It isn't always easy to know what to say to some people. We begin to fear that any comment we make, no matter how sincerely meant or carefully phrased, is likely to produce an adverse reaction. Then we think, 'Perhaps it is better to say nothing at all.' But is silence always golden? Whatever your view about the viability of alchemy, here is one instance in which it can be proven to work. A leaden, heavy, oppressive silence can be transformed into something all the more shining and valuable. It simply requires a little trust.
We don't form all our opinions through logic. Often, some of our strongest views are inspired by passionate emotions. We may believe what we believe out of loyalty, out of empathy, out of hope or even out of fear. There is nothing wrong with any of this. Even the most analytical intellectuals cannot put their hands on their hearts and swear that their every assessment is objective. But surely, we owe it to ourselves to retain, somewhere in our minds, an awareness of that subjectivity. Be open to a different perspective.
We can't go on together with suspicious minds.' So sang the late great Elvis Presley. It was a good song and it made a good point. We can't! None of us can! Neither individuals nor nations can comfortably coexist if each suspects the other of deception or even betrayal. Yet what offence may be caused if we confront someone with a profound misgiving about the true nature of their behaviour? So much, so often in life, remains unsaid when it sorely needs to be shared. Don't cling to a suspicion.
Where are you? And where would you like to be? And just how vast is the difference between those two places? Stop and imagine, just for a moment, that there's no great gap. You need not consider some journey of a lifetime that you might never successfully complete even if you were to try. You'd be appraising the situation more accurately if you could just envisage a couple of footsteps, taken in the right mood at the right moment. That, as you will see very soon, is all you have to do in order to be there
We don't form all our opinions through logic. Often, some of our strongest views are inspired by passionate emotions. We may believe what we believe out of loyalty, out of empathy, out of hope or even out of fear. There is nothing wrong with any of this. Even the most analytical intellectuals cannot put their hands on their hearts and swear that their every assessment is objective. But surely, we owe it to ourselves to retain, somewhere in our minds, an awareness of that subjectivity. Be open to a different perspective.
We can't go on together with suspicious minds.' So sang the late great Elvis Presley. It was a good song and it made a good point. We can't! None of us can! Neither individuals nor nations can comfortably coexist if each suspects the other of deception or even betrayal. Yet what offence may be caused if we confront someone with a profound misgiving about the true nature of their behaviour? So much, so often in life, remains unsaid when it sorely needs to be shared. Don't cling to a suspicion.
Where are you? And where would you like to be? And just how vast is the difference between those two places? Stop and imagine, just for a moment, that there's no great gap. You need not consider some journey of a lifetime that you might never successfully complete even if you were to try. You'd be appraising the situation more accurately if you could just envisage a couple of footsteps, taken in the right mood at the right moment. That, as you will see very soon, is all you have to do in order to be there
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