Tuesday, April 12, 2011

April 12

There are people in everyone's life who love to create chaos, stir the pot. Artists are especially prone to people with an agenda- instructors, reviewers, readers. In today's instant yet anonymous, on-line community bullies and others take special glee in bad reviews, tossing insults far and wide in front of millions of viewers. The hardest thing to do is to remain polite and allow these bullies their opinions. Even tougher still is to be respectful as you stop them from bullying you.
I once read a quote from I believe it to be the Dali Lama-It goes like this: If the news upsets you and there is nothing you can do about it, then stop watching the news. (I don't have quotes here as I am working off memory and may be paraphrasing.) This quote stopped me. I thought- but as a human being isn't it my duty to know what is going on in the world? Then I thought some more about it. If there is nothing I can do to change it- no action to take in my life-then I don't have a duty to watch it. Do I?
Here's another great quote on the subject, "Don't take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you take in feedback from the people you choose and do not swallow the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering." - From The Four Agreements According to Don Miguel Ruiz
I think this is good advice. Don't you?

5 comments:

  1. Yes, I agree. I stopped reading the newspapers years ago and I avoid the Tv news as much as possible. I've a much more positive outlook on life since I've done that and, interestingly enough, anything big I still find out about - then I can find out what I need to know.

    And, yes, projection is a big part of our collective psychology: we're either the screen for other people's projections, or projecting onto the the screen of other people. It's a tough challenge to separate the reality from the projection.
    Judy (South Africa)

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  2. Hi Judy, I'm glad to know I'm in such great company. It's a crazy world we live in. Thanks for the comment. (((hugs)))

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  3. It's tough, but we have to take our egos off the line and let it go. Lincoln said "Truth is the best vindication against slander" which means it's best not to say anything!

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  4. I love that quote! It's hard for me to stay away from the reviews about my book though. I still find it so strange and new to see some complete stranger making comments on my story.

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  5. L. Diane, I love that Lincoln quote. Thanks for sharing.
    Linda, Julie Garwood always says - "Don't believe your own press- bad and good." It keeps you from getting to hurt and also to big an ego. ;)

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