I am OK, you are NOT OK!

We tend to be more lenient and kind to ourselves than to others when it comes to words. We would usually use words that are more positive and gentle to describe ourselves or our actions, but use words that are mean and crude for others. Think about the following sets of words to understand what I mean:

• Firm and Stubborn
• Careful and Risk-adverse
• Confident and Boastful
• Thorough and Slow
• Efficient and Impatient
• Thrifty and Stingy
• Slim and Skinny
• Overweight and Fat
• Fair and pale
• Kind and Hypocritical
• Flexible and Inconsistent
• Complying and Rigid
• Tactful and Crafty
• Career Planning and Job Hopping
• Strategic Withdrawal and Defeat as in military troops
• and so on....

In all these sets of words, the first and the second word could be referring to the same behaviour, but when we talk about ourselves, we tend to choose the first one which is more positive. We tend to be more inclined to use the second word which carries negative connotations, to refer to others and their behaviours. This negative thinking lies largely in our inherent prejudice towards others and it gives rise to such a mentality as "I am OK, you are not OK!" or "I am right, you are wrong!".