I see Idiots, I see Idiots, Everywhere!

Idiot in the dictionary is a stupid or foolish person. Well, lately I have been seeing and attracting many people that fit under that category into my life. What worries me is that I totally believe that we are mirrors for each other. So if I am seeing and experiencing many idiot people, what does that say about me? It says that like everyone else I am human and at times I am stupid and foolish. I am idiot! What upsets me is that in this day and age idiots seem to be rewarded.

To me, unfortunately, too many idiots are in power. It seems that the only way to get power is to be an idiot. The biggest example is the present administration. I feel that this county is currently being led by idiots. Because the tone of a family, organization, or government is set by the leader, it seems that idiots are now in fashion.

As a much younger more naive person I believed that people in positions of power, were the most qualified, intelligent, and best people for their positions. Now, I believe that unfortunately it is the opposite. Most people in power are not the best, they just happened to know people, and in many cases other idiots.

I realize that people hire like people, which explains why idiots keep hiring idiots. What can one do to stop this tend? The only reasonable, non serving in prison answer, I think, is to keep your sense of humor and laugh.

My philosophy is that life is funny, and people are even funnier. I have to laugh at life and the idiots or I would be very depressed. What is the most funny to me is the fact that many idiots don't even know that they are idiots.

Most of the time these idiots are people that take themselves way too seriously, and can't laugh at themselves. They view life as a competition to see who has the most toys, not realizing that life could be much more fun, healthful, and joyful for us all.

Daniel Goleman in his book, "Social Intelligence," points out that we are much more connected with each other, than originally thought, and that idiots can literally make us sick. From the book, "Studies in Sweden of workers at different levels and in the United Kingdom among civil servants show that people in the lower positions in an organization are four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those in the top rungs, who don't have to put up with the whims of bosses such as themselves. Workers who feel unfairly criticised, or whose boss will not listen to their problems, have a rate of coronary heart disease 30 percent higher than those who feel treated fairly."

So not only do we have to put up with idiots but their actions can even make us sick. What can we do? Below are my suggestions for combating idiots.

Ideas for Combating Idiots

1. Acknowledge that they are everywhere, so you aren't surprised.
2. Laugh at them. If you can't laugh in their face, laugh behind their back.
3. Remind yourself that you can't control idiots or totally keep them out of your life, but you can choose how to respond to them.
4. Realize that deep down they are unhappy, fearful, and sad people, and have some empathy for them.
5. Refuse to be recruited into their fold. Don't become like them. Don't give up your power. No job, or relationship is worth it.
6. Continue to love and take care of yourself.
7. Surround yourself with positive, support people.
8. Change your paradigm and work on seeing them as capable, intelligent people and not idiots (this is the most challenging)

Good luck and maybe once I stop seeing myself as an idiot at times, I will stop seeing other people as idiots. Anything is possible.

Jana Ruth
Author of "Laugh and Live Happier: P.L.A.Y.S. for Life
www.janaruth.biz
www.laughandlivehappier.com
www.onewomanslaughter.blogspot.com