Energy tip #65 judge less, accept more

“Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier. Love everything, you will be happiest.” ~Sri Chinmoy

It’s only natural for us to judge, after all, it’s a super important skill when it comes to surviving – your brain needs to be able to quickly judge whether your environment contains any dangers or if it’s safe for you to relax in.

The trouble comes in when we exercise this life saving skill to figure out how we measure up with the world or when we feed our egos with thoughts that we are better than others. Sure, we all want to fit in and matter in this world but that shouldn’t be at the expense of others. Not only does judgement interfere with genuine relationships but it also drains you of energy and happiness.

Here are 5 reasons to judge less and accept more:

  • We are all unique – Imagine a world filled with exact copies of yourself, now wouldn’t that be boring? Our diversity is what makes things interesting, so try to keep an open mind and not judge people based on your own preferences.
  • Perfection is impossible – As humans, we are all flawed. There is no one perfect way to live life and the sooner we accept this, the better off we’ll be.
  • Educate yourself – Mostly we judge people without having all the facts. Is there a reason behind a person’s behaviour? Were they brought up in a different culture to your own? Give people the benefit of the doubt because reasons behind actions won’t always be apparent.
  • Look at yourself – Before you start ranting about another person, ask yourself if you’ve ever done something similar? Have you ever driven poorly, been late, made a mistake?
  • Feel good about yourself – Acclaimed author Brene´ Brown says: “If I feel good about my parenting, I have no interest in judging other people’s choices. If I feel good about my body, I don’t go around making fun of other people’s weight or appearance. We’re hard on each other because were using each other as a launching pad out of our own perceived deficiency.”

And finally, remember that judging a person does not define who they are, it defines who you are.