Pat Yourself on the Back

We love that certain person who understands us. It seems this person knows what is really going on inside. Understanding is about learning both the details and the big picture without preconceived notions. People who think alike enjoy each other’s company because they understand each other. Where understanding knows what is going on, practical wisdom knows what to do about it. Therefore it is possible to have understanding without much wisdom but it is hard to have practical wisdom without understanding. Understanding also applies to the arts. A person might understand how a system might work but it takes the addition of experience to have practical wisdom to deal with issues as they present themselves.

I try to be brief in these posts to keep interest but there always seems there is so much more to say. A person of good judgment will have inner peace from being equitable while addressing realities. Sometimes people don’t appreciate what we do. Are our expectations realistic? A secure person will be able to absorb little injustices by using grace. The reality is that we don’t always know the whole situation and therefore should be sparing with our judgment calls. That includes feeling slighted or unappreciated because of how we judge the way someone treated us. Sometimes the best thing to do is to show patience and understanding.

 To assume more of others than oneself requires a person to feel owed. When we think others owe us, we take a position of superiority over them. But good judgment provides equity. Satisfaction, the feeling we get when all things are equal doesn't have to come externally. Sometimes doing what’s right only gets rewarded by self-satisfaction.  The inner satisfaction that comes by doing what is right and excellent is the most reliable reward. We can always equalize our efforts with this reward. Relying on others for reward can cause a person to be a man pleaser, someone who only does what is good and right when it is seen by others. It can also cause a person to feel unappreciated. Either will make for a miserable life. 

To take the right amount of pride for the right amount of effort within yourself removes the anxiety caused by waiting for others to give you just reward. We satisfy our own judgment by having a store inside that rewards effort. We might need others for input and information, but all good art and productivity starts with a person who isn't possessed with getting rewards from others but considers self-satisfaction reward enough. Of course on the job a person has to focus on what they are being paid for. But why not do the incidental things to the very best of your ability? Since happiness comes from the soul, reward your soul first by performing at your very best regardless of how others respond. This applies to every area of life. 

We can go on with the concept of how good judgment sees ways to make things equal. We looked at excellence and how we can reward our own soul when the reward cannot be expected of others. As you can see, I like the subject of justice since it solves dilemmas and takes away self pity. “How can everyone benefit?” is a question of justice. This isn't an easy question to answer all the time but in every area of life we are seeking to do our best to balance the scales. Having the ability to do so is what is called good judgment. It takes understanding to begin, good judgment to conclude and practical wisdom to apply.