The English word hypocrite originally derived from a Greek word hypokrites, which translates to "stage actor, pretender, dissembler". It was related to Greek stage actors playing character roles in large masks, and later became a term for those who wear masks pretending to be something they are not. This word, hypocrite, has been hot in today's world, referring to many different groups of people, situations, and choices made. Psychologists talk about the sad truth that we are all hypocrites in one way or another. It has been part of our human nature since we were young children. We would blame our siblings for doing the exact same things we did, and dodge responsibility when our behaviors didn't meet the standards of those around us. Being a hypocrite is the opposite of living our truth. It comes out when we are in the state of fear, when our self-esteem is very low, and when we refuse to accept ourselves as being wrong in any way. Insecurities take over, and we do what we have to do in order to be Loved and accepted. This behavior is the result of not being honest with ourselves or even having the courage to face our darkness head-on.
It is so easy to look outside of ourselves and see everyone else's problems and shortcomings. The hardest thing to do is to stop looking outside and focus inward in order to work on the contradictions and projections within. This helps us to take full accountability for who we are at this point of our lives and be completely honest with ourselves and others. Honesty aligns with humility, and bringing out these virtues leads to more authentic living with real relationships and truthful interactions. There is no room for high horses and talking down to others when each of us has our own set of strengths and weaknesses to face. Whether we came from a challenge and overcame it, or continue to suffer from challenges, we can relate to others who face similar life conflicts. When we decide to judge someone else for something we have or continue to do ourselves, then hypocrisy has taken over. Instead of separating ourselves from others, we can lean into compassion and understanding. When we want to accuse someone of doing something, we can stop and choose to see life through their eyes, or step into their shoes for a moment in order to gain deeper comprehension of the situation. If we choose to get involved, then we need to show up with open eyes, open hearts, and open minds, while leaving judgment and criticism at the door. It isn't Loving to refuse to admit our mistakes and wrong-doings. Acceptance and Love will never follow the hypocrite. Often times, the Love that the hypocrite seeks the most is what they lose first. Hypocrites push people away when they are afraid of being wrong or showing their vulnerabilities. The end result is being alone in judgement instead of together in acceptance. If the desire is to live in Truth, then thoughts, feelings, words, and actions have to be in alignment with Love. It takes work to get to the place of authenticity, yet it is part of our human nature when we are balanced, present, and facing our shadows. May this Winter Solstice support each of us in growing into our most authentic, honest, and open versions of ourselves so that we can create a world where we can grow, evolve, and transform into a perfectly diverse melting pot of creative beings...
or better!
Happy Winter Solstice, and cheers to living our most authentic and beautifully blessed lives!
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