Thought, in and of itself, has no external consequences - although it may be an indispensable overture to action: one may, for example, plan, rehearse, or muster the resolve for action. Action extends one beyond oneself; it involves interaction with one's surrounding physical or interpersonal world. Action need not entail gross, or even observable, movement. A slight gesture or glance toward another may be action of momentous import.
This quote from Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy profoundly underscores the distinction between thought and action, something often taken for granted. It highlights that while thought alone remains an inward process, without direct external impact, it serves as a crucial precursor or invitation to action. Thoughts function as the mental groundwork, the rehearsal space where we prepare, resolve, and envision what might be. Yet, they are incomplete without the leap into...
