None of us knows what we don’t yet know. I think we can navigate that by being humble, kind, and seeking truth above all else.
We have a situation on Earth where malicious gossip is seen as entertainment, or as something that is being of service to others, by warning them of possible harm. Unfortunately, many people will end up hurting themselves when they must account for spreading falsities about others.
It’s one thing to share one’s personal experience and lessons from it. Everyone has a right to share their experiences and their perceptions. But it’s an entirely different thing to hear something negative about someone, and then spread that as truth. It’s not a good use of energy, no matter how well-intentioned someone may be. The best remedy is to be objective, focus on facts, and have an intent to be harmless.
If someone has done something to upset us, we can discuss it directly with that person as opposed to spreading it around like a virus. The exception would be if the person is acting dangerously and harming others. Even if that’s the case, we still must ask ourselves if our intent is to eliminate harm, or is it to cause more damage because we feel it’s justified? No matter what, every word spoken should be the truth as we know it based on facts about the persons behavior. And if we don’t know if we have the truth, then it’s best to observe and discern.
Malicious gossip damages unity and trust. We need to build unity and trust in order to experience a better world.
Malicious gossip can be caused by:
- People projecting their own issues onto someone else
- People making unfound assumptions about others
- The impulse to be retaliatory because one was slightly offended, or questioned about their behavior
- Misunderstandings that could be cleared up with clear and non-violent communication
- Feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, or competition which leads to the desire to see someone else hurt
- Mind control programs which are a problem on Earth
If one is on the receiving end of malicious gossip, it can be painful. I like how Abraham Lincoln approached the topic:
“If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.” -Abraham Lincoln
Sharing a negative experience is not the same thing as malicious gossip. Always speak your truth, but please try to do it with the intent of letting facts and harmlessness prevail.
12/22/22
