Examples of Proper vs Improper Opinion Formation

 

# Examples of Proper vs Improper Opinion Formation

## Health & Body
1. Improper: "My illness is terrible"
   Proper: "My judgment about this illness is within my control"

2. Improper: "I must recover quickly"
   Proper: "How I respond to my body's condition is my choice"

3. Improper: "Pain is unbearable"
   Proper: "My interpretation of physical sensations is up to me"

4. Improper: "I need to be physically stronger"
   Proper: "My attitude toward my physical condition is mine to choose"

5. Improper: "Aging is a curse"
   Proper: "How I view the natural process of aging is within my control"

## Relationships
6. Improper: "Their criticism hurts me"
   Proper: "My response to their words is my responsibility"

7. Improper: "They must appreciate me"
   Proper: "My desire for appreciation is something I can examine"

8. Improper: "Their behavior is wrong"
   Proper: "My judgment about their behavior is my choice"

9. Improper: "I need their approval"
   Proper: "My desire for approval is something I can control"

10. Improper: "They betrayed my trust"
    Proper: "How I handle trust and disappointment is my decision"

## Career & Work
11. Improper: "This job is beneath me"
    Proper: "My attitude toward my work is within my control"

12. Improper: "My boss is unfair"
    Proper: "How I respond to workplace situations is my choice"

13. Improper: "I deserve a promotion"
    Proper: "My approach to career advancement is up to me"

14. Improper: "My colleagues are incompetent"
    Proper: "My judgment about others' work is something I choose"

15. Improper: "This project must succeed"
    Proper: "My effort and attitude are what I can control"

## Possessions & Wealth
16. Improper: "I need more money"
    Proper: "My attitude toward wealth is mine to determine"

17. Improper: "Losing this would be devastating"
    Proper: "My response to loss is within my control"

18. Improper: "These things belong to me"
    Proper: "My relationship to possessions is my choice"

19. Improper: "Poverty is miserable"
    Proper: "My judgment about financial circumstances is up to me"

20. Improper: "I must maintain my lifestyle"
    Proper: "How I view my standard of living is my decision"

## Social Status & Reputation
21. Improper: "People must respect me"
    Proper: "My response to others' opinions is my choice"

22. Improper: "My reputation is ruined"
    Proper: "How I handle public perception is within my control"

23. Improper: "Social status matters"
    Proper: "My attitude toward social position is mine to choose"

24. Improper: "They're spreading rumors about me"
    Proper: "My response to others' words is my responsibility"

25. Improper: "I need to be popular"
    Proper: "How I view social acceptance is my decision"

## Time & Future
26. Improper: "I'm running out of time"
    Proper: "My attitude toward time is within my control"

27. Improper: "The future is scary"
    Proper: "My approach to uncertainty is my choice"

28. Improper: "Things should happen faster"
    Proper: "My response to timing is up to me"

29. Improper: "I'm falling behind"
    Proper: "How I view progress is my decision"

30. Improper: "The past was better"
    Proper: "My interpretation of past events is mine to choose"

## Goals & Achievement
31. Improper: "I must achieve this goal"
    Proper: "My approach to goals is within my control"

32. Improper: "Failure is unacceptable"
    Proper: "How I respond to outcomes is my choice"

33. Improper: "Success is everything"
    Proper: "My definition of success is mine to determine"

34. Improper: "I should be further along"
    Proper: "My judgment about progress is up to me"

35. Improper: "Others are doing better"
    Proper: "How I view comparison is my decision"

## External Events
36. Improper: "This weather is terrible"
    Proper: "My response to weather conditions is my choice"

37. Improper: "Traffic is ruining my day"
    Proper: "My attitude toward delays is within my control"

38. Improper: "This shouldn't be happening"
    Proper: "How I interpret events is up to me"

39. Improper: "The world is chaos"
    Proper: "My judgment about world events is my responsibility"

40. Improper: "Things are getting worse"
    Proper: "My interpretation of change is mine to choose"

## Core Pattern
In each example, the improper opinion:
- Makes claims about external things
- Assigns inherent value to externals
- Demands that reality be different
- Places good/evil in externals

While the proper opinion:
- Focuses on our own moral purpose
- Recognizes our sphere of control
- Accepts reality as it is
- Places responsibility in our choices


These examples demonstrate the consistent pattern of proper opinion formation:
1. Moving focus from externals to our own moral purpose
2. Recognizing our sphere of absolute control
3. Taking responsibility for our judgments
4. Maintaining independence from externals