Here’s what occurred to me in the shower today.

In the interest of putting out into the world what we want to receive, how about noticing those little thoughts that run through your head about other people?

Or sometimes, they’re big glaring neon signs, judging others for how they think, act or look.

Snap judgments help us stay safe, right? It helps us size up a situation and act accordingly.

When there’s danger.

It becomes an easy habit though, placing people in black and white boxes. We don’t have to think about the whole person. Sometimes it’s a little hit of pleasure. The judgment allows you to feel a bit better about yourself for a second.

I’m not judging you for having those thoughts. I have them, too.

I no longer judge myself for having them. They are part of being human.

But they don’t need to run rampant.

Otherwise, I’d be walking around also judging myself for being so goddamned judgmental.

You see how the circle goes.

So, notice them and they quiet a little bit. And then, as usual when you’re all about the noticing, the behavior shifts.

In this instance, it changes the whole habit of judging. You start eyeballing yourself less, too. When this unconscious habit gets questioned, you can also examine the snap judgments you make about you.

It gets easier to be a little nicer.

To you.

To them.

If you’re interested in starting the new year figuring out how to judge yourself a bit less harshly, check this out.

Be well.