Ed Osworth, the Joy Professor Here.
On this summer like Friday I have a story that makes a point about our ease in slipping into judgement at the drop of a hat.
A huge obstacle to Joy is our fascination with “playing” a mental process we develop. This process is like a fascinating toy we play with that becomes a permanent distraction to the beauty and happiness that surrounds us.
That mental “toy” is our ability to judge the actions, motivations and judgement of others.
Judgement of others and Joy don’t do together. Never did, never will!
And most of the conclusions we reach while playing with that toy are flat out wrong! Many times they are based on pre conceptions and old memories that have nothing to do with today’s reality.
Let’s fire up that toy for a moment.
I’m gonna tell you a story about a professional paid political lobbyist in Washington DC.
What just went through your mind? Any pre conceptions there based on the first label I used to describe him?
OK.
His name is Dave Wenhold, partner at the firm Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies and president of the American League of Lobbyists.
More labels… having fun with the judgement toy yet?
Guess what this lobbyist Washington fat cat guy just did? hee hee
Tuesday in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building he had what he called the “Capitol PurSuit Drive”
The drive collected more than 50,000 items of business attire valued at over $2.1 million. The items will be given to local nonprofits that assist people in getting back on their feet and into the workforce.
“This is not giving a hand out, but a hand up,” says Wenhold.
What a great dude. No matter what, that is an excellent idea and a wonderful act of kindness.
You can put away the “toy” now.
But do it before the toy starts talking to you and saying… “he is just the exception…”
The world is ready for Joy. Are you?
Tags: judgment, positive psychology