We are all so quick to judge; I, too, am to blame. It’s incredibly easy to make assumptions about people based off of factors only seen by the naked eye: how a person is dressed, the way in which someone speaks, their mannerisms, their chosen profession, etc.

We’ve all done it. I don’t think there is a soul on this planet who hasn’t said, or at the very least thought, What is she wearing? Why is he talking that way? What the heck is he doing working for that company? We fall victim to positioning ourselves against one another in a constant state of comparison.

But it doesn’t always have to be so complex and degrading. Maybe there are simpler reasons for the choices people make. Someone could be wearing certain clothing because it was given to them as a gift, or God forbid, just because it’s comfortable! They may speak a certain way because of their upbringing; you could find out if you took a few extra minutes to get to know them. The same goes for their mannerisms. And perhaps someone is only involved in a certain profession because it’s what it takes to put food on the table for his or her family.

You just don’t know.

The next time you’re about to go on a rant about how “annoying” people are or how the world is full of “idiots,” stop for a second. Imagine that person you’re about to criticize as your sibling, parent, or grandparent. You may have new-found compassion for them if you substitute the fact that they’re a stranger to you for the possibility of them being someone you could learn from or be friends with.

Of course it’s easier said than done, but the sooner we diminish this constant state of comparison, the sooner we can empower one another to make a positive impact on our society.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Mead