Actions And Motives - A Practical Application

We have heard the cliches, for every action there is a reaction, and for every cause there is an effect. Much has been written about these principles and they have been used in intelligent discourse countless times. They have been used as a model to analyze events and actions, for years. But here is one cliche that doesn't get as much attention and/or usage: For every action there is an attached motive. This means, whenever anyone does anything of any major consequence, they have a reason.

How so?

We do things with, to, and for people everyday. We go to work and do things for our bosses, co-workers, and/or customers. And for what? A paycheck. While there may be many that enjoy doing things with/for people they come in contact with on a daily basis, make no mistake; the primary reason we are in the building (or the precise location) we are required to be in any given time is, because we want/need that job. We need the money, to live. That's our primary motive to go to work

Action: Go to work.
Motive: House/Rent payment due next week.

But as I said, that doesn't mean that people don't enjoy doing good deeds, just because they enjoy doing them. That doesn't mean that they can't go the extra mile, for those around them. But even in those that go the extra mile, there is always a reason for it and it differs with the individual. To some it may be for a chance to get promoted (someday), to some it may mean more commission/money, and to some it may be just because they like/respect the people that they work with, and for.

With that said, I would like to offer up a simple tool for studying and/or analyzing one's own motives and possible the motives of others. (Keep in mind we can't always know exactly what the motives of other individuals or groups of individuals are, but when there is a history with a certain individual or group, it becomes easier.)

Every action is classified as either, the right thing or the wrong thing. Remember the lectures you got from your parents (or whoever was in a position of authority)? Remember Andy Taylor to Opie in many an episode, "Opie, you done good!" From our toddler days on, most of us have heard when we did good and when we didn't, many times over.

In addition, every motive can be classified as either, the right motive or the wrong motive. Of all the possible motives for any given action, it will either be for the right reasons or for the wrong ones. Where each action or motive falls into, differs among individuals depending on their own individual value systems.

With all of this in mind let's now look at the possible combinations of action and motives.

You can do:

1. The right thing with the right motive.

Doing the right thing with the right motive is always good. The right thing gets done for the betterment of whoever or whatever, involved. But the doer does it because it is the right thing and for no other reason. This is as close to a perfect deed as you can possibly get. Can you imagine a world, in which most of the people, did this most of the time?

2. The wrong thing with the right motive.

Have you ever tried to do something good for someone and have it blow up in your face? You meant well, you really did. But somehow being the imperfect human being you are, you just screwed it all up worse. I have.

As a teen, I was like any other "trial and error" teen. As I have aged, I have learned that being impulsive even with the best intentions can backfire. So, I have learned that thinking a thing through is always preferable to knee jerk reactions, no matter how noble the cause. But, that doesn't mean that I cannot do any wrong just because I thought it out first. It just means that I have a less chance of screwing up, if I put some time and thought into the matter, before I act.

3. The right thing with the wrong motive.

Have you ever known someone that despised everything about a wealthy relative, but yet kissed their ass to receive an inheritance. They did all the right things on the outside, but their motive was greed. I am sure you can think of many other examples of this kind of scam. Or you can think of the time you did something for your spouse as a means of talking them into or out of a situation, where you benefited. Whatever the specific situation, the right thing was done and we should be glad for that; but the fact remains the motive was not pure and that stunk the whole action up.

4. The wrong thing with the wrong motive.

What needs to be said about this? This is something that we see and hear about everyday. This is the whole foundation of evil deeds. Do the wrong thing for the wrong reasons is a concept practiced by anti-socials that fill our prisons. Many a murderer has killed for life insurance money or to rid themselves of a person they despised. They do not care, they want what they want, and they do not care how they get it.

The Democrats are quickly becoming prime examples of this kind of behavior. The leftist faction of the party routinely and openly engages in this kind of behavior, daily. The War On Terror has been severely exploited for political purposes by them. And now, Katrina is being exploited for the same reason they always exploit situations like this, to destroy and deconstruct solely for political purposes.

Pick an issue and see where the President stands on that given issue. Then wait and listen to what the leftist complainers say about his stance. They will take the opposite view, for the specific purpose of opposing him, whether it is the right thing or the wrong thing to do. There have been occasions that I believe the President has been wrong on certain things. The left took the position just to oppose him, whereas, I honestly disagreed with him beforehand. If The President were to change his position to mine, I would still be of the same position still. But can we same about the dedicated Bush hating left, that hates anything Bush, because he is Bush?

They may be on the right side of an issue here and there, but is it because they really feel that way, or are they just trying to defame, discredit, and/or embarrass the Administration using any means possible? If that be the case, they are doing the right thing, with the wrong motive.

The key to all of this is motive. It is best to do the right thing with the right motive, but being human we are not perfect. But if I am going to have a flaw, I would rather be guilty of doing the wrong thing with the right motive, than doing the right thing with the wrong motive.

So when a politician or a group of politicians says or does a certain thing, be aware that it may not be what it first appears. But even more importantly, when you are struggling with a decision over what is the right thing or wrong thing to do, ask yourself some questions first. What is the right thing to do? What is the wrong thing? Then after you have established that, ask yourself the even more difficult question of, why am I doing this? If it's for all of the wrong reasons, then stop and re-examine yourself before you do anything else.