A controversial contemporary of Freud, Alfred Adler, wrote:
“Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.”
When considering whom to trust, one compares words and deeds. When Adler speaks of “movement,” he is referencing action like the old saying, “Action speaks louder than words.” He goes beyond that comparison to say that “only” movement – action – can be trusted. He basically discounts words altogether.
How much do you trust words in comparison to actions? Are you generally trusting of words, or do you need movement to back them up? What personal guidelines have you developed in deciding whom to trust relative to talking versus movement?
Has there been a difference between your own words and your actions? If so, what accounts for that difference? How have you addressed it in your key relationships?