Losing interest in those that don't practice what they preach.

[ReturningMoon]

Hi everyone. Something I've noticed along my spiritual path is that I've lost all interest in those that don't practice what they preach. I used to think there was something to look at but now I see nothing with people like that.
Has anyone else noticed this along their journey?

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by ReturningMoon

Something I've noticed along my spiritual path is that I've lost all interest in those that don't practice what they preach.

I think you are to be commended for that.
They are like lint on my coat...worth a one-finger fling.
God bless 'em...I don't have to hang with them, tho

[Uma]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

They are like lint on my coat...worth a one-finger fling.
God bless 'em...I don't have to hang with them, tho

I second that emotion.

But seriously, whoever has never NOT practiced what they preached may cast the first stone!

[inavalan]

@ReturningMoon

Your post attracted my attention, and after a couple of attempts to reply, I gave up because they didn't seem to be helpful. Then, intuitively, I realized that your post could be a lesson for me, as an observer; maybe for others too.

So ... What kind of emotions do your observation trigger in you? They'll draw in your life situations that will trigger more emotions in kind. If you enjoy these emotions, then continue thinking and believing whatever caused them. If you don't, then substitute them by focusing on something that will trigger in you emotions you enjoy.

[ReturningMoon]

Originally Posted by inavalan

Your post attracted my attention, and after a couple of attempts to reply, I gave up because they didn't seem to be helpful. Then, intuitively, I realized that your post could be a lesson for me, as an observer; maybe for others too.
So ... What kind of emotions do your observation trigger in you? .

Mostly jealousy and the feeling of having to compete. Those are things I like to be free of.

[Native spirit]

I have to agree with Redchic


Namaste

[Starman]

Having interest is forming a connection with something or someone, and while on a conscious spiritual path we may have unconditional positive regard for others, but many do become more discriminating seeking only those people and things that nurture their path.

I often look at those who have such shortcomings with compassion, as I was once there more then now myself. Now I realize that no matter what I am saying or to whom I am saying it to, I am talking to myself, even though I may be saying it to someone else, things that I just may embrace in mind only. It is a form of not being honest with your self.

It often starts out as a vague belief, then it may evolve into a strong belief, at which point it may merit an alignment with real world behaviors. Some people never make that leap to incorporating behaviors that correspond with their beliefs. It can be very confusing to keep saying one thing but act differently then you speak, and there is no telling how a persons’ thinking may play in all of this.

[inavalan]

Originally Posted by ReturningMoon

Mostly jealousy and the feeling of having to compete. Those are things I like to be free of.

As you identified those, you might want to trace back the root causes, the beliefs that are behind those emotions.

I don't know anything about you, so I might be way off, but pairing "jealousy" with "not wanting to compete", to me, points to lack of confidence in yourself, in what you can do, in your worthiness. Those hold you back, and you can overcome them. Whatever is behind them isn't a reality, but your beliefs about you and about others, and beliefs can be changed.

There are various ways of altering the belief by substituting its opposite. One particular method is three-pronged. You generate the emotion opposite the one that arises from the belief you want to change, and you turn your imagination in the opposite direction from the one dictated by the belief. At the same time you consciously assure yourself that the unsatisfactory belief is an idea about reality and not an aspect of reality itself.

Originally Posted by ReturningMoon

Has anyone else noticed this along their journey?

More interesting for me are those who do not preach. Perhaps they have unshared principles that they break. This prevents us from having negative thoughts about them. You realize that you are allowing yourself to be drawn into judgement ? Maybe not the healthiest thing…..

[FallingLeaves]

Originally Posted by Molearner

More interesting for me are those who do not preach. Perhaps they have unshared principles that they break. This prevents us from having negative thoughts about them.

well personally, I'm not convinced there is anything so compelling that it either 'must be' or 'cannot not be'.

So there is nothing to preach about as there is no reason to go trying to convince others they need to do the 'correct' thing so that they may be 'saved' if there isn't a correct thing to do...

and if I did decide there were something to preach about (because that would be acceptable according to this principle) I wouldn't HAVE to preach if I didn't want to (again according to this principle)

and in any case it is impossible not to be true to such a principle because essentially anything is 'acceptable' regardless of the fact that it is more usual for people to assume some random ideological stance that would make some things 'unacceptable'.

as far as negative thoughts, I'm not fooling myself that I'm able to buy myself any good will with such a stance either... but again according to this principle negativity is also ok anyway so what the hey?