Why do we define and judge other people’s happiness?
Being college students, it’s easy to fall into the cracks of stress especially when we have so many responsibilities pulling us in every direction. We see the world from our eyes only, and because of that, there is no way for us to understand the complexities of the lives around us.
But we judge people everyday. There is no denying people are all different and live their lives in incomparable ways. But what makes us entitled to judge the happiness of others has to do with ego.
First, the ego compares the self with others, often putting someone down in order to boost up itself. In turn, judgement is the recipe for suffering. Once we’ve reached a point where judgment takes over the mind, there isn’t room for true happiness.
The only remedy is acceptance. In order to do this, we have to remember that we can’t know someone’s whole story. Judging in the moment without knowing a person’s past lacks wisdom.
Although it may be easier to judge others based on face value over trying to get to the deeper issue, that doesn’t mean it’s right.
You know that boy that you see walking to class who takes double the time you do to walk to class? He could have been in a car accident that injured his leg. Or that girl who wears “too much” makeup before your 8 a.m. class? She could enjoy wearing makeup and like taking the extra time in the morning for herself.
“We create assumptions of people based on stereotypes, Sophia Fishkin, a sophomore art and theatre double major, said. “We shouldn’t judge because people are more than what they carry on their shoulders. We push people into a box, and then that box is either good or bad. We must be open to people who aren’t exactly like minded than us.”
There is a children’s book called “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” in which the invisible buckets refer to a person’s life. Instead of dipping into others buckets, we must fill those buckets with non-judgemental acts of kindness, love and support before our own bucket is filled.
The less you judge, the more you open yourself up to new relationships, experiences and possibilities. Fill that bucket!
