Checking the Mirror: Judging Others

Have you ever heard it said that the things you see and dislike in others are things you probably dislike about yourself? Today, let’s look at this idea in a bit more depth.

When you see things about other people that you don’t like, can it teach you anything about yourself? For instance, if you look at someone and think, “He’s angry, and I don’t like that,” could it be that you don’t like it when you, yourself are angry?

If you look at someone and say, “She’s really scared. Why doesn’t she just do it?”- could it be there is something you are scared about that you wish you would just “do”? Suppose you disapprove of smoking but don’t smoke yourself, so you wonder how that could be about you. Well, ask yourself, “Why do I disapprove of smoking?” Perhaps it’s because smoking is unhealthy. If you look within yourself, you may find that you, too, do things that are unhealthy which trouble you. Or perhaps you may disapprove because you consider smoking inconsiderate, and there are ways that you, too, are inconsiderate.

When we judge others, and if we look within, we will usually find a similar judgment about ourselves. Now, judgments rarely, if ever, do any good. However, once you understand what you really are doing, you can, if you choose, decide to stop.

So, the next time you disapprove of someone else, stop and take a look within. Is there something about yourself that you are consciously ignoring, but subconsciously know you need to learn – and perhaps, act on?