Don't All Those Stupid Opinions People Post On Blogs Make You Mad?

Dear Humans,

Do you ever find yourself getting pissed off about the stupid opinions people express in blog posts?  Are there particular topics that get under your skin so bad that you're compelled to write scathing blog comments to cut the culprits down to size?  If so, today's your lucky day. Because I'm here with a simple solution that will quickly bring you peace and happiness:

The next time you get really worked up about a stranger's point of view, pause, take a deep breath and then turn that critical mind of yours upon your own deluded opinion.

Did that piss you off? Good!  You can use that feeling in the exercise below. If not, just pick whatever incident comes to mind and answer the following questions:

1. Who angers, confuses, saddens, or disappoints you, and why? What is it about them that you don't like.
2. How do you want them to change? What do you want them to do?
3. What is it that they should or shouldn‟t do, be, think, or feel? What advice could you offer?
4. What do they need to do in order for you to be happy?
5.  What do you think of them? Make a list.
6. What is it that you don‟t want to experience with that person again?

Okay. Good work! Now comes the fun part. Take your answer to each of the above questions and then test it through sincere inquiry using the four questions below followed by the "turnaround".

1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it's true?
3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
4. Who would you be without the thought?

Turn around a few of your answers to the first six questions by directing them at you, instead of the other person. For instance, if you wrote "John is a conceited bastard" try "I am a conceited bastard". Then find at least three specific, genuine examples of how the turnaround is true in your life.

For more information on this method, check out The Work of Byron Katie.

Love,

Botgirl

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo

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