short-term vs long-term

Many situations arise in our life where it gets difficult to choose between right and wrong. In a state of confusion, we don’t know what kind of action we should take. 

In these circumstances, we can evaluate the merit of an action by asking ourselves a few important questions that can help us get rid of the fog around us and see more clearly. 

One of them is looking at the action in the spotlight both from a short-term and a long-term perspective. 

Every individual engages in any action only if it gives benefit in the short-term or the long-term. According to The Bhagavad Gita, an action that gives benefit in the short-term but causes harm in the long-term is wrong. An action which seems inconvenient in the short-term but provides benefit in the long-term is right. When everything else fails, this nugget of wisdom can help us analyze the situation and empower us to make the right decision for ourselves.