Thursday, May 3, 2012

On Judging Others

Assumptions. We all make them. Most of the time we don’t even realize it. And most of the time, they do no harm. But sometimes they separate us in quietly insidious ways. That doesn’t make us bad. It makes us human.

But what happens when we catch ourselves making these assumptions, when we question them, when we consider that the beliefs we hold based on these assumptions are built on shaky ground?

Click here to read the rest at The Bridgmaker.

related post: Who Are Your People?

21 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading the story Galen and the lesson in it. It's one of our weaknesses as a human being and a habit developed since young. It's one of my greatest challenge to overcome this bad habit and it's a works in progress. I have to keep reminding myself to come from love and nothing less than that.

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    1. Inspiring, I had not thought about this as a habit, but you are right. We make these assumptions out of a habit of jumping to conclusions instead of pausing and reflecting and being present. Thanks for point that out.

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  2. Oh this is extremely interesting, and after work today I am going to check this link out...it seems too many times I linger on shaky ground... thanks for the link...enjoy your day!

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    1. Karen, Hope you get to read it. You'll like Alex's site, if you haven't already been there. Thanks for commenting.

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  3. I got this in the mail and had a sense of deja vu. Then I realized I had already read the post. I loved it. :-) Hugs, Galen! You are a real Sensei at this!

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    1. Vidya, Thanks for commenting on Alex's site. I got to hear from you twice--double bonus for me!

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  4. This was a very nice read Galen Pearl, thanks for the reminder! We can all do with it.

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  5. I really enjoyed this post. I know that we all do make asumptions and sometimes we are way wrong. We had a similar experience many years ago when I first met my son's 5th grade teacher. She was dressed different and had plants and a snake in the room. I actually wanted to have him transferred to another class. I didn't thank heavens; she was an outstanding teacher and broadened his life in many ways. We all need reminders on this one.

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    1. LeAnn, Thanks for sharing your story. I suspect we all have some stories like this.

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  6. Still working on this character defect of mine.

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    1. Linda, You and me both! But that's the point, isn't it, to work on it. Thanks for commenting.

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  7. Interesting, feel free to visit ireminisces..

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  8. Hi Galen:
    I so appreciate the honesty, love, and wisdom you put into your posts. Another great one!

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  9. OMG Galen, I am amazed that you have a 50 year old set of the Navajo Dolls too! It is hard to part with them & I won't be terribly disappointed if they have to come back Home with me. *Winks* I can certainly relate to your Post today... though I always try not to be judgmental, sometimes we subconsciously do it and I am always personally & Spiritually convicted when my assumptions have been incorrect about someone before they reveal their Character. At the Laundromat the other day a very thin young man with Gang Tattoos approached me & immediately I made an assumption about him, being guarded & not sure of his intent... turns out he was offering to unload my heavy baskets of laundry from the truck when he saw me struggling with them & was very respectful & polite & carried them all inside... guys who didn't look as 'hard' had ignored me struggling with the load... just goes to show ya that you cannot always judge a book by its cover or perceived content. I felt really badly for judging this young man merely on how he visually presented to my incorrect perception about him.

    Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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    1. Dawn, I know--it is amazing! I just have one doll, but it is exactly the same as those in your photo. Great story about the laundromat--thanks for sharing that.

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  10. I wrote about this once. Hope you don't mind my posting the link here. It's at http://www.thewmparentingconnection.com/2011/05/assumers.html

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    1. I'll look forward to reading it. Thanks for commenting.

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  11. First of all I didn't know the Bridgemaker is you, Galen. Truly enjoyed reading it.

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