Cultivating Indifference

You may believe that hate is the opposite of love and that there’s no alternative but to love or dislike someone or something, like food. What if there’s another affective state you could cultivate, an underrated, not often talked about alternative which would bring you peace of mind? There is and it’s called indifference. When I talk with clients about cultivating indifference, they generally have little idea whatI mean. We so often think of indifference as a negative emotion, one to be avoided like apathy. We want to have passions and strong feelings. It’s so easy to fall into love or into hate because both emotions make us feel vividly alive. Some people even think that hate is the opposite of love, but how can it be? They both keep you mentally/emotionally tethered firmly to someone or something, while the true opposite of connection is disconnection. Whether you love or hate to practice the piano, you’re still connected to those ivories. Whether you love or hate your parents, they’ve still got a claim on your brain matter and heart, taking up a great deal of real estate in your mental landscape. Although it feels crummy to dislike your parents and may even generate guilt and shame, it keeps the connection alive in your mind. When we hate people or things, we often think about them as much as we do when we love them, cementing attachment. However, when we’re indifferent to someone or something, we don’t think much about it. If it ...
Source: Normal Eating - Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Source Type: blogs