Listening and challenging what you hear is a good check and balance. But what happens when you give in to the temptation to challenge everything?
I fell into this habit pattern without realizing it. A trip away from home helped me see that there is a time and place to challenge ideas and a time to understand when this becomes a habit pattern.
If you have been reading my articles over the last months, you will know that our mobile home park is facing issues with our new owners. A couple of months back, a few of us got together to address where these owners were testing the state laws. We began challenging everything they were doing.
There is a thin line between knowing when to ‘turn the other cheek’ and when to challenge what is going on around us. But I was losing my perspective.
We can see this in the political situation. Some issues are just too important to let go of, and others are not worth the time. But I notice that too many of us hold a diehard view of a situation.
Questioning our views and beliefs is essential. Situations change, and sometimes, our views need to change as well.
But what happens when we get stuck in a mode that challenges everything?
I found myself in this dilemma recently — not realizing I was in the wrong mode.
Because of the political climate and the things I saw going on in my neighborhood, I started questioning everything. I quit listening to my inner voice (without realizing it) to resist everything.
The more I resisted, the more combative I became inside and the more unhappy I was. Without understanding why, I was losing more and more of my inner peace.
It wasn’t until I resisted my doctor’s advice (not that he is always right, of course) that I realized I had stepped over the edge of reasonability! I was resisting because that is where my mind was going all the time!
Thankfully, getting away from my immediate surroundings for a few days softened my inner being. I felt loved and accepted and no longer felt the need to resist and challenge so much.
So, what did I do to deal with my temptation to challenge everything?
The peace that touched my soul while I was away changed my attitude. One of the first things I did was to make peace with a few people that I was at odds with. Not that I was fighting with anyone, but my lack of peace made me less compassionate with others.
I had a long talk with my husband, asking for clarity about our actions. Again, I broached the subject with compassion.
I also quit battling with my doctor and decided to try his suggestion — after all, he was just asking me to try a different regimen.
And most importantly, I decided to avoid the temptation to challenge everything I did understand or agree with.