OBSERVATION ONLY

“Observe without judgment and the world will reveal its truth to you.” – Unknown

How much time do you spend entertaining opinions? And how often are your opinions accurate? If you reflect, you’ll realize that many of your opinions are based on limited evidence, yet your mind creates elaborate narratives, extrapolating far beyond the original observation.

Imagine you’re in a busy airport and see an old man pick up a piece of trash and throw it away. Your mind quickly forms a story: perhaps he’s a kind grandfather who spends weekends picking up litter around his neighborhood. Now, consider standing in line at an amusement park when two teenagers cut ahead to join their friends. Instantly, a different narrative forms: they’re disrespectful punks, a product of poor parenting, emblematic of a lost generation.

Witness the problem. Your mind, without sufficient evidence, creates opinions that trigger emotions. These emotions—frustration, annoyance, or even admiration—are often detached from reality. Left unchecked, they can lead to stress, pain, and suffering.

Stop at the observation and do not allow your mind to go further. Instead of forming a story, you simply note what happened. A man picked up trash. Kids caught up with their friends. No narrative, no judgment, no emotional arousal.

When you feel an injustice has occurred, pause for a moment to consider the actual cost. For example, the kids cutting in line may have added only 20 seconds to your wait. Confronting them would cost far more—mentally, emotionally, and even socially—than simply observing and letting it go.

Recognize that your opinions can be destructive if they stray too far from the observable truth. Observation without judgment brings clarity, peace, and the ability to move forward without unnecessary suffering.