In social movements, magick, communication, and all relationships, good intentions are not enough to help make good things happen for yourself and others.
When we act on our intentions, they often have both a conscious and unconscious component. Many of us have excellent conscious intentions. We want to help, be supportive, and be kind. Unfortunately, our delivery may not align with the other person’s best interests or values.
I heard a saying that has stuck with me: “Kindness without honesty is manipulation. Honesty, without kindness, is brutality.” – author unknown.
~ Honesty is “the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness or fairness; and truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness.” https://www.dictionary.com/browse/honesty
~To be honest is “being free of fraud and deception; genuine, real; humble, plain; marked by integrity; marked by free, forthright, and sincere expression; and direct and uncomplicated.”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honest
What do kindness and honesty have to do with intentions? We may feel we know what is best. Knowing is a conscious belief. On the surface, our intention is kind. When we explore the internal wants or needs driving our intention, things are usually much more complicated. If we have yet to tap into our self-awareness, unconscious motives and beliefs, and curiosity about our desire to act, we may not be fully honest with ourselves. If we are not honest with ourselves, we cannot be honest with others.
Navigating this can be tricky because it means questioning ourselves. When we examine ourselves and ask ourselves, “Why?” we may face uncomfortable feelings and sides of ourselves, which are easier to ignore than face. Without guidance and support, this exploration can lead to a spiral of overthinking.