Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

September 10, 2018

Judgement is not the problem. Judgement without empathy is the problem.

Judgement with empathy and without empathy are two very different things.  With empathy, we judge the behavior or actions in order to create positive change.  With empathy, we attempt to understand another’s characteristics and how they came to be.  We still appropriately hold boundaries around the behaviors, choices, or characteristics of others.  However, with empathy, we also accept their imperfections and hold onto their humanity.  Without empathy, the person and the behavior are viewed as one and the same.  Without empathy, our sense of humanity is lost.

When have I judged myself or others without empathy?  What have the consequences of this been?  What gifts await me as I embrace empathy while in judgement?