Surprise—it’s okay not to have an opinion about something! In fact, it’s perfectly fine to let go of all the opinions you currently hold about, well, everything!
I know this might not be the most popular viewpoint. (See what I did there?) We live in a society where opinions are highly valued. From politics and social movements to restaurant service, social media posts, music quality, and beyond—everyone has something to say. Almost everything we encounter includes a “Like” button, a review section, or a feedback option, and we’re constantly pressured to decide what we think and share it with others. Even at the end of this article, you’ll find Like and Share buttons. (But you don’t have to use them, by the way…)
The essential part of you—your true self—never holds opinions. You are not your mind. That core essence of who you are doesn’t, and even can’t, form mental judgments about anything. Holding on to opinions keeps you locked in a world of abstractions, preventing you from truly experiencing things or events as they are.
Opinions often tie us to the past, based on previous experiences or conditioning, rather than allowing us to be present in the moment. They don’t account for the fact that everything is always changing, moving, and evolving. An opinion is just a distorted version of reality.
Not holding on to opinions doesn’t mean we can’t have preferences. We can still enjoy the taste of cardamom ice cream, listen to Cardi B, or watch House of Cards—but we don’t need to form an identity around those preferences. We don’t have to make our dislike of polka music a part of our personal story. Enjoy the experience in the present, agree with a perspective for now, or dislike the food you’re eating in the moment—and then simply let it go.
This isn’t an opinion: letting go of opinions brings you closer to the awareness of who you truly are.