Intending is not deciding

 Very often we think so much on elaborating, planning and wishing. As a result of the intense focus we place on the 'planning part' of life, we get so confused to the extent of believing that we acted on it.

Has it ever happened to you?

I was once talking to a young lady who wished to study at college but couldn't because of financial difficulties. While we were talking, I couldn't stop listening to her whining and moaning on how unfair life is. So out of pure curiosity, I asked her some questions:

Me:-Have you tried to explore all the possibilities through which you could get financial help?

Girl:-I tried so many things, she said, and I still can't get help, nobody wants to help me!Me:-Ok. You said you tried so many things.

Girl:-Yes, a thousands things.

Me:-Ok, name me one of them.

Soon after I asked her to name me one action she took to get financial help, she started laughing at herself. She couldn't name one single action. And I eventually told her:

-So you did nothing.


When we spend a lot of energy on wishing, planning and elaborating, we run the risk of thinking that we have decided on something, while actually we didn't. And finally, when no fruitions come to realization out of our eternal ‘wishy-thinking’, we end up blaming life, the President, the government, and even God...We even have the silly guts to say things like:

-I decided on so many things but nothing happened.

Let me be very clear on something: ' A decision only happens when you bring to realization (or life) all the 'wishy-thinking' that you have planned. Wishes and plans only existing in your head are resolutions or intentions. A resolution is not a decision. Unfortunately some of us confuse those two terms as one with an equal meaning.

That's why you will hear 'Master planners' say things like:

-' I thought by now I would be dating...
(No, no, no...You will start dating when you decide to do some courtship...)

-I thought my long time girlfriend and I were living as a married couple...
(Did you really propose her? Like saying ' would you marry me?)

-I thought I would be working by now...
(Have you really applied a job? Or have you been planning to do so? If you really applied for a job, how many times have you applied? Be honest. Some people only apply once and think they have applied a thousand times.)

-I think people should buy into my idea...
(Have you set up a real meeting where you could present your wonderful ideas through a well conceived pitch? Have you? Really? Be honest.)

-I thought you knew that I love you... ( as if everyone can read minds)
(Have you really taken the time to tell that person:' I love you.' ...Really?)


Here  is a nice story that Jesus brought to his listeners:

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered. 

(Matthew 21:28-32)


Conclusion: 'It's very clear, intentions without actions have merely no value.'

Anyone (even a child) can intend on making a million dollars, but very few decide on making that money. We also find the same thing in politics, where leaders promise heaven to their electorate but barely do  anything after elections. 

Talk with no action is cheap!

Intending is NOT deciding.