Intentions versus actions. Both can be misconstrued or completely appreciated. Both can be understood or misunderstood. Both can be positive or negative. Both have the power to lift others up into a happier place, or to bring others down into the depths of despair. Is one more important than the other?
Our intentions tend to drive our actions. What happens when the intentions don't match the actions in the eyes of others? Does that mean that our intentions were impure? The intention to create a surprise for someone we love that will make them happy after a tough day, but the action brings up unknown, unhappy memories from their past that only makes things worse ... the intention to help a friend, but the action causes unintentional grief ... the intention to guide a child in a positive direction, but the action causes them confusion and hurt in the aftermath. What about the other side? When someone intends to be hurtful or crass or just plain mean, but the actions only cause laughter and ego-bruising for the person intending to be hurtful ... what happens to intention versus action then?
It's almost a "which comes first, the chicken or the egg" question. The old adage is "actions speak louder than words", but what happens when the actions create an unintended result in either direction? Should we place more importance on the intention with which the action was undertaken, or the resulting action regardless of the intention? My personal opinion is that communication to understand the origin of the action is crucial. It's understandable to feel hurt by an action, but that hurt can be assuaged, or at the least, lessened, by realizing and understanding the intention. No one is perfect, so what seems to be a plausible action or reaction to one person, might seem unrealistic or inappropriate to another. All relationships, from co-workers to friends to significant others to life partners, benefit from attempting to understand the intention behind another's actions. Taking that minute or two to hear someone out instead of jumping to a possibly incorrect conclusion is a key component in any relationship. I truly believe that. We may not always understand each other immediately, but our relationships can ultimately stand the test of time with just a little open-mindedness and curiosity of understanding.
I suppose my point is that the intention can definitely be more important than the action taken. If the intention was pure and positive, then to me, any unintentional, negative results from the actions are ultimately completely forgivable. If the intentions were mean and horrid, then any unintentional positive results from the actions are ultimately a happy surprise. Intentions versus Actions ... I don't know if one is truly more powerful than the other, but I'd rather focus on the intent. To me, it seems an infinitely more important, more telling focus.
~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress
