One of the things most of us are taught as children is to never judge others. “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” And yet, despite our best efforts, many of us fall into the trap repeatedly. Why do we do it?
Here are four common reasons that explain this bad habit of judging others.
It Lets Us Feel Superior
Tearing other people down is one way people prop themselves up. By judging others harshly, we compare ourselves to them and find ourselves superior. Compared to their life, behaviour, and physique, we look pretty good! But this kind of comparison is false and unhealthy. Instead of finding faults in others, we would do much better to focus on how we can become our best selves.
It Helps Us Recognize Our Goals
Judging is a way to perceive the world and figure out where we fit. When we form opinions of others, we can recognize what we like and aspire to be and what we don’t like and want to avoid.
It Uncovers Our Faults
More often than not, we are bothered by the qualities in others that we choose not to see in ourselves. We rail against another’s habits, appearance or lifestyle choices because they are the ones we dislike in ourselves.
It Makes Us Feel Part of a Group
Occasionally, judging can make us feel part of a club. Let’s say there is a work situation where one person complains about something, another agrees, and then another and another. Before you know it, a group has formed around negativity. Sometimes this negativity can be funny and based on a silly situation, but often the negativity can be at the expense of another.
How to Break the Judgement Habit
If you’ve recognized your tendency toward judgment, here are a few tips for breaking the habit:
- Try to take a moment to understand where other people are coming from and why they may look or behave the way they do.
- Try to recognize your insecurities, and work on building yourself up instead of tearing others down. Does their behaviour mirror your own?
- Examine your friendships and associations. Are they based on positivity or demeaning others? If the latter, disassociate yourself and focus on building connections based on positivity and mutual respect.
If you discover you have a tendency to judge others based on your low self-esteem, it may help to speak with a therapist who can help you uncover the reasons behind it and offer coping strategies.
Please get in touch with me if you or someone you know is interested in exploring treatment. I would be happy to discuss how I may be able to help.