Pimples and Slivers: The Ancient Teachers Agree – Happiness Can’t Come from Judgementalism

Have you noticed a severe uptick in judgementalism since the beginning of the COVID pandemic? It seems that the muzzle of courteous conduct has been taken off in favor of everyone proclaiming their own goodness and decrying the decisions of others. As if, somehow, a single individual’s choice about a topic can somehow be the right decision for every individual.

This is nothing more than pride and arrogance.

The great philosophers and teachers through the ages warned us about it – but human nature being what it is, we’ve ignored their instruction over and over.

Here’s the point.

You Can’t be Happy When You’re Examining Others for Faults and Unloading Anger Upon Them

The most well-adjusted, happiest people on the planet are those that leave others alone and try to work on their own faults and failures. Sure, we can go too far in introspection and self-assessment, but that’s another topic for another article. Everything must be in its balance.

Is there a time to point out error? – Sure there is.

Are you – or I – the right person to point out that error? – Probably not.

Seneca, a Roman philosopher from the first century had his fair share of critics. Judgemental individuals who did not like him – for whatever reason. (Reasons usually are irrelevant. Most of the time, judgemental, angry individuals are judgemental and angry first, then go around looking for a reason to back up their anger and judgementalism.)

Anyway, in his book*, On the Happy Life, Seneca wrote:

But as for you, have you the leisure to search out others’ evils and to pass judgement on anybody? “Why does this philosopher have such a spacious house?” “Why does this one dine so sumptuously?” you say.

You look at the pimples of others when you yourselves are covered with a mass of sores. this is just as if someone who was devoured by a foul itch should mock at the moles and warts on bodies that are most beautiful.

Over in Galilee around the same time, Jesus of Nazareth was telling his followers the same thing – different example, but the same truth.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote (old word for “splinter or speck”) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Gospel of Matthew 7:1-5

Have You Ever Seen a Happy Judge Sitting on the Bench?

Next time you’re in a courtroom, take a look at the judge on the bench. Do they look like they’re having a happy-go-lucky fun time?

Nope.

Why?

Because being a judge is serious. It’s a job that cant’ be taken lightly.

The judge isn’t on the bench tweeting out his/her personal thoughts or opinions about the case, the defendent, or even the law. They aren’t sending the defendent nasty Facebook messages about how much of a loser the defendent is and how terrible their crime was.

The judge can have no opinion. The LAW is the opinion of the court.

You never see a judge that looks like they’re having the time of their lives. It’s just not possible.

Why Do Unhappy People Gravitate Toward Fixating on Other People’s Pimples and Slivers?

1. They want to avoid looking at what Seneca called their own “mass of sores” and what Jesus Christ called the “beam in their own eye.”
2. They want to direct their anger about their own condition onto someone else.
3. Their pride wants to use some little thing in the life of someone else to make them feel superior to the one being criticized.

Let’s Wrap it Up. You Can’t be Pointing Your Finger at Others and Be Happy at the Same Time

We have people in our society who are tasked with pointing out our errors. Policemen, judges, prosecutors, teachers, preachers, umpires, etc. But the individuals in these positions (if they are doing their job correctly) point out wrongdoing with sorrow and without anger and personal attack.

But for the rest of us, when we decide to levy our opinions and personal perspectives of the truth onto the lives of others, it only adds to our own unhappiness.

If you are going to maintain your happiness, be 99% concerned about your own life, failures, shortcomings – and only 1% distracted to pay attention to the failings of those around you.

Put more simply, people that mind their own business gain happiness they are (happier people. 🙂

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Until next time, have a happy day!