Think About It...

Thinking is difficult.
That's why most people judge.
Carl Jung

by Skip Cohen

This was yesterday's selection from Lou Mitchell's book, Mastering Positive Thinking. He went on to write:

...It's often easier to form quick judgments than to ponder complex ideas and understand different perspectives. Judgment provides an illusion of certainty and control, while genuine thinking requires patience, open-mindedness, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty....How often do you find yourself jumping to conclusions rather than seeking a deeper understanding?​

I didn't want to turn today's Sunday Morning Reflections into a rant, but after watching the news the last few nights, it's getting harder and harder not to share my frustration. We all have times when we draw the wrong assumptions because we judge too quickly. We're even taught, as kids, not to "judge a book by its cover."

For me, my favorite is the latest absurdity over "8647" now being suggested as a death threat...

"86" (or "eighty-six") is American slang meaning to get rid of, cancel, refuse service to, or discard something. Originating in the 1930s, diner and soda-counter slang to signify an item was out of stock, it has evolved into a general term for eliminating, ejecting a person from a venue, or canceling plans. (Google and Merriam Webster)

Here's my point: the only way to keep our lives back on track is to set a good example within our own community. We don't have much influence over the craziness of a government that's forgotten about "We the People," but we can live our lives at a level far above the standards they keep setting. 

And here's one more quote that brings it together, thanks to Lou Mitchell again,

Snow flakes are one of nature's most fragile things,
but just look at what they can do when stick together.
Vesta Kelly

...and one last favorite from a quick Google search:

If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert,
in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand.
M. Friedman

Wishing everybody a day ahead that allows you the time to simply kick back and think without passing judgement. Focus on your dreams and the people you love the most. Make a few new memories and appreciate all that you have with the people who get those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about. 

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of world.