growing self-esteem issues, I would have experienced a much more positive early high school experience.In my case, the consequences of mindless behavior, or that of being oblivious to both me and the external environment, were not overtly dramatic. However, other young adults facing self-confidence issues or embattled relationships with authority figures might seriously wish to analyze themselves emotionally in order to fully come to understand why they behave the way they do.

Perhaps moving from mindless activity to one of thoughtful consideration would mean the difference between students who excel and look positive to the future, and those who fall into a life-long battle with self-confidence issues. To summarize, mindless behavior will not necessarily lead to tragic consequences, however it can sharply impact the rate at which a person matures emotionally. One must understand themselves internally if they are to establish goals that are congruent with desires for the future.

It has been said to thine own self be true, which I think is a highly appropriate statement for preventing mindless behaviors.