We're not Always as 'Right' as We Believe We Are When Judging Other People and Vice Versa

Confidence feels good yet it's not that difficult to become overconfident and arrogant about our feelings and decisions

Wisdom

“If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that sometimes our assumptions and preconceived notions are wrong, and therefore, our interpretation of events is incorrect.

“This causes us to overreact, to take things personally, or to judge people unfairly.”

Elizabeth Thornton

It happens. Other people do it. We do it. I’ve done it. Ouch! The question is, do we catch ourselves fairly quickly when we're doing so and correct course?

Another question for you: can we and will we move from the overpowering strength of our emotions toward more accurate observation and analysis for improved judgment?

Those are important questions obviously, ones that only rarely get asked and well considered. That’s a preventable error and correctable habit on our part just as it’s an error on behalf of other people. This leads to thinking traps and bad habits that continue and grow stronger and more problematic, negatively impacting how we perceive, judge and relate to other people.

We feel more smart and confident than we actually are when we mismanage our emotions and allow our convictions to go without a stress test. Sometimes we have to put our judgment on trial.

It interesting that human beings don’t recognize this in themselves, us included. As I alluded to earlier, I’ve done it and hate that I have to remember those instances. Most of us can probably remember them.

It can be unintentional and a mistake that we come to regret and feel remorse about yet is much more often a show of overflowing ego, overconfidence and arrogance unchecked. We don’t consider the damage. And others don’t either when it comes to us.

As intelligent beings we should and can learn to be more skilled in understanding ourselves, how we perceive, think, assume, decide and act. We can improve. It’s character development and also doing upgrades to our thinking ‘software.’

It’s more than possible. It’s doable.

We will err less and in doing so will show our better selves and exhibit more humanity. And maybe, just maybe, others will also conduct themselves on a higher plane on consciousness and exhibit more humanity towards us.

Additional article about reputation:

Norah O’Donnell in a Difficult Position Yet Not One She Can’t Navigate
Published at Reputation Specialist and LinkedIn

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