The 46th. We're better off without our opinions.

Greetings,

Did you ever stop to think that your complaints and criticisms are just your opinion?

We don't usually think of them like this, but in a way we unconsciously accept them like truth, because they "feel" so real when we get caught up in them. If we'd remember our complaints are just unhealthy "ideas or points of view" of our complaining mind, we see their weakness. The insight is for us to see our self-criticism and overall complaints as the "toxic opinions" of our shadow, and not the truth.

Here's an experiment if you are willing...

Stop right now for one minute, and list the first three complaints that come to mind. I'm sure they are in there somewhere. Write them down please, or at least remember them word for word.

Now ask yourself, "What part of my complaint is only my opinion?" In other words," Is it an absolute fact, or is it just the way you are deciding to look at it?"

"The traffic is bad. The weather is great. The day was lousy. Work didn't go well. That movie was a waste. I shouldn't be tired. I'm irresponsible because I was late. I'm bad because I didn't go to the gym and I'll never be able to change."

How much fact is in those statements? Zero. All these complaints are just a commentary, and all but "one" came from the shadow. - The observer here was able to squeak in "one" moment" of gratitude for the weather between all the complaining. ;)

So what's real? The traffic "just is". The weather is "just sunny". Your work "just went the way it did". The movie "just was". Your "simply tired", "simply late", "simply didn't make the gym", and who the heck knows what will happen in the future? From a positive, non-complaining attitude it all "just happened", and now you get to respond.

Life would be so much easier and more enjoyable with out so many of our opinions. In truth it's not so much the opinions we have that cause the problems, but how we use them. I am so over mine I just laugh when I start to have one. Seriously! They're interesting sometimes to listen to, but that part of me that just randomly generates comments on everything all day long, seems to be fairly crazy. LOL Most often it's the voice of my complaining, critical and condemning mind and not the loving voice of my observer. So as I have come to quiet that voice, I have gained a lot peace. (meditation works!) http://dld.bz/Meditate

In fact, opinions in general can be trouble makers and I find it better to have as few of them as possible. A lot of peace comes to those who don't unnecessarily put their attention on upsetting things. We need them to make decisions but the rest of the time do they really matter? It's an interesting question to ask yourself as you watch yourself have them.

And when it comes to sharing your opinions with others, unless you know you have a trust between you that allows you to disagree happily, you're taking a risk. People's shadows make them feel the need to defend themselves and it can be more trouble than it's worth.

The ultimate goal is to just show up, hold your ideas lightly, experience and respond. Valid opinions presented kindly and openly are an important part of life, but if we're not intentional and conscious about them, they become just another style of speaking and thinking that gives our shadow more opportunity to complain.

At least hold your opinions lightly. Be open and willing for your wisdom to expand beyond them. A beautiful peace can come from relaxing into this kind of open and defenseless attitude.

So please be on the lookout for your opinions! The forecast for today includes a lot of them!

Peace to you,
Bryan

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