Judgment and jealousy prevent you from seeing your own qualities and inhibit you from being and knowing yourself. I understand that as humans we generally want to "fit" in, to be a part of our society. I get that there are trends, I'm a victim myself. But it's one thing to blend, it's another thing to want to be something that you're not. When looking at others, it's inherent to draw conclusions and make assumptions, without so much as a glance. But as soon as you start comparing yourself to those around you, you're diminishing your own self-worth. You might not even realize that you're weakening your self-esteem, and that's why judgment and jealousy can be so tricky.

I wouldn't be the first one to say it's important to embrace your individual qualities, but I don't mind being one to remind. You could be thinking, "yeah, yeah, I learned that in middle school. All that 'love yourself' stuff." But I am shocked at how many grown adults I have encountered who still judge others like adolescents, still pick them apart and gossip as if that judgment will make a difference somehow, almost as if those words are worth something. It clearly makes them feel better, but honestly? What does it do? What is it worth? Exactly. Nothing. We spend so much time talking about nothing, and not enough time talking about something, something with value and importance, and relevancy to our individual qualities and moral fabric as humans. The more we pick apart each other, the more we eat away at ourselves. By judging, we don't build anything, and we don't progress. So why do we continue to judge? Food for thought.

"If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time."

-from "Desiderata" by Max Erhmann