Which of these does truly define an individual, thoughts, emotions, intents, spoken/written words or actions?

Question

Do please explain your choice and of course feel free to have your say....you are not bound by choices given here.

Answers seem to be getting strayed by an assumption that the individual needs to be judged by another in order to get defined... the question is not about how to judge an individual... it is about what the individual is... is he/she what he/she thinks, speaks, writes, does, emotes or intends etc. etc.?

Answer 1

Truly by thoughts........ ur thoughts are ur real identity as a human being......ur thoughts define ur personality,ur purpose,they reflect ur feelings and so on.......

Answer 2

Why do we need to define a person ? Is it becos he is being met / already met for the first time and the union is up for assesment for defining the future ties or association or is it an association well defined and passed through reasonable period of trusted times togather?

In the former case one is naturally very cautious in accepting an unknown personality and equally apprehensive in offering the self. It is quite natural then that under such circumstances one tends to asses an individual by trying to read his thoughts, analyze before reacting to the emotions offered and experinced, gauge or try and fathom the intentions and of-course try to understand the spoken/written words before digesting the meaning of the same in order to match the resulting image formed by this analytical response to the one which might have been already formed in the sub-conscious. Although actions of an unknown or comparatively new person sometimes may not help us reveal the true identity of an individual but all the same his actions by way of body language, facial expressions and voice modulation do communicate lot of messages and I feel that these actions are actually the result of all the above ... that lyes within the individual....who actually reacts differently as all humans do.

In the latter case one is better prepared and can trustfully fall back on the self which is already equipped with so many analytical notions/hunches/memories which reaffirms or reshapes the identity as the case may be. All said and done, in this case, I think, the emphasis is more on the study of the actions, which are once again the result of all the other faculties, individual or put togather.

While the appearences are deceptive, what an individual communicates through the actions and the deeds he performs, confirm the purity of his thoughts, the sanctity of the emotions he portrays, the confidence that he seeks to promote in his intents.

An individual, however, can never be defined completely because to err is human and all humans are not same but essentially judgement on individuality or defining and individual must be based on the actions....what one practices and not what he preaches.

Answer 3

Well...to be honest, none of these truly defines an individual. It isn't possible. You can't judge a person by their thoughts, emotions, intents, spoken/written words, or actions. You cannot judge a person without having the rest of them to judge by. It isn't fair to the person you are defining by only looking at their thoughts or their emotions. Their thoughts might be cruel and cold, but the way they act might be kind and thoughtful. You can never define a person without looking at them as a whole and actually getting to know them instead of observing them like a lab experiment. The best way to truly define a person is to become their friend, to find out how they think, and what their perspective is of the world. They might not be the most nicest person at first, but before defining them into a category, you should at least give them a chance to express who they truly are. Maybe then, can you TRULY define an individual...

Answer 4

Correct perception is necessary. Things aren't always what they seem. Look again.

We need to call to mind the mechanics of existence. The senses are higher than the material elements. Higher than the senses is the mind. Higher than the mind is the intelligence. Higher than the intelligence is the soul. Higher than the soul is the plenary expansion of God that resides in the hearts of all beings.

Nothing happens without the consent of the plenary expansion of God in the heart of all beings. Not one thought, not one blade of grass moves without the consent of the plenary expansion of God known as the Supersoul or Paramatma.

However, we must work to trace out the original plan of God. Externally we see someone thinking, speaking and acting. We cannot see how the Supersoul is behind their every action. Consequently, we judge others on the basis of incomplete and imperfect knowledge.

Answer 5

The individual them-self can be the only one to truly know and define themselves. For us outsiders, we define people based on their actions and words..... we can't really see inside the person. So, we really don't have a "true" perspective.

Answer 6

The essence of an individual is that which makes them unique. That essence gives rise to thought and action. Essence is perspective, the viewer within, which directs thoughts and actions.

Essence, soul if you will, defines an individual.

Answer 7

I think that it depends on how self aware and honest people are about themselves to themselves. I'm very honest with myself (compared to others) so my thoughts and words are more reliable than some others' would be and would be more likely to honestly define me.

Regardless, I think that actions are the most telling of who someone is, but only if you know how to interpret them. Not many people can accurately determine who someone is simply by considering their actions....

Answer 8

I would say it has to be a composite of all those listed plus maturity,bravery,experience, content of character,reliability,behavior under pressure,ability to handle adversity, and other traits i've not taken into account. T4 and let's not forget spirituallity.

Answer 9

Actions. It is the result and sum total of the other choices.

Answer 10

None,
My knowledge is not mine it is accumulated memory and through this knowledge I get the thought which is also not mine.
Emotions are just feelings of this knowledge
ans so on so nothing is new and free or yours