I was reading the book, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and what has stayed with me the most, from the book, was about the 'poison' we create in our lives. He was talking about being impeccable with our word and then spoke of the poison we create when we judge others or become involved with gossip. I can see how easily it is to slip into the place of poisoning others or being poisoned my self.
Imagine you are all excited to go to a new restaurant in town, you have only heard they just opened. Before leaving for the restaurant someone says to you, oh I heard the food there is not very good, it is loud and the service is marginal. Yikes I have just been poisoned by that person’s gossip about the restaurant. I will still go there for dinner but now I am on the lookout for the food being less than great, the noise level and the service. I will be more critical of those 3 issues and not even notice other things about the restaurant, like the fabulous decor, the friendly host or the interesting drink menu. I like to think I have an open mind and will be able to give the restaurant a chance but I have to say my mind has already been clouded by the negative review. Plus I may have heard 10 positive reviews before that one negative comment but that poor review has so much more weight than all the great reviews.
This happens over and over in our lives from gossiping about people we know to reading reviews on the Internet about a certain product. I was recently planning a trip to Europe and spent hours pouring over Trip Advisor and all the reviews for the different hotels. It was interesting at how I could skim over the 12 positive reviews of a hotel yet thoroughly read a lesser (less than 4 or 5 stars) review and also give that poor review much more weight than all the fabulous reviews.
Once I read or hear a negative comment about something I now say to myself, you have just been poisoned. I prefer to spend my time free from poison and keeping my mind looking for all the good in a situation. This keeps me feeling happy and joyous and enjoying all the wonder around me. Of course I can find something wrong with any hotel, restaurant, friend or virtually anything but if I maintain a positive attitude and focus on what is good I will (and do) enjoy each day to the fullest.
So my recommendation is to avoid those negative comments, when something has the majority of excellent reviews it is not necessary to read the dissatisfied comments, focus on what is good and move forward from there. Thank you don Miguel Ruiz for your wisdom and insight, it has changed my life for the better.
Imagine you are all excited to go to a new restaurant in town, you have only heard they just opened. Before leaving for the restaurant someone says to you, oh I heard the food there is not very good, it is loud and the service is marginal. Yikes I have just been poisoned by that person’s gossip about the restaurant. I will still go there for dinner but now I am on the lookout for the food being less than great, the noise level and the service. I will be more critical of those 3 issues and not even notice other things about the restaurant, like the fabulous decor, the friendly host or the interesting drink menu. I like to think I have an open mind and will be able to give the restaurant a chance but I have to say my mind has already been clouded by the negative review. Plus I may have heard 10 positive reviews before that one negative comment but that poor review has so much more weight than all the great reviews.
This happens over and over in our lives from gossiping about people we know to reading reviews on the Internet about a certain product. I was recently planning a trip to Europe and spent hours pouring over Trip Advisor and all the reviews for the different hotels. It was interesting at how I could skim over the 12 positive reviews of a hotel yet thoroughly read a lesser (less than 4 or 5 stars) review and also give that poor review much more weight than all the fabulous reviews.
Once I read or hear a negative comment about something I now say to myself, you have just been poisoned. I prefer to spend my time free from poison and keeping my mind looking for all the good in a situation. This keeps me feeling happy and joyous and enjoying all the wonder around me. Of course I can find something wrong with any hotel, restaurant, friend or virtually anything but if I maintain a positive attitude and focus on what is good I will (and do) enjoy each day to the fullest.
So my recommendation is to avoid those negative comments, when something has the majority of excellent reviews it is not necessary to read the dissatisfied comments, focus on what is good and move forward from there. Thank you don Miguel Ruiz for your wisdom and insight, it has changed my life for the better.
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