Do you carry your opinions around like badges, bumper stickers, or patches on a jacket? Have you ever stopped to think about what purpose they actually serve? Are they there to show people what kind of person you are? What you think? What you believe? What you love or hate? What you’re sure is right or wrong? Or maybe they’re a way to avoid looking into something more deeply. Maybe it’s a stance you took years ago, and you haven’t thought much about it since—but of course, it’s still true, right?
There’s nothing wrong with having opinions, but let’s be honest: opinions are often lazy shortcuts for actual thinking. They’re based on old, incomplete, or even inaccurate information, along with mental positions we latched onto at some point. Over time, we start mistaking those mental positions for our identity. “I’m the person who loves this sports team.” “I’m from this region or country.” “I hate that type of music.”
Think of opinions like junk food for your mind. Just like real junk food, they can feel satisfying in the moment but have some not-so-great long-term effects. If you’ve ever tried to eat healthier, you know how strong those cravings for junk food can be. Sometimes, you barely notice what you’re doing until you’ve polished off a whole bag of chips. Opinions work the same way. We toss them out unconsciously, not even realizing it. They’re mental habits that thrive when we’re not paying attention.
So, how do we handle opinions? Shine a light on them. Start becoming more aware of them. Take a moment to ask yourself:
- Where did this opinion come from?
- Why am I holding onto it?
- Is it actually helping me?
- What alternatives are out there, and have I considered them?
Here’s the thing: your true self doesn’t have opinions. Like a newborn, your essence is pure awareness. In that state, there’s no need or desire for opinions. When opinions pop up, they’re just the mind doing its thing. Opinions are building blocks for the ego, which is why they feel so tied to your sense of self. But that version of “you” is just a mental construct. When you connect to the infinite awareness of your true self, the ego—and its opinions—start to fade away.