Sunday, February 19, 2012

Change yourself

One of our favourite activities is to critically analyse and judge others around us. It could be a boss, a colleague, a student, a neighbour, ones spouse or children, ones relatives etc. As soon as we interact with a person, we begin to mentally form a picture and decide what is right about them and what is not. Then, depending on our relationship, we begin to advice them on how they can be a better individual and human being.

At the same time, our reaction to innate objects is quite different. When we know that a vessel is hot, we take care while holding it and consciously avoid contact. Similarly, we approach a rose bush cautiously to avoid getting a prick from its thorns. It would be considered really foolish for someone to try and strip or snip off all the thorns of a rose bush.

Why can't we use the same approach while dealing with people? Can we not accept people as they are and adjust ourselves while dealing with them? Can we not stop judging them or blaming them for the way they are? Is it not easier to change ourselves than trying to change others?