Petty Tyrants

Petty Tyrants:

I remember reading the urging of Don Juan to Carlos Castaneda on having a petty tyrant in his life, the important role they play in allowing one to recognize and reduce their own self-importance, freeing them of the concerns of others. It’s similar to the view that Abraham Maslow had for self-actualized people, that they are free of the good opinion of others. In the age of social media, none of us have to search far to find a petty tyrant, or indeed, perhaps some of us play that role well for others. It’s important to consider, do we unknowingly slide into the petty tyrant role, not realizing that we might harass someone for their content just because it’s so easy to leave a negative reply -

as I share my own work now, especially through public views on more visual social media, I guard myself from slipping into negativity, even in reply to the petty tyrants that so often seem to appear. It strikes me how easily it is to become defensive, matching the energy of a critic with an argumentative stance and offering insults in replace of calm abiding. It’s a telling mark of my own peacefulness, if I’m riled and offended by the words of someone I don’t even know, or do I allow my humor and easy nature to show through and simply smile at the situation.

mostly I smile.