Judging Others

Would you consider yourself to be judgmental of others? I grew up learning to not be judgmental of others but the feeling creeps in when I am not thinking about it or seeing the world with an open mind. My partner surprised me one day when they pointed out how fast I can judge someone without being aware of it. Once it was brought to my attention through a heated discussion over lunch, the lightbulb in my big head went on and I felt embarrassed and ashamed for going against lessons learned in my life.

Judging others is something we all do, often, without even realising it. Whether it’s a passing thought about a stranger’s outfit or a more deeply rooted opinion about the colour of someone’s skin, or a colleague’s behaviour, our minds are quick to form conclusions. But why are we so inclined to judge and how do these judgments affect our relationships and our well-being? In this post, we’ll explore the reasons behind our tendency to judge others, the impact it can have, and how we can shift toward a more empathetic, open-minded approach in our daily lives.

Even when shopping for food or entering a new restaurant, we tend to make judgments about the servers, the food, the atmosphere, and even observing their clientele. Judging others often makes us feel a fake sense of superiority. Tearing other people down is one of the most common ways people prop themselves up. By judging others harshly, we…