We are all hypocrites!!!

Often the trait which irritates us the most about someone is a trait we too possess. However, seeing it in another seems to bring us an unseemly amount of pain. I have often wondered why this is the case without arriving at any meaningful answer other than arriving at the knowledge of this, which is useful in keeping myself in check.

Jesus in Matthew 7:3 says 'Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?'

We seem to be much more irritated by people who outwardly project traits which we either haven't recognized in ourselves or we are working hard on letting the outside world know that we too have that trait.

Which takes me back to my starting assertion, that we are all hypocrites. However, hypocrisy is one trait we hate to see in others. We all hanker after genuineness in a person, and we find it easy to disregard anyone who comes across as a hypocrite. This is something that we is a defined standard for our age - no hypocrisy, and it is the reason why many reject organized religion.

When we do recognize issues in ourselves or our side, we easily find excuses but refuse to give the courtesy to others.

We seem to think that our problems and circumstances are unique while others have things easy.

While this phenomenon is changing with the growing emphasis on empathy but we are still not there. We want others to empathize with us, while we fail to do so ourselves.

I don't have a solution for this, but the very awareness of this phenomenon is something which helps.