I used to pride myself on my strong moral compass and a keen eye for spotting mistakes. When I was a Project Coordinator in Brownwood, I worked with a colleague who frequently arrived late and took long breaks. I considered reporting him to our manager.
A few days later, I realized I needed to catch up on a project I procrastinated on. I had spent time chatting it up with friends during work hours, unaware it was affecting my productivity. When my manager confronted me, I got defensive and made excuses.
Later, while complaining about my manager and colleague's behavior to a great friend, he reminded me of my recent conversation with my manager. It took a great friend to point this out so I could see and appreciate it. He shared this biblical reference: "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5). This made me realize I was upset with my colleague because I was seeing my behavior reflected in him.
I began to see how I often projected my faults onto others to avoid taking responsibility for my shortcomings. Criticizing my colleague's lateness was easier than addressing my own slackness and judging my colleagues' messy habits was simpler than organizing my space. This pattern shielded me from looking inward. [Blind Spot]
My friend's honesty and compassion made me realize I needed to change. From that moment on, whenever I felt the urge to criticize, I paused and asked myself, "Is there something in my life I need to address first?" This shift transformed my perspective. I learned that when I see faults in others, it often reflects something within myself. True growth begins when I focus on removing the plank from my eye before worrying about the speck in someone else's.
This pivoting point was the beginning of building a better me. This is embarrassing to admit, yet it's true and I must be mindful every day to check myself before condemning others.
How about you? Can you see the plank in your eye?
Watch for the blind spots.
Get a copy of Blind Spots in Relationships. Discover the hidden behavior that could be holding you back from the relationships you desire. http://tinyurl.com/yc3usfsp
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