Before You Criticize Someone

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“Before you criticize someone, you should always walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.” – Author Unknown

Although there’s obviously humor in it, criticizing someone does compare to stealing their shoes and having them chase you barefoot. Even though the quote is a form of a joke, it illustrates how utterly unfair and cruel it is to judge or criticize others.

Although criticizing others may feel natural or harmless (you’re just saying what you think anyway), it’s still a negative energy that has the power to destroy one’s self-worth and self-esteem. Throwing this kind of energy to someone is not an effective way of making them better. Rather, they may even become afraid of making mistakes necessary for their own growth and development. And worse, they may also be critical to others, adding to the population of toxic, critical people.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. said, “Let the refining and the improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.” Being critical says a lot about who you are as a person-and it’s not a very flattering statement. “Daring Greatly” author, Brene Brown, wrote that people tend to judge others in areas that they themselves are struggling at. She added that being critical also stems from comparing oneself favourably with other people. In summary, criticism feeds the ego.

Being less critical doesn’t mean having low standards, but being able to understand and show empathy instead of dampening the spirits of other people. A good human being doesn’t only walk in other people’s shoes but also gives a better pair of shoes.