“Judging others is a fast pass to insecurity within yourself. Strive to be your best; don’t condemn others for not being their best.” ~LMB
Judging others can be very seductive. In the short term, it can leave you feeling superior, more intelligent, or perhaps more “put together.” In the long run, though, it’s a false prop. The reality is that all human beings are imperfect. Everyone fumbles, makes bad decisions, and drops the ball at some point in time—even you. Judging others for their weight, looks, job, morality, or (fill in the blank) isn’t helpful for you or others. Disagree with their choices and hold them accountable for their actions, without, for a moment, condemning their character.
People do what they do and are who they are for countless reasons, including trauma, upbringing, religion, culture, mental illness, stress, fear, loneliness, genetics, etc. You have no idea why someone looks the way they look or acts the way they do. What seems to you like one person’s “stupidity” can, to them, be a necessary choice for survival. You don’t know. And nor is it your place to judge.
Life is hard enough as it is. Leave the harsh judgments out of the equation—towards others and yourself. We are all imperfect. There are times when you will do excellent and times when you will falter. You are no more worthy when you do amazing things than you are when you falter. Leave the ridicule and contempt for others (or yourself) off the table. Focus on doing the best you can and allow others to focus on themselves. And when others are judging you harshly, recognize that they’re out of their lane. Hold yourself in warm regard, strive to be your best self, and don’t allow their judgments to shake you in any way.
Challenge: Leave the judgment of others—to others. Focus on your side of the line always and allow others to do the same. Set limits, speak your truth, and disagree if you must. However, leave the contemptuous judgment out of the equation.
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