Don't Overlook Your Hypocrisy

Winners don't expect others to be better than themselves.

(This is Thursday’s paid article, Friday’s free one will drop later today)

If you’re insecure about who you are or defensive about getting called out on your habits, then understand you may be a hypocrite struggling under the weight of your expectations for others.

You want your spouse, children, family, and friends to be better, and in this desire, I have to ask, “Are you wanting them to be better than you are to them?”.

I recently had an exchange where a father was seeking guidance on how to address the time his child spends on video games, to which I responded, “I see you on Twitter all of the time.” which was met with an off-balance, “yeah..well, I…” and the point was made.

That conversation inspired this tweet:

Zac Small @ZacSmall_

"Get off those damn video games!" - Men who spend 5 hours+ on TikTok+Twitter+Facebook+Reddit every day.

This father and I continued the discussion, and a resolution was found, foster an environment with your child that is more entertaining, engaging, and desirable than the electronic distractions. His family is headed in a better direction, but the conversation is one I’ve had many times; parents want their children to live better lives and have better habits than they, the parent, are embodying.

Kids follow your example, not your advice.