MAJORITY/MINORITY

When you are in the majority, more people are like you and more people agree with your opinions.  They may have the same racial background, the same religious beliefs, or the same political views.  You may be in the majority in your place of residence, your neighborhood, your state, or your country.  When you are in the majority, understand what placed you there.  Your parents gave you your racial background.  Their financial status enabled you to live in your neighborhood.  They also may have brought you up in their religion and influenced your political leanings.

You may find yourself in the minority in a social gathering with different religious or political opinions.  Others may not realize your views and assume you agree with them.  You may feel uncomfortable speaking up.  The majority group may not want to hear your opinions and even expect you to go along with their traditions.  You may choose to remain quiet.  After all, this is your right.

Imagine if those around you pretty much agree with you; however, one or two may not agree.  Think how they feel.  Maybe they have a different religion or no religion at all.  They may believe in the other political party.  Even without realizing it, you may be causing them discomfort.    

Try not to take advantage of the fact that you have the comfort and power of the majority at the expense of the minority.  Realize in the USA, the minority should have the same respect and rights of the majority.

Don't assume that the majority is always correct.  Might doesn't make right.    

 

MONKEY MIND

A very busy brain may have trouble calming down and focusing on the present.  The mind may dwell on hurtful memories of the past or worry about the future.  Difficulty falling or staying asleep may be a symptom.  The mind can seem like a little monkey hopping from branch to branch, chattering away and laking self-control.

A person may relive an event in the past and think "If only I had done things differently" or feel resentment about what someone else has done to you.  Fearing something in the future may make you dwell on "What if this or that happens" frequently going to the worse-case scenarios.  The brain may also become uncomfortable with present situations and experience stress and anxiety.

We all occassionally have one or more of these problems.  A few solutions may include doing some research, talking to an understanding friend, or contacting a professional for help.  Ignoring the problem will just be a postponement. 

Some say listen to the monkey to hear what the chatter is all about.  Even write down the words you hear.  See why he keeps talking to you.  Then have a conversation; yes, talk to yourself.  Try to calm your fears, disappointments, and worries.   Put things into perspective.  Easier said than done.

Recognizing this very common problem is the first step in taming the monkey.  

       

 

THE BIGGEST LIE

A person or organization may lie to us; we may lie to others; we may lie to ourselves.  Some lies are intentional: a little white lie to save another from getting hurt feelings, a lie that omits a detail of an otherwise truthful statement, a lie to protect or promote ourselves.  A flat-out lie, a complete fabrication, usually is meant to harm someone or give the liar an unfair advantage.  

Another type of lie is one that may have been perpetrated for generations or centuries.  People involved may not even realize the information is untrue. At some point in history, people accepted the information as true without using logic or investigation.

The biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.  Many influences combine to make us believe untruths: family, culture, business, and politicians.  Very tough to go against what your parents believe, what our culture values, what advertising wants you to believe and purchase, what politicians say to get your support and vote. 

An exaggerated self-image can cause us to believe overly negative or positive traits..  Accepting the truth about ourselves should be our goal, not the opinions of others.  Recognize our good decisions and behavior, realize our short-comings and do something to improve, and accept our natural appearance.  See the truth that we are human, not so bad and not always so good.  Telling ourselves lies prevents us from the truth. 

At some point on our journey to maturity and truth-seeking, we need to wake up to realize that some things we believe are untrue.  We may have to give up the comfort that lies provide, but when that is done, we can spend our time and energy on understanding the truth.  We may have to go against family beliefs.   We still can respect the beliefs of others and not try to persuade them away from their beliefs, but we will be untrue to ourselves if we pretend to agree just to promote harmony.   Don't lie.