Be slow to judge others

I’ve been into Stoicism for the last five years.

It’s an Ancient Greek school of philosophy that has helped me be more resilient, happier and virtuous.

One quote from the Stoics that I’ve found especially powerful is: “Be slow to judge others, but hold yourself to a higher standard.”

The Stoics believed that judgment is a major source of distress and frustration in life because it often comes from irrational and biased beliefs. Some examples:

• Getting angry at a colleague who commented on your work, calling them stupid

• Saying that the hiring manager is clueless when they hire another candidate

• Showing frustration to a driver who is driving in the slower lane when you are late for work

Stoics view this distress and frustration as unnecessary. Instead, they suggest stepping back and reviewing the situation with logic and reasoning.

Using the examples above, does the colleague have valid points? I probably did not fit the hiring manager’s criteria. The driver is keeping me safe.

We’ve all judged someone for some reason or another. But we don’t really know what their situation is or how they are thinking.

I’ve been doing my best to adopt the virtue of being slow to judge others. It wasn't easy to start with, but I can see weekly improvement.

Today’s Prompts

1 - Self-reflection

Reflect on a time when I judged someone quickly. How could I have approached the situation with more empathy?

2 - Empathy

How can I be more empathetic in my daily interactions, even with strangers?

3 - Quote of the day

“Be slow to judge others, but hold yourself to a higher standard.”- the Stoics

4 - The 'If you don’t have time’ Prompt

Reflect on a time when you were judged by someone else. How did you feel?

Get the most out of your journalling:

• Choose one prompt: Focus on just one prompt each day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Be brutally honest: Reflect openly and honestly. This is your safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

• Take your time: Sometimes it takes a few days to clarify your thinking. Here’s permission for you to take your time to unravel a prompt and not take on any new ones during that time.

• Journal your way: Whether you prefer writing, audio recording, or video, choose the method that suits you best.

• Don't stress about streaks: If you miss a day, don't worry. You can always revisit a previous prompt.

I’d love your feedback

What was your favourite prompt of the day? Is there any specific challenge you want prompts for? How can I improve the content of the newsletter? Reply this mail and let me know!