SHORTY: Ask: is this not helpful?

Don't forget ask: is this not helpful?

DETAILS

A good starting point to self-reflection is to start asking, "is this helpful?" This is instead of asking if things are right or wrong or fun or un-fun.

 But it can get stale. And your mind can start seeing just one side, making excuses. For example, if you like candy and it comforts you, you can honestly and genuinely say, "Candy is helpful." It helps you relax.

 However, beware of looking only with one eye. At some point, start asking, "Is this not helpful?"

 With the candy example, the candy might not be helpful because it disturbs your sleep, or it's feeding a habit (physical), or it's feeding a habit (mental, escape).

This is NOT to say that you have to stop eating candy. You might still eat candy even when it has elements of not-helpful. But you recognize the not-helpful. And you can see it develop. And, in line with the Satipatthana sutta, you may be able to watch it arise and fade away, to not develop greed and distress with the world.  The "instead" here is to have big blind spots by only seeing what you want to see.