SELF-RIGHTOUSNESS
Self-righteousness is a tactic used in the workplace and the world. It appears to be the opposite of blame and projection. But self-righteousness and blame are two sides of the same coin. Self-righteousness asserts that oneself is good while the other person is evil. It is a false accusation that claims innocence while holding another responsible for your pain and suffering. The false claim is very insidious, and in almost any conflict you will find both sides maintain self-righteousness.
In other words, when you are the self-righteous victim, you are saying you are blameless. This can only mean the other is the cause of your feelings. And this is never true. And now you are blaming them! So who is the victim?
James P. Carse, in his book Finite and Infinite Games, says, “Evil is never intended as evil. Indeed, the contradiction inherent in all evil is that it originates in the desire to eliminate evil.†We need only look at recent history to see wars initiated in the name of eliminating evil. This kind of logic and moral justification can end only as we see it in ourselves, and it takes courage to look within to see your own accountability. You can find self-responsibility only when you stop blaming and claiming self-righteousess.
