There are times that I think amazingly negative things and I don't know where they come from. Not often, but sometimes I think something so completely prejudicial that it makes me stop in my tracks. I'm not a prejudicial person. I love diversity. I recently moved to a larger city and love the fact that I am surrounded by people from a wide range of backgrounds. So the prejudicial thoughts come completely out of left field and leave me shocked.
Have you ever had an experience like this? Have you ever found yourself thinking something that is so totally against who you are?
Last night I was walking into my apartment building. Three men were talking in the lobby. I have met and greeted all three men almost every day since I've lived here. They have thick accents and tan skin. I have no idea what their ancestry is. I didn't greet them this time because they were actively conversing with each other. I didn't want to interupt.
After I was well past the trio, a completely nonsensical, prejudicial thought drifted across my mind. From somewhere the thought formed, "They could be planning a jihad for all I know."
I nearly stopped dead in my tracks. Where had this come from? These men are not Muslim or Arabic. Even if they were, this isn't something I would automatically think about anyone. This isn't something I've even heard any of my colleagues, friends, or family members say, though I wouldn't put it past my mother to say/think such a thing. She is very fearful of people who are different from her.
So, where do these thoughts come from? I have experienced negative energy from a person, but can someone leave a wake of such energy behind them? While I do not believe in the devil, could there be negative spirits who plant such thoughts in our brains? Or, deep down, do we all have a dark side with negative thoughts like this just lurking for a moment to escape?
I believe that all of us are capable of the worst possible crimes. I think that if we were put in just the right situation, we might find ourselves commiting crimes we find despicable. Maybe these thoughts come from that darker place within us -- the Mr. Hyde we all have waiting to escape.
What do you think? What have you experienced? How do you deal with these stray, negative thoughts?
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Comments: 4
There is a lot of fear in the world today and it is usually used to try to get us to do things we may not normally do. Like the alarm person that says that someone in your neighbourhood had their house broken into while they were home. When you get these thoughts gently ask them to leave they are not welcome.
Saying that they are from the devil or evil spirits deny their existence within us and when we respond this way they will never leave us.