The Forbidden Fruit Effect

How can we overcome the pull of the “Forbidden Fruit Effect?” How can we guarantee we will do the right thing?

1. Consider and evaluate the situation. Take a step back to rationally think through the situation. The purpose of this is to ensure you are making the best choice possible to avoid negative consequences.

2. Imagine possible outcomes that could happen because of you making a particular decision. Evaluate all, or potentially important outcomes, so you don’t decide on an impulse. Make sure you aren’t in an environment that pressures you into making decisions. Especially if you are trying to do the right thing in a professional setting, be conscious of the long-term effects of your actions.

Weigh the pros and cons of each outcome. Ask yourself how one result could possibly work better than another. Prepare yourself for any unexpected reactions from others. It may be difficult to expect the unexpected, but getting in the mindset of that possibility can reduce panic and further stress.

3. Consider any other individuals involved. Doing the right thing isn’t just about you. Most of the time it involves others, and correcting a wrong holds the possibility of crossing others.

4. Keep your emotions in check. An emotion can quickly become too much to handle. If you’re dwelling on how to do something right to fix a problem, ensure you make time to step away from the situation. Take a breather, and don’t try to solve everything in a self-set time frame.

5. Carry out what you do in a manner that appropriately represents you and others. Your representation and the representation of others should be kept in mind. This is vital if the situation is in a professional (i.e. work) setting. Ask yourself some key questions to help you decide on what the right thing to do is and how to do it:

• Will this decision go against your morals?

• Who could you potentially cross? Also, how will you go about avoiding this?

• How will others think of you?

• Do the other involved parties think this is a big enough deal for a “right thing” to be done?

Bearing in mind that doing the right thing is not always easy, it is important that you hold your reasons for doing so very close to your heart as a reminder to stay on track.
1.  You tend to get what you give. (KARMA)

By doing the right thing you tend to get the same things back. Give value to people, help them and they will often want to help you and give you value in some form. Not everyone will do it, but many will… Not always right away, but somewhere down the line. Things tend to even out.

2. To raise your self-esteem.

This is a really important point. When you don’t do the right thing you are not only sending out signals out into your world. You are also sending signals to yourself. When you don’t do the right thing you don’t feel good about yourself. You may experience emptiness or get stuck in negative space… It will be like you are letting yourself down. You are telling yourself that you can’t handle doing the right thing. To not do the right thing is a bit like punching yourself in the stomach.

“I just try to live my life every day by doing the right thing.”