Overcoming Prejudices, Facing up to Inconvenient Truths - Key to Peace and Coexistence

Peace
@Shiva49 (26554)
Singapore
February 1, 2019 8:31pm CST
No one is above prejudices that get ingrained in us over time subconsciously. I have a few from my younger years that I fight to erase as I know they are more of a burden but tough to overcome. Maybe, they define who I am and refuse to let go of me! Our creator has not compartmentalized us; he has given his spread without borders; in fact, they are free for all. However, we have built up fences around us due to our greed, suspicion, ego, and selfishness. Our misery is created by our prejudices and not addressing the inconvenient truths. We are egoistic to different levels and for some, they dictate their agenda. We still hold on to thus far and no further; some are non-negotiable though we realize they are unjust. Our lives will be so much better if we reflect on our prejudices and inconvenient truths and at least become aware of them. Let us slowly discard the needless baggage. How do you face such issues? On my part, I try to chip away to inch closer to Godliness. Why restrict ourselves? Image: Peace from Wikimedia Commons
13 people like this
14 responses
@sofssu (23662)
2 Feb 19
I think if we believe in one creator who is impartial and that we are all his children, it is easier to get over these problems. Personally, I used to think of homeless people as untouchables because they are dirty and smelly and such. But a few years ago when someone pointed that out to me my husband and I took up to serving them in shelters. Now after facing the giant my attitude has changed.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
2 Feb 19
Basically, it is the oneness of humanity enriched by the uniqueness in each of us. Also, it should be unity in diversity. However, we try to highlight the differences. Having lived in a few countries and within few cultures, I see the oneness of humanity above the differences. When I was a child, I thought others were different but upon reflection, I knew I was prejudiced; it should not define who we are. I also thought the poor were lazy but I see many are selfless upon closer observation. In fact, the rich can learn a lot from them how to be contented. The bottom line is our differences are superficial and prejudices are due to ignorance. Truth can also be interpreted differently as we are not privy to all the facts - siva
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (336739)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Feb 19
I try to live a good, kind life. That's about it really.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
2 Feb 19
Though our core values might remain unshaken, we too change over time with new experiences and age. One thing I have learned is good and the bad, the creative and talented, are everywhere and spread over time too. Then someone appears out of the blue to effect epochal changes - siva
3 people like this
@allknowing (133459)
• India
3 Feb 19
I have found an easy way and that is to pick and choose who I am comfortable with and it works for me Wallowing over situations and wondering if I could have handled them better is what I do not do now. I just leave them there and move on.
2 people like this
@allknowing (133459)
• India
3 Feb 19
@Shiva49 I should have thought of this earlier.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
3 Feb 19
Everyone has reasons for being who they are. So better to be who we are and be among like-minded folks. The bottom line is we need to be comfortable in our own skin - siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
3 Feb 19
@allknowing Life is a learning journey, to be savored too. We need to learn, unlearn, and relearn with each passing day. Technology is increasingly keeping us on the edge with the Doomsday clock inching towards annihilation! I recall an astronaut from up above exclaiming our planet looks even better than paradise! Enjoy the moments as they are not repeated - siva
2 people like this
@just4him (317027)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Feb 19
I give myself a lecture every so often.
2 people like this
@just4him (317027)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Feb 19
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
5 Feb 19
Yes, it is better to be reminded and chip away so that, over time, we become a better person - siva
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Feb 19
I am learning g to shed my prejudices as I grow older.live and let live.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
2 Feb 19
That is the way to grow up. One thing I have learned is we are all the same, from the same source. The differences we feel are due to our prejudices, insecurities - siva
3 people like this
@Nevena83 (65277)
• Serbia
2 Feb 19
I've never had prejudices. I only know that you should never judge others.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
2 Feb 19
Good to hear that. Yes, treat others as you would like to be treated - siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
3 Feb 19
@Nevena83 I too judge others to some extent to see what their real intentions are. However, I do not interfere in others' lives - siva
2 people like this
@Nevena83 (65277)
• Serbia
2 Feb 19
@Shiva49 think very few people think so. People like to judge others.
