Why we gossip

Think about the last time you passed any sort of unkind judgement on someone. Chances are you won't have to think too long to come up with a memory - because that's what a lot of us do - day in and day out - talking about others in negative and unflattering terms, quite unaware that when we do this what is often at play is the fact that 'an offensive is the best defence' - in other words, most of us are afraid of being judged by others, and we try to pre-empt that by 'attacking others first.' Surprised? Don't like being told this? - Well, in that case why not save your precious energy to use for enhancing your own life instead of wasting it by passing derogatory comments on others.

You ask me if I'm this angel who doesn't indulge in gossip, and I'll tell you that I used to but I stopped - when I realized that this was a mere cover up of my own insecurities. And getting rid of the habit was very hard, since it was was an old one that had settled in my bones, just as habits do - but so determined was I not to be the pathetic loser I'd started feeling I was, when I realized why I was doing this, that I taught myself to be very conscious and cautious at all times around people. Slowly I changed my instant and instinctive unkind reactions to people, what they were wearing, what they were doing, or what their appearance or profile appeared to be, by changing it to 'This is the way this soul wants to experience itself, and so be it.' I found this extremely helpful to do, and in seconds my attention moved to something else. The effort was so well worth it, making me open-minded, tolerant and most of all compassionate towards others.

Kiki ;-)
P.S. My request to those who 'borrow' from this blog is to please give adequate credit to the source of the borrowed information - whether me, or books and people I quote from. Thank you.