Tolstoy wrote, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Similarly, how easy is it to see the imperfections and challenges in others that we cannot recognize in ourselves?
Why is it that we can see where others need to improve, yet when it comes to ourselves, we cannot see it with the same clarity? Is it that we do not want to recognize our faults? Or do we believe everyone perceives us the same way we perceive ourselves? What others see and recognize will remain the same regardless of whether you choose to look at yourself objectively or not.
Instead of dedicating time to changing how others see a situation, can we not instead look to understand what they see? Inevitably, there may be a difference in outlook or how one handles circumstances. Still, those differences will remain until we can look inward and see how others view us or the world around us. Then, we can only appreciate other perspectives, draw distinctions, and better manage differences.
The same applies to leaders who will advise their team to undertake specific training without seeing a need for their development.
Standing in a puddle, it remains murky, and we can only see the pool clearly when we step out of it and look into it as others do.
