Have you ever watched monkeys grooming each other? It’s such a natural act—they spot parasites on each other’s bodies and clean them away. These parasites are clearly visible to others, yet the monkeys can’t see them on their own.
We’re not so different. We easily notice flaws in others, pointing them out without much effort. But when it comes to assessing ourselves, we often struggle. Many of us are caught up in pointing out what others are missing or how they could improve, while those same others return the favour by highlighting our shortcomings. It’s a bit like monkeys arguing over who has parasites, oblivious to the fact that both need cleaning.
When someone points out issues in our work or actions, they’re essentially helping us clean our own “parasites.” Resisting this feedback and clinging to our flaws while focusing on others’ imperfections is as counterproductive as monkeys fighting over who’s dirtier. True growth lies in embracing this “cleaning” process, both giving and receiving it with humility.
