Quote:
Originally Posted by Atl
Compassion and acceptance are far better tools for social change than disgust and judgmental attitudes.
|
It's not quite as simple as that, in my opinion. If someone comes in to my gym carrying an extra 100 pounds and wants to change I am very supportive and think a lot of that person. I don't judge them on how they got to where they are, I just deal with moving forward.
That being said, it would be disingenuous of Mark or I to pretend we aren't cranked off at self pitying slugs who suck down a pack of cigarettes a day, eat burger king for every meal, and then want to be pitied. I just described half of my family. The half that aren't in Jail.
I think a big problem with society is we've developed this idea that shame and judgment are bad things, and you are a bad person if you invoke them. Shame keeps you from doing things you aren't supposed to be doing. Being judged by someone in a position to do so every so often lets you know you're slipping up.
When I was in the Marines I was kind of a smart ass for a while because that's sort of how I was raised. I was raised expecting people to hand you things. It took someone I respected sitting me down and kindly telling me to stop being a little b**ch about everything to snap me out of it.