“Sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a man in the process of changing.” ~ Brandon Sanderson in Oathbringer
Been loving this quote I read few weeks ago. I’ve found it can so applicable, both for helping us approach ourselves with grace when we don’t show up the way we need to, and for approaching others who don’t appear to be acting in line with their stated values.
There are indeed times when hypocrisy needs to be called out for what it is, because one’s words and one’s deeds are blatantly contrary, actively pointing in opposite directions. If there is no evidence someone wants to rectify a clear hypocrisy in their life, that is one thing.
However, I think many of us want our words and our deeds to come more into alignment than they are. We have a dream, or ideal that we’re pursuing; and by all measures, that goal is good and worthwhile, and is what we truly want deep down inside…
But we fall short of it.
When that happens, we have a choice: we can either chose the default of wallowing in our failure, labeling ourselves a “hypocrite”, and giving up… Or, we can get back up, brush ourselves off, and keep heading towards the goal.
We can own the fact that that we’re in the process of changing…
And we keep on changing.
And, maybe… just maybe… we can extend that same grace to those around us, too.