How good is your opinion?

Your opinion. My opinion. Their opinion.

What is an opinion? Wikipedia defines it thus.

How good is an opinion?

Is an opinion true?

To me, whether an opinion is true is the real ‘acid test’.

But do we really want to embrace truth?

For many of us, our own opinions can be almost ‘holy’; sacrosanct. Untouchable.

Opinions can be so deeply rooted too, often springing from our culture. A sense of being pickled in the opinions we have so that they permeate our very being. As if they are part of the air we breathe.

When we get back to basics….(not all are capable, or willing)…we have to acknowledge that what really counts is truth. Not our subjective and often deluded opinion.

More ‘harsh’ basics…if we do not cherish and seek truth then we are in fact deluded and blind fools.

Many years ago I realized the importance of seeking truth in a situation. Truth, besides often being very liberating, enables us to think clearly and assists in an effective decision making process.

It is important to have balance. For example; we may perceive that we are being lied to. It is not always smart to reveal that we know the truth. Sometimes it can be downright dangerous even. What we do with our knowledge of truth is very important and this is where wisdom comes in. Not everyone can cope with truth and the application or speaking of truth can sometimes trigger deep problems and even violence.

This is a deep subject and I won’t delve into it too far. What I suggest is that you start to think about how you form your opinions, how you open your mind to an alternative view, how deeply entrenched your opinions are and so on. You see, the incorrect handling of your opinions will cause problems in your life, sometimes severe, and hinder your personal growth.

Here are just some of the advantages of letting go of your own incorrect opinions and embracing truth:

• You will grow in wisdom.
• You will learn much more.
• You will grow in humility (some more detailed information of this aspect can be found here on another of my blogs).
• You will get on better with others. Who likes a bigot or a self opinionated arrogant git?
• You will stimulate discovery of alternative points of view – people around you will be more willing to open up, rather than ignoring what you have to say and waiting for your say (tirade perhaps?) to end.
• People will respect you more.
• You will attract better energies/atmospheres, people and experiences into your life.
• You will feel better; though initially may experience some discomfort as you adjust.

Over the years I have had to readjust many of my opinions. At times it was ‘painful’. It was more than worth it however.

When someone tells me I am wrong I no longer get defensive. Instead I ask myself about what I can learn. The person criticizing me may in fact only be 5% right for example; however I concentrate on that 5% because the person is in that regard actually helping me. (Even if they are being nasty with it). I know this sounds incredibly positive but if you think about it, it is actually very simple and makes perfect sense. Yes, I do know how to avoid becoming enraged and keep a clear head so I can concentrate on the good, however it is something well worth working towards if you want to lose your attachment to your own opinion and the associated pitfalls.

These days, I have a deep inner direction of seeking out what is right, not what I might think is right. No matter how painful the revelations may be. Life gives what one sows. I do not want to be a blind fool. Do you? The thing is, if we embrace blindness we will attract more of it.

Tough. Life can be harsh. But simple, and true.

It is worth remembering that throughout recorded history the majority of mankind has an unbroken record of being incorrect about most things, particularly important things. For some time people thought the earth was flat and later they thought the sun, stars, and planets traveled around the Earth. Both ideas are now considered ridiculous, but at the time they were believed and defended by the vast majority of adherents.

So, in closing; beware of your own opinion. It is not necessarily your friend.

Related Posts:

• Marketing Of Madness – Video. And how you can help yourself.
• Why is a mind virus like a computer virus?
• Unsure what to do in life?
• The Need for Self-Confidence
• Broaden your mind, deepen your understanding, educate yourself.
• Are You Having A Bad Day, Week, Month, Year?
• You Can Be!
• Are video games addictive?
• Why Joy Wizard?
• Why You Need To Make The Most Of Every Day.

Tags: Counseling, Counselling, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Self Improvement

Category: Personal Development