You criticize the politician for approving a law that denies basic human rights for some people. You watch a fellow dog mom neglecting her puppies and leaving them inside the hot car. You complain about the lineup decisions of your favorite sports team's head coach. You demonize that billionaire tech bro because he is filthy rich and should be donating more of his money to good causes.

And you think that you’d always do the right thing if you were in politics. You assert that you’d do a better job as a dog owner. You would have chosen this player over that one in the starting lineup. You would give most of your money away to charity if you were that rich. Yeah right.

You would do things differently? Is that so?

I have made this mistake many times. And I keep doing it. I watch someone else do something and then think, “If I was that person, I would do it this way or that way.”

But the reality is that both you and I would do exactly the same things those people are doing if we were them.

Just think about it.

To truly understand their actions, you would need to give up all your current knowledge and experiences, starting with a clean slate, and instead receive their unique life experiences.

If you were to switch places with someone, you would have to be erased of your memory, and you would have to be given the memory of that person. With all they have learned (or not learned) through life.

In such scenario, you would find yourself making the exact same decisions. You would essentially become that person and you would act in the same way.

Do you see now?

Remember that everyone is following a unique path. Everyone is learning lessons at their own pace. Some higher. Some lower. All heading towards the same place.

You shouldn't condemn other people because they are behaving in a certain way that doesn’t align with the way you would behave. If you were them, you would do exactly the same. If they were you, they would do exactly the same as you.

Don’t waste time shaming or judging others. Focus on what YOU do. Focus on what YOU think. Focus on how YOU treat others. Focus on learning the lessons life is throwing at you. On improving every day. On doing the best you can with what you know.

As for other people. Let them be.