Synonymous with punishment, sanction, repercussion, comeuppance, ramification, and infliction, the word penalty often carries a negative connotation.
But it’s more positive than you may realize.
Penalty may be the main reason you are still alive today. Penalty may be the main reason you haven’t incurred multiple burns, scars and bruises. And penalty may be the main reason your life is more organized and manageable than it could be.
That’s all because penalty, arguably more than anything else, is a deterrent!
Let’s start with the obvious.
The excruciating penalty of touching a hot stove is the reason why you’ve never since shown much interest in touching hot stoves with your bare hands.
The penalty imposed by that thorn you once stepped on barefooted is the reason why you reflexively put your shoes on each time you go hiking.
The penalty you paid vicariously when your coworker got hurt is the reason why you always wear personal protective equipment at work.
And the $200-penalty for going over the speed limit is the reason why you are a better and safer and more defensive driver.
Let’s now go beyond the obvious.
Penalty is always at play whenever something is not going perfectly, though we either don’t want recognize that or don’t want to incur inevitable penalty. Penalty is relentless.
When you find yourself stuck in traffic, you are paying the penalty for poor planning. Seeing that penalty for poor planning as it is may help you not get stuck in traffic. And accepting that penalty, instead of blaming your predicament on bad drivers, for instance, may help you not get stuck in traffic.
When you struggle to make ends meet, you are paying the penalty for overspending and living beyond your means. Recognizing that penalty for overspending and living beyond your means may help you not struggle as much to make ends meet. And accepting that penalty, instead of blaming your predicament on inflation, for instance, or deflecting that penalty with a credit card charge, or by letting others do most of the financial heavy-lifting, may help you not struggle as much to make ends meet.
When you get overwhelmed trying to manage and organize your personal belongings, you are suffering the penalty of materialism and hording. Seeing that penalty as it is may help you better manage and organize your personal belongings. And accepting that penalty, and perhaps actually feeling the strain of loading and unloading your own personal belongings in and out of a U-Haul whenever you have to relocate, instead of having others do all the physical heavy-lifting, may be the only motivation for downsizing.
Penalty, you see, is not just about someone or something or some system trying to “get you” or hit back at you. It is the deterrent that keeps you, or can keep you, alive and safe; healthy and happy. And it’s always at play.
If you recognize it and accept it, penalty may be the biggest motivator for good in your life.
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