It is fantastic to have good intentions in life. They are brilliant springboards and we can leap ahead from our good intentions to making lasting changes to our lives. The problem is that intention is not a solitary concept, it has a best pal and they work really well together. That crucial comrade is called ‘action’ and good actions should naturally spring from good intentions. If they do not, the good intentions were futile.

Having good intentions without the subsequent good actions is… well, a bit lazy, to be honest. It means we can have all the good intentions in the world without ever really having to take any responsibility. We can say, “I had the intention to do one hour of exercise every day, I had the intention to lead a healthy lifestyle. I had the intention to spend less time in front of the computer. I had the intention to search for a new job. I had the intention to cut down on my sugar intake. I had the intention to quit smoking.” And so it goes on and on. We applaud ourselves on our good intentions and settle back down into our cosy little routines, feeling soothed by our well-meaning intentions.

Here is the problem. All those good intentions we have would not matter a jot if we do not do anything about them. Intentions get lonely without actions, they are soul mates. There are many individuals who trudge through life constructing millions of good intentions. They have big plans. But how many of them actually follow those intentions through?

Intentions that are not followed through can sometimes create life and death situations. What if you had the good intention to lead a healthy lifestyle but you just could not cut down on bad fats and you suffered a stroke? What if a mother had the good intention of keeping her child happy but she fed him unhealthy foods and he died of a heart attack? What if you spent your entire life having very good intentions but you never followed through with any of them and it is not until your death bed, when it is too late, that you solemnly wished that you had turned those good intentions into actions?

The world is swarming with people with extremely admirable intentions but for many that is all they are, just intentions. If they never manage to progress any further than that, nothing good will come of it. However honourable all our intentions might be, we cannot rest on intention alone. What is more, the action that follows has to be exactly the right action to do justice to that good intention. Those who had the worthy intention to be healthy and fit but foolishly embarked on a protein only diet while exercising six days a week, are going to face an array of health issues caused by the lack of carbohydrates. The intention was good but the action was inappropriate. The right action in this instance would have been to have a healthy and balanced diet.

This planet is in its current predicament because of our actions and our best intentions will never be enough to change that, unless they are accompanied by the appropriate actions. Sending your well-meaning intentions and prayers to the victims of tsunami will not change their lives. Sending your heartfelt intentions and blessings to starving people in third-world countries will not change their lives. Sending your noble intentions and loves to bring peace to the world will not change the world. Your intentions and energies would be better served helping those around you and helping yourself. Do not waste your time and previous energy sending your intentions to calamities or catastrophes that you cannot change. If you want to help the victims of tsunami or those dying of hunger, go out there physically to help them. For the world to become a better place, every single one of us needs to take positive action but the reality is that not every single one of us will.

I know this sounds disheartening but remember that we all have a purpose on earth. There are things we all need to and should be doing. You are best serving yourself and others by concentrating on these areas, rather than the ones where you cannot make any difference. By focusing on these areas, you can become truly happy and you can make a real difference to the people that require your assistance.

Remember, good intentions require good actions. If you can achieve that then you will be well on the way to living a more fulfilling and worthwhile life.