At work, there is a lot of politics, gossip, backbiting, and other negative aspects that make going to work unbearable because each new day is not necessarily a new day. Each new day is a seemingly endless day. The same politics, backbiting, and gossip happens, but it is simply just another day. Each day gives the illusion of eternal day because nothing seems to change. And sometimes it seems impossible for me to break free of the eternal day until, I hope, today.
In Think on These Things, Krishnamurti is asked a question about forming opinions of others. To the question, Krishnamurti answers:
The same can be said of the thinking we know the people we work with. We try to work with the same people day after day after day, having formed opinions of them from this event or that event; this rumor or that rumor; this opinion or that opinion. But when we do this, we only see the person/coworker for what they did yesterday or what someone said they did and we see nothing else. These fixed opinions of a coworker do nothing but harbor ill feelings for your coworkers, and an unhealthy coworker relationship has begun to develop.
However, (and I'm going to add this to the philosophies I want to live by) if we can greet our coworkers as though we are meeting for the first time, the preconceived notions or opinions will break the cycle of the endless day; will make working much less of a chore; and, at times, allow you to have more compassion and love for those you work with.
This philosophy sounds like a chore and it sounds impossible. However, as we begin to practice making each encounter new and important, the chore will become reflex like breathing in air. With a daily tabula rasa, each new moment becomes unique and the compassion you gain for your coworkers will make working with them worthwhile.
I will strive, from today on, to release and erase the events of the past that have formulated my opinions of others including my coworkers. I will begin each new day with a tabula rasa. And I will strive to make each new encounter like it is the first that will allow me to know the real person beyond events, opinions, and rumor. Namaste.
In Think on These Things, Krishnamurti is asked a question about forming opinions of others. To the question, Krishnamurti answers:
We have a screen of ideas between ourselves and another person, so we never really meet that person...If you say, "I know that person," you may be totally wrong, because you know him[/her] up to a certain point, or by the events which took place on a particular date, and beyond that you don't know him[/her] at all. So what is important is to meet another human being always with a fresh mind, and not with your prejudices, with your fixed ideas, with your opinions (87).Krishnamurti is saying it is important to meet people without our preconceived notions and opinions that have developed from day-to-day events. We don't ever really know the person we think we know because we have formed opinions from things that happen in life and don't allow ourselves to continue to get to know them. We assume from this event or because of this prejudice or opinion the person IS that person and nothing else.
The same can be said of the thinking we know the people we work with. We try to work with the same people day after day after day, having formed opinions of them from this event or that event; this rumor or that rumor; this opinion or that opinion. But when we do this, we only see the person/coworker for what they did yesterday or what someone said they did and we see nothing else. These fixed opinions of a coworker do nothing but harbor ill feelings for your coworkers, and an unhealthy coworker relationship has begun to develop.
However, (and I'm going to add this to the philosophies I want to live by) if we can greet our coworkers as though we are meeting for the first time, the preconceived notions or opinions will break the cycle of the endless day; will make working much less of a chore; and, at times, allow you to have more compassion and love for those you work with.
This philosophy sounds like a chore and it sounds impossible. However, as we begin to practice making each encounter new and important, the chore will become reflex like breathing in air. With a daily tabula rasa, each new moment becomes unique and the compassion you gain for your coworkers will make working with them worthwhile.
I will strive, from today on, to release and erase the events of the past that have formulated my opinions of others including my coworkers. I will begin each new day with a tabula rasa. And I will strive to make each new encounter like it is the first that will allow me to know the real person beyond events, opinions, and rumor. Namaste.
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