Short Answers

September 27, 2023

Can we manage or control what others think of us? The short answer is no. But we can manage and control our responses to them, whatever their opinions.

Recently, someone attributed to me as being the person who did a very honorable thing. But I was not the one who did it. I corrected the misperception. Also, recently, someone alluded to my having done something that was not so good. I didn't do what they thought I did. I set the record straight.

But in the end, regardless of what we say, many people have opinions of us and our family that don't change even when we say our peace.

Our unhealthy ego wants everyone to think what we want them to think about us. Remember, our ego is the movie director of its film. It hands out scripts to everyone and expects them to say, think and feel according to the story.

The bottom line for consciousness is knowing who we are and the world we are in. In consciousness, we are secure in our identity. When people flatter us or cast aspersions toward us, we have access to the truth about ourselves and therefore have a better chance of not becoming inflated or offended.

Inquiry: Do you have a grounded sense of who you are?

Dear God,

I have run myself ragged to please others so they will have a favorable opinion of me. But I forgot to take into consideration what I think of me. My self-perception is more important than others' opinion of me. They do not know the whole truth, but I do. Let my response to them be one of understanding, whether they judge me fairly or unfairly. They can't possibly know all of me, nor can I know all of them.

Amen.

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