Would You Rather Be Right Or Happy?

I became acquainted with this question in 1988 the first time I read A Course In Miracles and have heard it many times since…”Would you rather be right or happy?” Honestly, most people would rather be right.

The ego will quite literally fight to the death to be right. Many people sacrifice their happiness in order to be right. We see this played out within personal relationships, families, business relations, countries and religions through conflict and war.

Many years ago, I had a client with whom I did my Breathwork sessions and he would do computer work for me in exchange. He would tell me how loving and caring he was with his girlfriend and always tried to support her in what she wanted in her life.

However, there were several times while I was in their home I could hear them arguing. It sounded nit-picking and hurtful to me. One of them would say something nasty and the other one would come back with an even worse retort. Round and round they would go, each of them convinced they were right and both of them obviously unhappy. It was a struggle for control and power over the other.

The relationship eventually ended, and I watched as I saw this fellow get into relationship after relationship, each one ending exactly the same way. I tried to talk to him about the pattern he had running, but he didn’t want to look at and admit his part in it. He truly believed he was the victim in each case and that he was right. Eventually, he stopped working with me, and I was never sure if he was able to heal this aspect of his ego.

At those times you feel that urge to dig in your heals over something and the anger begin to rise because you think you need to be right, take a moment to ask yourself this question. By doing so, you could turn any conflict around any save yourself years of unhappiness by being a teacher for peace. And always remember your passion.

Best, Maren Nelson
Life Breath Integrations
Minister of Mind/Body Healing
maren@marennelson.com
www.marennelson.com