The Myth of Fairness

by Scott Noelle

If you play checkers with a 2-year-old, he won’t perceive any unfairness when you randomly take his checkers off the board, nor would he feel the slightest guilt in taking yours.

Such things don’t seem unfair until we are taught the arbitrary rules of the game and accept them as “the way things are.” Then we feel a sense of violation when the rules are broken: “That’s not fair!”

Children often enjoy being “mischievous” because breaking arbitrary rules helps them reconnect with the truth that Authentic Power lies not in the rules but in themselves.

Improve Your Groove

Today, when you observe an apparent injustice, pretend there’s no such thing as fair/unfair. It just IS. You’ll discover that when there’s no injustice to fight against, all that’s left to do is reach for your heart’s desire.

PS: This post is not intended to deny that there is injustice in the world. There is. But much of what people consider to be “unfair” can be rendered harmless by a shift in perception. That’s powerful!

Originally published on 2007-09-19
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