“People will judge you by your actions, not your intentions.” Maya Angelou
It happens to all of us. It’s almost an uncontrollable reflex for we humans, to be judging other people. Are they too tall or too short? Do you like the way they dress? Do they have the command of speaking in groups that you would like? Do they always fall short or always exceed goals? And… (Some of you are already coming up with other examples. Aren’t you?)
Let’s switch over to actions and intentions. Good intentions…that’s two words. Here’s a question for you. And, you can be totally truthful since it’s a conversation by you, with you. So, are you guilty at times of judging others by their actions; but ourselves by our intentions?
How confident are you about your actions compared to your intentions? Would you be willing to open the discussion to include the people who spend the bulk of their time around you? That is, if you haven’t thought about it before, their reality. You spend more conscious, awake time in contact with the people you work with…and them with you; than you do with family and loved ones. This is real. How do they perceive you? How do you perceive them? Do their actions build a heightened sense of trust toward them? Do they perceive your actions to be consistent and supportive of your stated intentions? Hmm, IKR.
Some things are within your control on a day in, day out basis. But not all things are within your control. Soooo, let’s stay with those things that are in your control. Do your stated intentions match up with your actions?
It’s been said, by Gandhi I believe, “… happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”. (Another IKR.) It’s a wonderful thing. I recommend you try it.
Speaking of wonderful things,,,Intentions are beautiful; but again, without action, they are merely nice-sounding words. It’s actions and behaviors that signal the move from “the cerebral to the achieved”. Or, as someone else said, “So let it be spoken, so let it be done”.
So, grasshopper, “What have you done today?” (I do believe this is the first time I have invoked an insect to make a point.) hmmm