“Stay away from the extremes!”
My father used to repeat this over and over again.
But I was young and saw it as subjective. I never thought it would ever apply to me. Of course, my father was right and I was wrong. My raw understanding of the world was still in development.
There’s a universal common sense.
Everyone has their own opinion. They see the world in a unique way that’s driven by their experience, culture, and guidance. Still, there’s a common point where the majority of perspectives converge.
There are many paths to reach a mountain peak.
Some may take the unbeaten trails, while others choose the ski cables. Regardless, they all lead to the same peak.
I’ve met with the extremes many times.
Recently, I was surprised to hear an ex-psychic and Reiki teacher transitioning to Christianity. Nothing wrong with that by any means. Everyone is entitled to their own decisions. We evolve and it’s natural to shift perspectives with time.
However, when you do so abruptly, accusing spiritual practices instead of leading by example, it makes everyone else evil. Aside from the teachings of the church, everything else is pagan.
Isn’t that just a petty statement?
I was raised in a Christian Orthodox family.
I have distant relatives who are priests in the Romanian Orthodox Church. I was baptized and follow our traditions regularly. I pray, attend masses, fast, and even seek advice with priests and monks.
I have a deep-rooted respect for our Church and the teachings they are passing from one generation to another. They are all very close to my heart.
I do my best to lead by example.
I traveled the world and explored different cultures.
I attended and listened to services from various religions. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism are not very different from us. They all live by the same core values like love, compassion, and understanding.
Some may look extreme from the outside.
But the majority don’t push their beliefs to anybody.
I practiced Reiki, Theta Healing, meditation, Yoga, Tantra, and Dowsing.
They helped me develop as a person and practitioner.
These experiences grew my understanding of life and the human spirit. While some are very traditional, others borrow from various practices and beliefs. Still, they didn’t conflict with each other.
They complemented my approach to life and spirituality. I borrowed ideas and concepts that made my practice unique.
I was flexible and chose what made sense to me.
Bad apples will always exist.
Extremes are all around us, but as the minority.
The issue is when we make them the rule and even judge group of people through these examples.
It’s how politics works.
It’s how you divide and conquer.
You turn the knife where well aware that’s what controversy-seekers are after. They feed with this kind of information. And it’s certainly one way to grab attention.
I have yet to see a healed and balanced person criticizing others. They don’t hang on to the extremes and are open to exploring and understanding.
They lead by example!
It’s better to praise what you believe instead of defaming something you dislike.
Conclusion
Be flexible.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout the years it’s to never label, judge, or criticize people, especially those who bring value to the world.
It’s misleading and creates chaos.
If you want to address the bad actors in this world, I’m confident there are others who are more than obvious. From witches and black magic books to malevolent cults and energetic manipulation, there’s a full list to choose from.
Maybe the answer doesn’t lie in defaming what you dislike.
Maybe the answer is to honor what you value.
Lead by example.