Royane Real
The Scoop on Gossip
By Kim McGinnis
Have ever found yourself sucked into a negative conversation involving talking about another person? If so, there are some things you may want to keep in mind. The very popular activity of gossiping may bring back a lot of childhood memories for some of you. If you are living your life consciously, your gossip days are now behind you.
However, for some of you, circumstances continue to arise where you just can’t help yourself. You know this particular person, and the truth is they are just plain mean and they just continue to do really stupid, mind-boggling things. Hey, I understand. What I would lovingly recommend is this: meditate on the fact that people are not their actions.
There are real laws of the Universe that we simply cannot escape. Have you ever heard of the Law of Attraction? What you give you get. The Irish have their own way of interpreting this law: “Who gossips with you will gossip of you.” Think about this the next time you partake in a seemingly harmless dialogue at someone else’s expense.
One of the reasons many of you may still gossip may be boredom. This excuse says much about the person who considers slander as a way to round out the day. Think about what is going on in your own world. Do you have a family, a job, or a pet? What can you do that is constructive that will enhance these parts of your life? What can you do for yourself? The next time your attention goes to someone else, redirect your energies to ways to enhance the joy to those closest to you.
Trouble can also arise when we seek approval from other people. If a discursive communication is instigated from someone that you admire or want to gain attention from, then you need to seriously reevaluate. Why do you want this person’s approval?
If they are in a position to help you in your career, you should be prepared to back away.
You might be surprised when you stand up to people how they will react. You may get the respect you wanted all along. If not, you will be better off extracting this person from your networking list. Practice the winning combination of kindness and patience. The Universe will reward you when you least expect it.
Bad habits are difficult to break, whether it is eating too much sugar, working too much or gossiping. These are not simply actions that you carry out. There is a deeper reason that you want to do these things. Reflection is necessary to get at the root of “why?” When you begin to stop yourself from doing something you feel very compelled to do, this is a great first step.
When someone invites you to participate in a negative discussion about someone else, take a moment to reflect. Breathe. Think about all the parts of you that others do not know. Now think of the potential gossip target. Most likely, this person has many hidden parts that make up who they are. Think of how you are like this person. Some examples might be:
- You both have a job you are not crazy about.
- You both have families that need attention.
- You both have a mortgage to pay.
- You both would like genuine understanding.
- You both come from the same divine energy—our inner source.
Next, imagine that you are this person. Begin breathing as if you are this targeted individual, and experience how you would feel if a group of people were saying disparaging remarks about you. This type of meditation will bring clarity in your chaotic environment. If you allow yourself to really live in the other person’s shoes, it should not take more than a thoughtful moment to walk away.
When you think about it, what connects us as human beings is suffering. We all have ups and downs in our lives. When we are in the midst of a challenging time we are coping with a down cycle, we may act differently or appear out of character. If others judge our odd behavior during this time, and talk about it, they are not really hurting that us. We are just waiting for the wave that will carry us to the up cycle.
The one who gossips hurts himself. There is no room for judgment when we are searching for ways to heal. Practice compassion for yourself and others and the thought of gossiping will become a distant memory.
Copyright, 2007, Avenstar Enterprises Inc/Our Inner Source
Article Source: http://www.articlemotron.com
Kim McGinnis is a freelance writer and entrepreneur. Most recently she has co-developed an inspirational website, Our Inner Source . For informative articles, exclusive interviews, inspiring videos, a unique gift shop, and more, visit Kim at http://www.ourinnersource.com For more articles by Kim McGinnis, go to http://www.avenstar.com To find out about fireflies, an absolutely unique & magical product, go to Kim’s very popular site, http://www.magicalfireflies.com
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