Before You Judge Someone - WATCH THIS | by Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty

13 Nov 201803:06

Summary

TLDRA man at an airport, waiting for a delayed flight, buys cookies to pass the time. He becomes irritated when a stranger eats his cookies, assuming they are his own. When only one remains, he reluctantly shares it, only to discover his own full container of cookies in his bag. The stranger had been sharing all along, teaching a lesson about not making quick judgments and the importance of understanding before reacting.

Takeaways

🕒 Patience is key: The story begins with a man waiting for a delayed flight, emphasizing the importance of patience in everyday situations.
🍪 Unexpected generosity: The man decides to buy cookies, setting the stage for an unexpected act of kindness.
👀 Initial avoidance: The man tries to avoid eye contact with his seatmate, a common social behavior when trying to maintain personal space.
📚 Distractions in life: Reading a magazine serves as a distraction, a common way people cope with waiting or uncomfortable situations.
🤔 Misinterpretation of actions: The man misinterprets the other man's actions as intrusive, highlighting how easily we can misjudge others' intentions.
🍪 Sharing without asking: The other man starts eating the cookies without asking, which the main character perceives as rudeness.
😠 Growing irritation: The main character's irritation grows as the other man continues to eat the cookies, illustrating how small actions can escalate emotions.
🔪 The last cookie: The story reaches a climax when there's only one cookie left, and the man breaks it in half, offering a piece to the other man.
😮 Realization of misunderstanding: The man is shocked to find a full container of cookies in his bag, realizing he had misjudged the other man's actions.
💡 Perception vs. reality: The story teaches that what we perceive is not always the reality, and we should be cautious about making quick judgments.
👣 The opportunity for apology: The man regrets his hasty judgment and wishes to apologize, but the other man is gone, showing the importance of timely amends.
👠 Walking in others' shoes: The moral of the story encourages us to consider others' perspectives and not to stereotype or judge hastily.

Q & A

What was the initial situation that the man at the airport found himself in?
-The man was waiting at the airport for a long-distance flight, which was delayed, giving him some spare time.
Why did the man decide to buy cookies?
-He bought cookies because he thought the delay might be long and wanted to treat himself.
How did the man react when he noticed the other man taking his cookies?
-Initially, he ignored the incident to avoid a scene, but as the other man continued to take cookies, he became increasingly irritated.
What was the turning point in the man's perception of the situation?
-The turning point was when the last cookie was left and the other man broke it in half and offered him a piece, which made him realize that the other man was actually sharing his own cookies.
What did the man discover when he lifted his bag to leave?
-He discovered a full container of cookies, which made him realize that the cookies he thought were his were actually the other man's.
How did the man feel after realizing the truth about the cookies?
-He felt bad and regretful for his earlier assumptions and irritation towards the other man.
What moral lesson is conveyed in the script about making assumptions about others?
-The script conveys the lesson that one should not be quick to judge others and situations, as there might be a bigger picture that is not immediately apparent.
What advice does the script give regarding changing one's behavior as an apology?
-The script suggests that the best apology is not just words but changed behavior, implying that actions speak louder than words.
Why did the other man take cookies from the container?
-The other man took cookies from the container because they were his own, which the first man did not realize until later.
What was the man's reaction when his flight was finally called?
-He was relieved when his flight was called, but he was also shocked and surprised to find a full container of cookies when he picked up his bag.
How does the script encourage the reader to approach life's encounters with others?
-The script encourages the reader to approach life's encounters with an open mind, avoiding stereotypes and quick judgments, and to consider walking in someone else's shoes.

Outlines

00:00

🍪 Cookie Confusion at the Airport

A man at the airport, with a delayed flight, buys cookies to pass the time. He sits next to another man and starts reading a magazine. Unbeknownst to him, the other man begins to eat his cookies. Initially, he ignores it to avoid conflict but as the man continues, irritation grows. When only one cookie is left, he breaks it in half and offers the other half to the man, who accepts it. The man leaves with what he believes to be his own container of cookies. Upon standing up to board his flight, he discovers a full container of cookies, realizing the cookies he was sharing were actually the other man's. This encounter teaches a lesson about not making quick judgments and the importance of understanding the bigger picture before reacting.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Assumption

Assumption refers to a belief or an opinion that is formed without the necessary evidence to support it. In the video's narrative, the man makes assumptions about the other man's intentions when he sees him taking cookies from his container. This assumption leads to irritation and a sense of injustice, illustrating the theme that quick judgments can be misleading and lead to misunderstandings.

