Judging Others

Rabbi David Wolpe writes a wonderful blog called "Off the Pulpit" that often offers useful messages for patients. This week, Wolpe offers a tool that can help foster healing relationships, an essential element of healing for Healthy Survivors.

With Rabbi Wolpe's permission, here is his guest post:

"Judge everyone favorably," teaches the Mishna [the collection of oral laws compiled by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi about a.d. 200]. 

In my years in the rabbinate I have found this is a principle we observe very strictly when it comes to ourselves. We always put our own actions in a favorable light. "I was only trying to help!" "I only said it out of concern." "I'm not mean—you are too sensitive!" But when it comes to others, we are too willing, even eager, to assume unflattering motivations.

I am scrupulous; he is compulsive. I am honest; he is brutal. I am forgiving; he is weak. The ways in which we interpret the same qualities differently are legion.

There is no way to avoid judging others. We all have to make decisions in business, in friendship, in love. But we should be aware of the built-in bias to afford ourselves more latitude than we offer to others. When we try the exercise of interpreting another's actions favorably, it is sometimes startling to discover how much insight we gain.

Emerson offers the analogy to a museum: "We must be as courteous to a man as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light. Indeed, when we are well thought of we often manage to live up to expectations.

Comments

[Mrs. Jackie Swenson]

Hi,

I am a two time Her2 breast cancer survivor (2003, 2007)as well as a two time brain tumor (Central Neurocytomas 1990, 2001)survivor. Happened to find this inspiring website through another bc support group member's website.

I am also a TWU alumni - 1986 MLS (Library Science) Additionally, my 87-year-old mother is a 12- year NHL survivor. So this blogg really attracted my attention.

I will visit it regularly and read the blogs as well as the resources. Was trained to be a medical librarian, but besides the internship at UTHSCD Library in 1986, I have not worked as a 'medical' librarian. Often hought I was fortunate to have the trainings, though, because 'knowledge is power'.

Best wishes to you, Pioneer Woman.

Another Pioneer woman

[Mrs. Jackie Swenson]

Oh, by the way, there's another coincidence - I had my Gamma-knife Radiosurgery at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas in spring, 2001.

Small world, isn't it? :)

[Wendy Harpham, M.D.]

Dear Mrs. Swenson,

Welcome aboard! I'll look forward to hearing your insights and advice from the perspective of a multi-time survivor, support person, bibliophile and librarian.

With hope, Wendy

[Wendy Harpham, M.D.]

Yes, smaller with every keystroke.
Great that you shared with the readers of this blog your experience with Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.
With hope, Wendy