You might notice how quickly opinions appear.
You’re scrolling, listening, or half-paying attention to a conversation, and suddenly there it is. I agree, I don’t, that’s ridiculous, that’s obvious. The mind doesn’t hesitate. It responds almost automatically, as if it’s been waiting for the chance.
If you pause for a moment, you may notice how these opinions come with a subtle sense of identity. This is who I am. This is where I stand. Even when no one else is around, the opinion still feels like something that belongs to you, something you carry with you.
Sometimes it helps to notice how long you’ve been carrying certain opinions. You may not even remember where they came from. They’ve simply been there for years, about politics, music, religion, health, success, or the “right” way to live. They feel settled, unquestioned, almost like facts. And yet, if you look closely, you might see that many of them haven’t been examined in a very long time.
Watch what happens when an opinion is challenged, even slightly. There’s often a tightening. A defensiveness. A quick mental response that wants to protect the position. The body reacts before any careful thought appears. That reaction can be surprisingly strong for something that exists only as a thought.
You might notice this most clearly when you catch yourself stating an opinion out loud and then feeling oddly compelled to defend it, even if no one asked you to. The opinion isn’t just information anymore. It’s doing work. It’s reinforcing a sense of “me.”
If you’re willing, try simply noticing opinions the way you might notice cravings. They show up. They promise satisfaction. They ask to be acted on. And often, before you realize it, they’ve already been expressed. Nothing dramatic is happening. It’s just habit, running on its own momentum.
There’s no need to get rid of opinions or replace them with better ones. That’s just another project for the mind. Instead, notice what remains when an opinion passes. The space before it formed. The quiet after it fades. That background doesn’t argue. It doesn’t take sides. It doesn’t need to prove anything.
In moments like that, it becomes clear that opinions are events in awareness, not the owner of it. They come and go. They change. They contradict one another over time. But whatever is noticing them doesn’t seem to move in the same way.
You don’t have to conclude anything from this. Just noticing the difference is enough. When opinions loosen their grip, even slightly, there’s often a sense of ease. Less to defend, less to maintain, less to be.
And life goes on just fine without carrying every opinion as a badge of identity.
Summary:
This article explores the nature of opinions and how they often serve as mental shortcuts rather than thoughtful conclusions. It suggests that opinions can become unconscious habits tied to ego and identity, rather than genuine reflections of truth. By becoming more aware of our opinions and questioning their origins, we can move beyond them and connect with our deeper, opinion-free awareness.
Main Points:
- Opinions as Mental Shortcuts – Many opinions are based on outdated or incomplete information and can prevent deeper thinking.
- The Ego’s Attachment to Opinions – Opinions often become part of our identity, reinforcing a sense of self rather than reflecting reality.
- Awareness Beyond Opinions – True awareness exists beyond opinions; by questioning them, we can free ourselves from mental habits and ego-driven attachments.
Key Questions:
- Why do we hold onto certain opinions without questioning them?
- How do opinions become tied to our identity?
- Are opinions helping us, or are they just mental habits?
- How can we become more aware of our opinions and where they come from?
- What happens when we let go of opinions and connect with pure awareness?
