The quote for this article comes from William James:
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
Everything we do—or fail to do—has an impact. As Paul Watzlawick said, “One cannot not communicate.” Similarly, „we cannot not act.” Inaction can be just as detrimental as action. Professor Haller, an Austrian psychologist and psychotherapist, discusses in his book The Evil: The Psychology of Human Destructiveness the consequences of neglect and ignorance towards others, illustrating how they can lead to tragic outcomes. In such cases, inaction carries fatal consequences for both body and soul. Therefore, I fully agree with James’ quote.
However, the interpretation of our actions lies in the hands of others. One may act with the best intentions, motivated by positive desires for the well-being of all, yet be misunderstood or misinterpreted. For example, my daughter experienced significant heartbreak, prompting me to bake her a cake. Instead of appreciating the gesture, she asked, “Mom, did you bake this because you were upset?” I was taken aback, as I had never baked out of anger; my intention was simply to bring joy to my family.
This experience made it clear to me that if we want our actions to make a conscious difference, we should also communicate our intentions.
As we navigate our daily lives, how can we ensure that our actions are understood as we intend? Let’s strive to not only act but also to share our intentions openly, fostering understanding and connection in our relationships.
