It doesn’t matter who we are, or who we go on to meet, everyone has something special to give. On our part, we must be open enough to receive it.
Every encounter we experience gives us the opportunity to become more self-aware, by showing us what we can accept about ourselves. Our behaviour will always give information to the other person, which is why first impressions count.
Greater self-awareness
The key to greater self-awareness lies in what we learn about ourselves and how we accept what we learn. For example, if someone says something about you and you know they’re speaking the truth, and it hits a nerve, the truth can hurt.
It is hard to acknowledge our faults, let alone hear others, point out our faults. The same point can be applied to almost any situation. Our reactions are a reflection of how we judge ourselves and how we feel about ourselves.
It also depends on who we’re talking to. We judge others when we feel we're being emotionally threatened in some way. For example, if we are in the company of someone who is more outgoing than we are, we may resent them being outgoing.
When we become more accepting of others, we’re more likely to express what’s being presented in a more appropriate way. Judgments of others, are based on our own emotional reactions and when applied appropriately, help us gain insight into how we think and behave.
We must explore all assumptions and beliefs. How we judge others, acts as a mirror, so that we get to see how we present ourselves.
I think we should really think hard before saying something about others, because you're right we are just reflecting something about ourselves that possibly we don't like.
Maybe the other person is trying to overcome something about themselves by being loud or obnoxious.
I think you're right Lisa, I believe when that happens, the other person is usually hiding their own insecurities of how they really feel about themselves.
I do not like to be judged and I tend to stay away from judging others.
You have no idea what it is like to be the other person, unless you can walk a mile in their shoes.
Growing up I was always judged on how I walked, what I wore etc. How I walked was out of my control but that did not stop people sometimes.
I always had one parent who judged me constantly, but he wasn't perfect either and hated it when other people pointed that out to him.
He could dish it out but never could take it when the tables were turned on him.