Being Right!

This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. - Shakespeare

Social psychology research has shown that the single most important motivating factor in our decision making process and formation of our attitudes, is the desire to be right. When we hear a source that we consider credible, that we respect and admire, expressing an opinion that is different to our own, we are more likely to consider shifting our attitude. We wish to align with it, especially if it came from a trusted friend, a beloved minister or a TV personality we look up to, so that we can feel that we have it right. If they think that way then there must be some validity to it.

However I have found that if there is a position you wish to defend in the world you can find ample evidence to support that stance. This too is a recognised phenomenon in social psychology; justification of our decisions. Absence makes the heart grow fonder or is it out of sight is out of mind? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is a good side to every seemingly bad situation, etc. Who or what is right!

How do we decide?

Is what we have been telling ourselves all our lives right? When did we form the things we believe about ourselves and the world? Could they be looked at again in the light of maturity to asses their validity?


I have uncovered many false beliefs in my lifetime and continue to do so. And the way I do it is listening. I do listen to learned women and men I respect and I always listen to my intuition. I gauge if I resonate with what I hear and assess if it frees me or binds me and people in general. Has it got love at it's center? People often ask how they can distinguish their intuition from all the other voices in their heads and I say, it may speak in gentle tones and will always have love and your good, as well as the good of all, as it's deepest desire.


The only time it screams, and it does at times, is when you have ignored it way beyond what it can stand and you'll know this because you will have been hit by the "cosmic 2 by 4" somehow. It's best not to let it get to that place and listen now. Sometimes we have to wait in silence for it's reticent voice. It is wise and knows a timing better than ours. Trust it and nothing else, it will never let you down.


The only tyrant I accept in this world is the 'still small voice' within”
Mahatma Gandhi