Right off the bat, I’d just like to say, that this is something I personally struggle with every day.
It has even reached the point that my judgement of others has created a strong belief that the world must be judging me.
With that being said… is that even true?
At the end of the day, you really won’t know. And that can be both a comforting and terrifying thought.
As an athlete, it’s become ingrained in us to believe that we are constantly up for evaluation. Whether it’s from referees, coaches, or fans we are conditioned to think we are constantly being put under the microscope.
But my better sense (and I think yours too) doesn’t really think so.
Everyone is so caught up in their own problems they are hardly giving you much thought.
To quote Eleanor Roosevelt “You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”
However, if you are harshly judging people for being vulnerable, failing, or simply being different, it becomes incredibly challenging to not pass that same kind of judgement onto yourself when you do something similar.
In fact, it can often hold you back from trying anything vulnerable at all.
So, what’s the solution? What is the antidote to judgement?
Curiosity.
If “Judgement” is taking the highway, “Curiosity” is opting for the scenic route. It might not be as quick of a ride and it requires you to pay more attention during the turns, but it can lead to a far more enjoyable journey.
“THE ABILITY TO OBSERVE WITHOUT EVALUATING IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF INTELLIGENCE.”
— JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI
With curiosity as your default, the world does not look so hypercritical. It becomes a place to explore. It turns into a world where learning is welcomed, vulnerability is normal. and failing is accepted.
But this all starts within you.
It requires that you choose to be curious about the world, rather than judging it’s every move.
-Derek