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
2 Feb 19
One has to learn a lot to live such a life.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
2 Feb 19
Life is a learning journey and it is enriched when we keep an open mind. Each has a story to tell but many are not told at all. Prejudices enslave us into watertight compartments - siva
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
2 Feb 19
We are not born with prejudices. We learn them from our environment. When we learn to reason then we realize how unreasonable they are and that we should get rid of them. It is not easy to get rid of them when the world feeds them but we can do it and we need to do it.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
3 Feb 19
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
3 Feb 19
Yes, we need to shine our own light and it will be brighter the darker the environment We need to be practical too not to fall into the trap of imposters. The good always has a challenge at hand and need to persevere against odds! siva
2 people like this
@yugocean (9963)
• India
5 Feb 19
I have different reaction on different time depends on time and situation and mood.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
5 Feb 19
Agreed, as we may not react the same way all the time. I try to be consistent though - siva
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (468974)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
I had a wonderful father, he taught me never to judge people and accept the others as they are, we are all only humans with our problems and our pains. I live my life without judging the others.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (468974)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
@Shiva49 I am grateful to my father because he worked very hard to grow us without racial hate.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
2 Feb 19
Our upbringing influences us. I have been helped by strangers more than by my friends and relatives. We may also react the same way as those we may despise when faced with similar situations - siva
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
4 Feb 19
My parents always told us treat others as you would like to be treated and I think I am a kind person but do not like to see people taken advantage of. Sometimes it is better to keep quiet than to say something nasty!
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
5 Feb 19
I believe in the law of cause and effect, karma. Some are immediate like precipitating a fight and others take time, maybe many lives, till the lessons are learned. I like to remind myself “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” We are in for the long haul! siva
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
4 Feb 19
Slowly, I have been letting go of my prejudices. It's very difficult to do, but it can be done. Sometimes, however, they creep back in, due to others' behaviors. It's not easy then to forgive and forget.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
5 Feb 19
I agree some prejudices are there for a reason and well founded! siva
2 people like this
@innertalks (21769)
• Australia
3 Feb 19
The old trick of hiding ourselves in our unconscious minds, never really works. We need to become more consciously aware.
It is often said that conscious awareness brings us choice, so that we can change, and so not be so prejudiced against others, or live from falsely held onto beliefs, and non-truths, held unknowingly by us in our unconscious minds, placed there by both others and ourselves, and then largely forgotten about, after they served whatever purpose they might have served originally for us at the time. This unconscious self is not the same as our servant self, our soul, our higher self, nor our other inner selves. The unconscious or subconscious are merely tools of acquiring automatised actions that can be repeated themselves, and so, if repeated unconsciously forever, they become non-serving to us then. We need to constantly try to become more aware of what is controlling us unconsciously, and prompting us to act in ways that are not serving us, or helping us to grow into better people in this life. Prejudiced thinking never serves us, nor anyone else. Photo Credit: The photo used here was freely sourced from the free media site: pixabay.com The old trick of hiding ourselves in our unconscious minds, never really works. We need to become more consciously aware.
@innertalks (21769)
• Australia
3 Feb 19
@Shiva49 Thanks, siva. Yes, I am forever restless! Is there ever any benefit to our having a closed mind sometimes, though? We need to see the mind as just being the mind, a tool for our soul, too. Sometimes, we do need to keep it closed, but we should never close our heart to love, whereas the mind can be closed off when negative poisonous thoughts try to enter it. Good thoughts come from our soul, from our heart, and from God. Bad thoughts come from everywhere else, from our subconscious mind, from our ego, and even from our dreams, if they are not pursuing the love in our heart, and are going after worldly stuff instead.
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
3 Feb 19
@innertalks Yes Steve, once in a while we need to turn off the tap due to our minds going berserk, out of control! I have heard that none is spared from negative thoughts, so we need to switch off, breathe in and out, pause, to regain composure! Yes, God's love is bursting at the seams and should be allowed free flow into every pore of our being and thoughts. Love is life, the life breath, that keeps us connected to our creator. A life of reverence and deep gratitude help us never to lose our way - siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
3 Feb 19
Thanks, Steve, for this analytical reply like always. For other species, it is more of day-to-day survival, but we have graduated to thinking individuals with an opportunity to make wise choices. That means, also, we need constant internal appraisals as to what works and those that are burdensome, useless baggage. We are akin to our computer; we need our own constant cleansing before our creator does the reboot! It is easy to saunter along taking care not to topple the apple cart but then our lives will be more akin to other species, sort of a damp squib! I know you have a clear, restless mind, seeking the truth. With a closed mind, we may end up in fool's paradise! siva
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@Loyd12 (154)
• Zamboanga City, Philippines
6 Feb 19
Truth hurts and it is the same with prejudice. You will have a very precise idea of judgment if you know the correct criteria.
@Shiva49 (26554)
• Singapore
6 Feb 19
God does not discriminate. The intelligent are everywhere. It is more of kind souls getting exploited. So showing prejudice is acting against our creator - siva