Not Even that…
She’s not even that smart…
He’s not even that good of an artist…
She’s not even that pretty…
They’re not even that good of a player…
He’s not even that great of a writer…
People break other people down to tolerate their own personal levels of accomplishment.
This does two things:
It makes the critical person feel better by putting another person down
It perpetuates the lie that perfection is required in order to be “great” at something
Why is that person getting recognition for their accomplishments when they’re “not even that good”?
Because they started, they persisted, they accomplished. That’s why.
What is “good”?
What is “great”?
It’s not about perfect, it’s about persistence and progress.
When you hear critical words in your head, pause and try to figure out why you need to say them.
What is it about (whatever you are criticizing) that really bothers you?
Should the person you’re judging not get the recognition?
Does everyone need to be ‘perfect’?
Do you wish you were bold enough or courageous enough to put your talent out there?
Were you told you shouldn’t?
What is “perfect”?
Newsflash: There’s no such thing.
Read comments online on any platform and it’s easy to see this world is filled with people who are stuck in a thick, muddy pool of envy instead of walking down their own path toward happiness.
It’s okay.
Do your thing.
Who cares?
You are the only one responsible for you.
No one is going to live your life for you.
Life is too short to worry about what other people are doing, and too short to criticize others for doing their thing, or for making an effort.
Who cares if it sucks. Good for them for even trying.
I have lived a lifetime of being critical, judgy, snarky, sarcastic. I was raised by judgy parents, I probably raised judgy children (although they are way wiser than me, so they may be okay).
It’s all a defense, a shield trying to protect the vulnerable parts from exposure.
So instead of saying what your mind is defaulting to, pause, and if you have to say something, if you can’t keep it in, if right now it’s bigger than you, then simply say “That’s an interesting choice.”
Because it IS interesting. Humans are interesting. Be inquisitive. Be interested in other people’s choices.
We’re all in this together.
We’re all human.
e need to lift each other up, support each other, and find our similarities, not obsess over minor differences.
It’s okay.