When your actions and thinking don't mesh

[Mycroft]

When it becomes apparent that your thinking and your actions don't mesh, which do you change? No cop-out "it depends" option. This is forced choice, baby!

 

[niffer]

If they didn't mesh then wouldn't there be a reason for that? And if there was a reason for that then why would something needed to be changed?

 

[cafe]

I tend to just think "That is screwed. Up!" and change neither. I am reasonably comfortable with a conflicted state of being. I can accept that I'm conflicted or I can go nuts trying to become consistent. It's less work to just accept it.

 

[Zergling]

Actions I think tend to change more, since me thoughts are often the more "perfect" version of how I do something. If the action doesn't change, it's usually a well ingrained habit that is hard to break, and the reason to break it is quite clear in my head.

 

[Theory]

I voted "I change my actions," because most of the time that's true; however, I think that sometimes it does depend on the situation. Sometimes it would be better to change actions, other times it would be better to change thinking.

 

[targobelle]

well seeing as how I hate conflict and confrontation I would probably change them both... seriously I would. But given that I had conflict my actions and my thinking always tend to match... seriously to the outward world I look like I act as I think...

 

[Athenian200]

Was I the only one who voted that I would change my thinking? I mean, I just assume that if my actions indicated one thing about me, and my thoughts another, then obviously my thoughts are flawed and need to be corrected. Doesn't that make sense?

 

[Eldanen]

I voted to change my thinking as well, athenian. I believe that actions come from thoughts, and even though the two may conflict, there's probably some underlying cause still in the brain that influences one's actions. So I keep changing my thoughts. Of course, changing thought requires action.... but the action is to change thoughts, by whatever means necessary .

 

[Totenkindly]

Earlier in life, I was predominately "change my actions."

At this point, I am old enough to have experienced many things that seemingly are beyond my ability to change. So, yes, I guess you are right -- I've had to change my thinking instead, since I decided my ideas were not an accurate depiction of reality.

But I can't make any sort of blanket vote on the matter. Normally it seems better to control your actions if you can, rather than having to rip your worldview reality out by the roots and build another.

 

[Sahara]

When it becomes apparent that your thinking and your actions don't mesh, which do you change? No cop-out "it depends" option. This is forced choice, baby!

Damn you J for trying to force a decision on me :steam: lol

It really would be "It depends", I can't make a decision about what needs to be changed without knowing what it is that isn;t working.

If forced.......well......errrr.......I.......errr.......really can't do it.

 

[Frosty]

I would say I change my actions. This is because my thinking tends to be negative and so I either have to act negatively or fight that feeling to/aka change my actions.

My thinking/feeling drives my actions... my actions dont drive how I feel/think.

Eventualy, maybe with enough change in my actions... my thinking might eventually change. But it starts by making active choices with my actions- no matter what Im thinking/feeling.

Besides that... my actions and thinking do usually mesh, for better or worse- but... when I am feeling sad or confused or just- out of it... I do try to act better than I feel.

 

[Quick]

My actions and thoughts always coincide on some level. Whether that is on an unconscious level or not makes no difference.

 

[Yuurei]

I would lose my shit and have to be commited.

 

[Maou]

If I don't like something im doing, I change it. Whether its thoughts or actions.

 

[Yuurei]

Thinking on this further, all of us do things that do not match our thoughts. For ex; I want to murder my neighbors every goddamned minute if the day but I never have. Everyone has these moments on a near-regular basis...no?

Or is it more like wanting to kill my neighbors is the feeling and not doing so because I’d never get away with it is the thought?
In that case murder would be the action which goes against thought.

I wonder if this where schitzophrenia comes from...people who are just fuckin fed up with thier neighbors, I mean.

 

[notmyapples]

Thinking on this further, all of us do things that do not match our thoughts. For ex; I want to murder my neighbors every goddamned minute if the day but I never have. Everyone has these moments on a near-regular basis...no?

Or is it more like wanting to kill my neighbors is the feeling and not doing so because I’d never get away with it is the thought?
In that case murder would be the action which goes against thought.

I wonder if this where schitzophrenia comes from...people who are just fuckin fed up with thier neighbors, I mean.

I'm assuming the term 'thinking' is referring more to your inner concise judgement rather than temptations or fleeting thoughts. So, maybe you work a well-paying job but find that you don't really like the work or value the career path. In that scenario, are you more likely to tell yourself to start liking it because it's objectively a good job, or change your circumstances to find something else that aligns with your values?

 

[Morpeko]

I feel like my thoughts and actions are always at odds. I want to do so many things, but my brain doesn't seem to believe in myself. And the negativity in my brain has been too powerful to stop, so I've always resorted to stopping my actions instead.

 

[Lark]

I think this is a very interesting topic of discussion, I may have missed it before.

Is the topic cognitive dissonance?

Is behaviour not meant to correspond to core beliefs? Which may be unconscious or different from those that people apparently hold on the surface?

The point about being conflicted another poster made is a good one, I think part of growing up is to adjust to and accept a certain amount of internal conflict, however, I do think that beyond a certain point it becomes intolerable and people inevitably become sick. If you existence strays too far from your essence that will happen and you can only remain adjusted to a maladjusted context for so long, it does not matter who you are.

 

[J. Starke]

Worst thing is I don't change anything. My thoughts are fine, but my actions can't follow, because sometimes there is no motivation.