Are You Hiding?

“Your own Self-Realization is the greatest service you can render the world.” ~ Ramana Maharshi

Whatever.
It doesn’t matter.
I don’t really care.
Sure. I guess so.
You pick.
That’s fine.

We’ve all been passive at some point. What appears as easy-go-lucky can often be a cover to divert attention or connection with the person you’re engaging. It shows up in small ways (what do you want for dinner?) and can grow in big ways (what do you want in life?) without every recognizing the underlying issue.

If we look at the definition of passive according to Webster, “someone who allows things to happen or who accepts what other people do or decide without trying to change anything”, we can learn a lot. For one, we can see that being passive plays an important role in our life. But it depends on how.

Is passive a choice or a default? Maybe you really are indifferent to the outcome and don’t care how it turns out. You pick the movie. I’ll have what you’re having. Whatever works is fine. But maybe you just don’t want to decide. Because choosing means you could be wrong or even to blame. When you choose you take responsibility. There’s dignity in that kind of self-expression.

And yet being passive can be exactly the best response if say, you’re in the heat of an argument and your emotions run wild. Being passive can soothe a tense situation almost on contact. This is the power of non-action. Not taking a stand when there’s clearly a right side to be on or refraining from saying something hurtful, requires discipline and awareness.

Passiveness can help us if we know how to cultivate it. But we have to know how it already works in us now.

How does it play out in your life? Is being passive an escape from asserting your truth, a way to avoid confrontation? Is it a deliberate method to create distance and gain clarity? Does it show up as almost a numb reaction because maybe in that moment you actually don’t know who you are or where you stand? Is passive even a choice?

There is ignorance and intelligence to a reaction of indifference. Choose well.

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