Don't Judge

Haven't you ever noticed yourself judging someone else because of their looks, actions, or circumstances that aren't parallel with your beliefs or lifestyle?

Growing up I've heard countless stereotypes applied to different races, religions, occupations, and lifestyles that we have never actually experienced ourselves.

Many times we aren't conscious that we are judging others and we fail to stop and take the time to ask ourselves, why? Why do we think this way? Why do we think we are any better than this other person or group of people? Who is to say they don't deserve just as much or more than we do?

I'm sure we have all heard the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover", but when have we actually applied this in our own lives? What makes us think that we know so much about this person or group of people that we have the right to label them based on our own predispositions. We often speak on things that we don't know about and unfortunately the majority of the time, it's about others.

Some people give the excuse of knowing facts about people as a reason for judging them, but even if we knew the life story of every individuals' experiences and reasoning for their actions--that still doesn't give us the right in doing so.

I don't know about you, but I don't like to be judged on false preferences or even true ones. I live my life to make myself happy and to be as positive as I can for myself and others around me.

I have also come to realize that some of us choose not to follow our hearts or make our own decisions because of what others will think of us. We live in fear of being judged by others. We fear that we will be rejected, labeled, or excluded by those who take part in it.

By living with this fear we become insecure about many aspects in our lives and we hold back the person we truly are from living a happy and positive life. We get so caught up in the negativity and drama in life that it becomes so hard for us to see the good in everything and everyone.

The next time you feel the need the judge someone or something, remember to ask yourself why you are and what good that does for anybody?

We already live in a world filled with so much violence, hate, and negativity--so let's try and change it for the better, starting with ourselves.