Day 2: Feel Strongly

RedFeeling strongly about things comes across in a few different ways. I have been accused of all of them. I have even been guilty of them. It is a bit like being true to my name: Passionate.

One of the things I feel most strongly about is feeling strongly. Despite the echolalia, it is not redundant. For me, feeling strongly about something means conviction, perseverance, overt passion.

Opinion

You have one. Do not attempt to deny it unless you intend to be called a liar. Now, unequivocally state said opinion. If you know in advance it will draw rotting tomatoes from complete strangers, relax before impact to soften the blow.

I am likely the single most opinionated person I know. Want to know why I am not considered a self-righteous meme?

convinced

Conviction

Sounds pretty self-righteous. In fact, it is the truth. I do everything in my power not to hold opinions based on gradu, innuendo or lies. Once I am convinced of the facts, I form an opinion I can stand behind… tomatoes notwithstanding. Most of the time, the tomatoes disintegrate when they come in contact with the opinion.

Yes, I come under fire for many of my opinions. Once my dissenter stops shouting about the obvious vacuum in my cranium, a rational rendition of the basis of my opinion is inordinately swaying. It is why I am rather good at sales, as it were.

Perseverance

Getting me to change my opinion is particularly difficult. Yes, I am bullheaded. This in no way means I am narrow-minded, immutable or impervious. It does mean you best be armed to the teeth with facts, figures, photographs and possibly a flip chart and three professional references before I am going to come off the mountain.

Hate

No hateDespite holding negative opinions, I rarely hate. In order to hate, one must first love because hate is only as powerful as the love at the other end of the number line. If I have never loved you, I cannot hate you. If I have never known you, I could not have loved you.

It is impossible to hate inanimate objects or concepts. It is possible to hate their effects, yet only to the extent you love the object of those effects.

Besides the logical reasons hate does not often come onto my radar screen, the energy necessary to exercise hate is not a resource I have in enough abundance to sacrifice on any given day. It takes more energy to hate than to love because love is regenerating, where hate is self-consuming.

pierced ear

Not all that pointy

Spock

Why does it all work for me? Logical research, not to put too fine a point on it. Learn why you feel the way you do. Figure out if it is justified by the facts. Put out stakes. Stand your ground. Announce your territory.

It is not enough to feel strongly about anything. You must wear your conviction where everyone else knows what you stand for, otherwise you are just a closet judge. If you feel strongly enough to have an opinion, share.


What makes you feel strongly? Do you share or baa your way into the crowd until someone else gives you an opinion? (It is okay to admit this. There is help.)

Hashtags: #opinions #conviction #30daychallenge

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36 Comments

  1. You must agree with me all the time because we can’t both always be right otherwise. Haha

    Reply
  2. Hmmm…

    Having suffered mistreatment (I am trying to tone it down here) for most of my childhood my pet hate is those who believe they have a ‘right’ to hit a child whenever they feel like it.

    Positive parenting works – I’ve done it and seen the kids in my care grow into beautiful people – and I have seen the effect of negative parenting on two of the kids I was not allowed to criticise or correct who went on to become drug dealers and serve time for it.

    Needless to say all the kids, even the bad ones, love me to death and have become the family I was denied by the injuries inflicted by my father.

    I guess I must have done something right! πŸ™‚

    Love and hugs always!

    Prenin.
    Prenin recently posted..Thursday – first warm shopping day.My Profile

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  3. I am not conceited, I am right.
    Binky recently posted..Need Want WashMy Profile

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  4. I have VERY strong opinions that I have not publicly shared because I might alienate every single one of my reader/followers and because I haven’t yet formed all of my thoughts cohesively without coming across as a loony–passionate but crazy. I usually offer up an opinion–I never agree if I don’t agree. You are always so thought provoking!!!
    Enchanted Seashells, Confessions of a Tugboat Captains Wife recently posted..Recycled, Repurposed, Reborn, and ReformedMy Profile

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    • It is so important not to agree when you really do not mean it. I say a lot of things I am certain will alienate my readers. Inevitably, they come back with intelligent counterpoints or ringing endorsement. I would venture being honest about how you feel would garner you more respect than attempting to appease what you think someone else would want. xxx

      Reply
  5. benzeknees

     /  May 2, 2013

    I have a few strong opinions:
    1) I don’t think guns should be in the hands of anyone except military or protective services. Hunting for food should be allowed, but not for just sport.
    2) Women’s rights – I am part of the generation who fought for some of the rights women have now & I will smack anyone who tries to take them away from me
    3) No one has the right to abuse another person. Everyone deserves respect within the boundaries of the social mores of our civilization.

    Reply
    • While I have views about what our governments get wrong, I am realistic enough to know teaching responsibility is far more effective than railing about what others should and should not do. Do not mistake my statement for disagreement.

      Reply
  6. I am an intensely emotional person, which translates to passionate about how I feel. However, if I think I am not well informed enough on a topic, I hold back my opinion or speak it with room for change. I prefer a healthy debate over arguing, and have gravitated toward people who are alike in this. When I feel convinced, I let people know it and if I have to, cut them out of my life. I have no patience for anyone who puts on a mask and parades around.
    Gail Thornton recently posted..Mantra’s Book of Shadows, Dark Poetry by Red DwyerMy Profile

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    • Neither I. For me, the lowered effort of being authentic leaves me enough energy to engage the subjects I enjoy. I still love to argue. πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  7. Gail above, has taken the words out of my mouth. Well said, and thank you.

    Masks don’t work for long. Why bother with a game? Come clean. I like people who are real: opinionated, passionate or devil-may-care so long as they are true to themselves.

    Reply
  8. I have an opinion; I am not opinionated, I am simply right. It’s best to agree with me prior to admitting you’re wrong, it will go easier on you. There are two sides to every argument, mine and the wrong side so I don’t argue. Unlike me, you cannot be right all the time. If I believed this stuff all the time, I’d be wrong too. “:))
    raymond alexander kukkee recently posted..Let’s Wind DownMy Profile

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    • I think many mistake being opinionated with the assumption the one holding the opinion believes themselves infallible. I have been wrong far more than once. πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  9. Spirited! There’s nothing wrong with having an opinion as long as you don’t force it on someone else. I like assertive, honest and passionate people.
    Vashti Quiroz-Vega recently posted..The FogMy Profile

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    • Opinion should not be a command. It takes away from its validity. Great to see you today, Vashti. xxx

      Reply
  10. The things I am certain about are few. Which is funny, because I have been called “very black and white”. I think I see a lot of grey.

    But the things I am most certain of? I have no fear of stating them.

    I think it takes a lot to convince me of something being the “only way” of the absolute “right way”.

    πŸ™‚
    C. Brown recently posted..4 Blogs We Are Loving This Week πŸ™‚ From Photos to HealthMy Profile

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    • I think it is possible to be opinionated about the grey. One of my biggest convictions is there are not absolutes which apply to all people. It is the largest grey in my world. xxx

      Reply

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