A Word on Rumors-2
I once read an interesting quote attributed to multiple people. It said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” A lot of people belong to the last category: they only discuss others. They don’t have any questions about their own future or life, they have no great ideas to explore or insights to share, instead, they are only concerned about what others have to say about them or other people.
Those who walk their own path, those who shape themselves for success have little time to worry about others’ opinions though. It’s only an idle mind or an unproductive one that is vexed by rumors (false or otherwise). If you believe me then know this: no matter how great you are, you can’t make everyone happy. Whenever anyone approaches you to say something they heard about you from someone else, simply stop them from sharing it with you.
If you can’t stop them then just remind yourself that this “bulletin” is not meant for you because if it was, it would have been conveyed directly to you. Further, we don’t even know in what context it was said. Therefore, in my view, it defies all sense and logic to react to such information.
A lot of our emotional baggage is created by hearsays or out-of-context messages we accept without ever finding the real truth behind them. Besides, very few will share with you to know or find the truth. Most have already made up their mind. There’s little point in trying to change their opinion.
The royal barber was trimming the beard of the king when he commented, “His Majesty’s beard is starting to turn gray.”
The king was livid at the remark and ordered that the barber be jailed for two years.
“Do you see any gray hair in my beard?” he asked a courtier.
“Almost none at all,” the courtier replied hesitatingly.
“What do you mean by ‘almost’!” the king yelled and had him thrown behind bars for three years. Everyone in the palace was terrified.
Not done yet, he turned to another attendant and asked the same question.
“Gray?” the attendant exclaimed. “Not at all, my lord, not at all. Your exquisite black beard is darker than the darkest night.”
“You liar!“ the king shouted.
“Give this man ten lashes on the back,” he ordered, “and put him in jail for four years.”
Finally, he turned to Nasruddin and said, “Mulla, what color is my beard?”
“Your Excellency,” Nasrudin replied, “I am color blind, and cannot answer that question.”
It doesn’t matter how true or intelligent your answer, if the person across has already made up his or her mind, there’s no point in changing their view. Let them hold onto their opinion because ultimately your inner strength is not dependent on what others think about you but on what you think about yourself.
If you believe in what you do, so long as you are true to yourself and your purpose, rumors and opinions can’t shake you even one bit. Besides, most people don’t mean most of what they say — good or bad. Everyone has a talkative mind and often this chatter comes out in the form of words without any underlying meaning or intention. Just how a small child talks while playing with her toys.
When you are waiting at the airport, for example, people around you are constantly talking. You learn to ignore it as noise. Similarly, when they make you a party to rumors, let it go for your own peace of mind. Remind yourself that any information not specifically addressed to you is not for you. Something about you doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for you.
Why strain yourself in deciphering noise when you can create music?
Om Namah Shivay
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