💡Generosity

Generosity is the quality of being kind and giving, often without expecting anything in return. The video conveys this concept through the act of the other man sharing his cookies, which is revealed at the end as a generous gesture. This act of kindness contrasts with the protagonist's initial assumption of selfishness, emphasizing the importance of not judging others too quickly.

💡Irritation

Irritation is a feeling of annoyance or displeasure. In the script, the protagonist experiences irritation as he observes the other man eating cookies from his container, believing they are his own. This emotion is central to the story, as it drives the protagonist's reactions and contributes to the twist ending, where it is revealed that the cookies were not his to begin with.

💡Stereotype

A stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. The video script uses the concept of stereotyping to highlight how the protagonist quickly labels the other man as selfish based on his actions. This term is crucial to the video's message about the dangers of making quick judgments based on appearances.

💡Apology

An apology is a formal expression of regret or remorse for a mistake or wrongdoing. The script mentions the concept of apology in the context of the protagonist's realization of his mistake and his desire to apologize to the other man. It serves as a reminder that acknowledging and rectifying our errors is an important part of personal growth and understanding.

💡Behavior

Behavior refers to the way a person or animal acts or conducts themselves, typically in relation to others. In the video, the protagonist's behavior is initially influenced by his assumptions, leading to irritation and a lack of understanding. The video suggests that changing one's behavior, particularly in response to new information, is a sign of growth and empathy.

💡Judgment

Judgment is the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions. The video emphasizes the negative aspect of judgment when it is made hastily and without full information. The protagonist's quick judgment of the other man's actions leads to a misunderstanding, which is only resolved when he realizes the true situation.

💡Appearances

Appearances refer to the way someone or something seems to be, especially when this is misleading. The video uses the concept of appearances to illustrate how the protagonist is misled by the other man's actions, which appear to be selfish but are later revealed to be generous. This highlights the theme that appearances can be deceiving.

💡Misunderstanding

A misunderstanding is a situation in which the meaning or intention of something is not correctly understood. In the script, the protagonist's misunderstanding of the other man's intentions leads to conflict and irritation. The resolution of this misunderstanding is key to the video's message about the importance of not jumping to conclusions.

💡Long-Distance Flight

A long-distance flight refers to an airplane journey that covers a great distance, often across countries or continents. In the context of the video, the long-distance flight sets the scene for the protagonist's delay and his decision to buy cookies, which becomes the central point of the story's conflict and eventual moral lesson.

💡Container

A container is a receptacle used to hold something. In the script, the container of cookies is a significant object that leads to the protagonist's assumptions and eventual realization. The container symbolizes the misunderstanding and the lesson learned about not making quick judgments based on appearances.

Highlights

A man at the airport buys cookies during a flight delay.

He sits next to another man and starts reading a magazine.

The man notices the other man taking cookies from his container.

He initially ignores the incident to avoid a confrontation.

The other man continues to eat cookies, increasing the first man's irritation.

When the last cookie is left, the man breaks it in half and offers a piece.

The other man takes the half cookie, seemingly surprised by the gesture.

After the encounter, the other man leaves with the cookie container.

The man is shocked to find a full container of cookies in his bag after the other man leaves.

He realizes that the cookies he thought were his were actually the other man's.

The man feels guilty for his earlier assumptions and irritation.

He regrets not being able to apologize to the other man for his misjudgment.

The story emphasizes the importance of not making quick assumptions about others.

It highlights the danger of stereotyping people based on limited interactions.

The narrative encourages empathy and understanding of others' situations.

The man's experience serves as a lesson in humility and open-mindedness.

The story concludes with a reminder that appearances can be deceiving.

It suggests that the best apology is demonstrated through changed behavior.