Better to be innocent or cynical?

[onthefly]

Could you be innocent but wise to other peoples' cynicism... or does that just make you cynical too?
I feel like the minute you start worrying about people taking you for a ride, you're being cynical... sigh.
I like innocent people, for what it's worth, they are so refreshing and lovely!

[C~Q]

I've been thinking about this a lot and last night I was reading something that I thought i'd share. It about being centred about everything...about being balanced. So a crisis can bring a blessing and a blessing can also trigger a crisis. When we realise that everything is balanced then it takes away innocence and cynacism;

"When you know that bad things aren't so terrible and good things aren't so terrific, you can be quietly grateful for whatever occurs. Balance is neither pessimism or optimism. It doesn't lean to one side or the other, but sits poised in the middle. It is "gratefulism" and that is both wisdom and true power. All things are balanced, and when you know it, you remain true to yourself rather than being driven by your hopes and fears. You stay present on your path."

Thats's what i'm striving for, so it's not even really a happy medium...it's like there is no optimism or cyncism there is just balance.

Does that make sense?

[Bathsheba]

Perfectly CQ

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

What a great explanation CQ! Although I wonder if that could be interpreted as 'numb' in a way? I never liked feeling numb, I prefer to be happy. But then if its a choice of numb or desperately sad, I'd choose numb, so I suppose its all relative...

Thanks for sharing that quote!

[C~Q]

I know what you mean, and that kind of bothers me to, although i'm sure thats not what they mean but I don't want to be devoid of all emotion - like a robot. Having said that i've only just finished the first chaptor of the book so it'll probably go into it in more detail

[Lulu]

Oh geeez no WAY does it mean devoid of emotion or numb! Half the reason you get to that balance point is because of your emotions.

If you have that inner balance it's because you can see clearly what's going on around you - or that you have your own truth/vision or whatever and that's all that matters.

So if you have an idea of your own and your sis puts it down or it feels like she is putting you down or whatever - when you feel balanced/centred/happy about your own stuff you will be able to see that it's her opinion and it doesn't change the way you think/feel about things.

OR if someone gives you another viewpoint (not matter how crappy they deliver it to you), you can consider it and accept/reject according to you and your viewpoint/feelings.

So the middle ground between them both would be clarity?

[Lulu]

and I don't think you have to give up being happy to be cynical either...