Nazar: Intention Behavior Gap(Don't Tell Your Goals to Anyone)

Almost every beginning of the year we intended to define some goals, make a list and tell ourselves this time it is going to be different, and I will achieve my all goals. We also don't forget to share these goals with all people and speak about these goals everywhere.  But do we really complete our goals for the new year? 

In this blog, I will be showing why we should keep our goals to ourselves and not share them with everyone we know because of how our brain works. Speaking about our goals all the time might cause the brain to believe that the goals are already accomplished and no need for taking action. After some time, we don't even recognize that we don't know anything about that goal or did something about it but we feel like we did it.

"Nazar" is a term in Turkish that refers to the concept of the evil eye, or the belief that certain individuals or objects have the power to cause harm or misfortune through a glance or look. In Turkish culture, it is believed that the evil eye can affect both people and objects, and that it is often caused by envy, jealousy, or negative thoughts or intentions.

To protect against the evil eye, Turkish people often wear blue or green amulets, known as "nazar boncuğu," or display them in their homes or businesses. These amulets are believed to have the power to deflect negative energy and protect against the evil eye.

While the concept of the evil eye may seem superstitious or irrational to some, there is some scientific research that suggests that it may have a basis in reality. In particular, the concept of the Intention Behavior Gap, which refers to the discrepancy between what we intend to do and what we actually end up doing, may have some relevance to the belief in the evil eye.

According to the Intention Behavior Gap theory, our intentions and goals are often not aligned with our values, beliefs, and habits, which can prevent us from following through on them. This gap can be caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of motivation, a lack of resources or support, or a lack of realistic or achievable goals. It's a phenomenon that can be seen in many different areas of life, from personal goals and resolutions to business objectives and strategies. Understanding and addressing the Intention Behavior Gap can be crucial for achieving our desired outcomes and leading a fulfilling and successful life.

Similarly, it could be argued that the belief in the evil eye is based on the idea that negative thoughts or intentions can cause harm or misfortune, even if they are not physically acted upon. In this way, the concept of the evil eye may be seen as a way of explaining the Intention Behavior Gap, or the idea that our thoughts and intentions can have a powerful impact on our lives and the world around us.

While there is no scientific evidence to support the belief in the evil eye, the concept of the Intention Behavior Gap is supported by a growing body of research. By understanding and addressing the factors that contribute to the gap between our intentions and our behavior, we can work towards achieving our goals and leading a fulfilling and successful life.

Publish date: 31 December 2022

References:

• https://chat.openai.com/
• https://midjourney.com/
• Gollwitzer, P. M., Sheeran, P., Michalski, V., & Seifert, A. E. (2009). When intentions go public: Does social reality widen the intention-behavior gap?. Psychological science, 20(5), 612-618.
  Online: https://www.socmot.unikonstanz.de/sites/default/files/09_Gollwitzer_Sheeran_Seifert_Michalski_When_Intentions_.pdf
• Kilner, J. M., & Lemon, R. N. (2013). What we know currently about mirror neurons. Current biology, 23(23), R1057-R1062.
• Kemal Berk YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq9_bzf68sE