In Matthew 7:5, we are told, “You hypocrite! First, remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.” I like this passage because it helps me to come back down to Earth.
It’s easy for me to look at those around me and to think that I can help them. And why not? I’m educated and have spent decades working on myself. Am I not able to help others?
Do you see how insidious those thoughts can be? And how filled with prejudice?
It’s easy to think that we are “better” than others. What do I mean by this?
Those who are still struggling with addiction or dysfunctional behaviors are not to be judged. Addiction is a disease and I think that it’s difficult for us to wrap our minds around such thoughts. If someone has a sickness, should we feel superior to them? No, we wouldn’t treat someone that way.
What’s important in our road to self-healing is a simple concept: We need to look at our own behaviors and grow.
The journey of self-healing does not mean that we use what we learn to try to change (or “save”) others.
I’ve been guilty of trying to change others in my life and have felt superior because I had some knowledge. But being humble and feeling empathy for others is key.
How we modify our reactions to dysfunctional and addictive behavior is critical. Our changes can influence how others act and influence them to make their own changes.
If someone argues with you and you typically take the bait and get into a pattern of fighting that repeats itself time and again, you are falling into a cycle of dysfunction. However, if you choose to not argue and disengage from a heated discussion, your actions will signal a strong message to the person who tried to bait you.
There are many reasons why such arguments start. But the question that’s critical to ask yourself is: What do you want to do differently?
Trying to save someone or educate them on what’s “right” isn’t going to help anyone.
Let’s start with ourselves.
Today I’m going to focus on taking the beam out of my own eye and reflect on what I can do better to be accountable for my own actions.
I invite you to do the same.
Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.