When Words Are Masks, Actions Are Mirrors
What do they believe, you ask? Well, what do they do?
I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Never forget, actions reflect beliefs. Words can and often do, of course, but trust what people tell you with what they do. It’s convenient and easy, when faced with telling the truth and dealing with the fallout to instead lie and walk away, leaving the other person to find that out later.
You shouldn’t do that. Don’t be that person. That person is not living a good life and it will carry consequences sooner or later. If consequences are required, tell the truth and deal with them now.
But still, people will look you directly in the eyes and lie to you. They’ll do it even when you both know what the truth is. Hell, you’ve done it to me when we’ve both known the truth and that we both knew we knew the truth.
While that sentence was a mouthful, I guarantee this has been everyone’s experience at least once. After all, each one of us has to learn and grow and these mistakes are a part of the process.
But allow that lesson to carry over to the rest of your life. You shouldn’t do that and you should understand that if you have the capacity to say things you know aren’t true in order to try and get a favorable outcome that others you encounter are also capable of the same thing.
Actions speak louder than words. Now, let’s have a serious conversation about understanding and interpreting the actions of those around us. It’s about learning to believe what people are telling us, not with their words, but with their actions.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone’s words painted a picture of care and consideration, yet their actions seemed to draw a different story altogether? It’s like standing in front of a beautifully painted mural that, upon closer inspection, reveals cracks and inconsistencies. This dichotomy between what people say and what they do is more than just a quirk of human nature; it’s a window into their true selves.
While the overall picture might seem harmonious and well-intentioned from afar, a closer look at the individual elements – the actions behind the words – reveals a different, often more complex reality. Just as a tapestry’s true state can only be assessed by examining both its overall appearance and the quality of its individual threads, a person’s character is best understood by considering both their words and their actions.
In life, we encounter a myriad of relationships - friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. Each interaction is an opportunity to observe, learn, and understand. When someone tells you they value you, but their actions show disregard or indifference, it’s a signal, a beacon that’s guiding you towards a deeper truth about that relationship.
This concept of ‘believing actions over words’ isn’t about cynicism; it's about developing a keen sense of awareness. It’s akin to being a detective in your own life, piecing together clues to unveil reality. When actions and words are incongruent, it’s essential to pay attention to what is consistently demonstrated through behavior.
Take, for example, the way someone treats others, especially those who can do nothing for them. Observing someone’s interaction with a server in a restaurant or their response to an overworked cashier can be incredibly telling.
These moments reveal the fabric of their character. Are they patient, kind, and respectful, or do they display entitlement, impatience, or rudeness? These interactions are unscripted and genuine, offering a glimpse into how they might treat you under similar circumstances.
Understanding this also empowers us to set boundaries and make informed decisions about who we allow into our personal space. It’s about recognizing that while people can promise the stars, their actions are what truly anchor those promises to reality. It’s a dance of discernment, where we learn to trust the steps that are shown, not just spoken.
This approach to relationships requires a level of emotional maturity and honesty. It involves looking beyond the surface, questioning the narrative, and being willing to accept the sometimes-uncomfortable truths that actions reveal. It's about finding harmony in what people say and what they do, and when there’s dissonance, having the courage to face it.
As we navigate through the complexities of human relationships, let’s remind ourselves to pay attention, not just to the words that are spoken, but to the symphony of actions that accompany them. Believe what people tell you with their actions; it’s often the most honest conversation they will have with you. In doing so, we learn to build connections that are rooted in authenticity and truth, leading to more fulfilling and genuine interactions.
Also, you’ll avoid the liars, bastards, crazies, users, manipulators, abusers, and every other undesirable bad actor that fits in the category.
Which is nice.
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