How Quick Do You Decide?

Do you notice how quick we often are to take one look at someone and immediately form an opinion?

Abraham Lincoln's adage "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better," shows his conscious awareness of how jumping to a quick judgment may result in you precluding a valuable perspective/opinion from an important discussion or decision.

We habitually judge each other without thoroughly seeing one another.

We all have good days and bad days. A positive or negative emotional state can dramatically impact perceptions of how interactions went upon meeting each other. Additionally, we all naturally flourish in certain circumstances and environments, and not in others. Therefore, you may see a different side of a person in a different situation. This is why it is important to be consciously aware and to take more than one look at someone before forming an opinion. "Respect" comes from the Latin "respectus" which means to look back, or look again. As complicated beings, we all deserve the decency of not just a quick glance, but also "respect."

This Week's Focus:

This week, remember to look again. Stop and pause before you make a judgment. A mindful minute is empowering and enabling.