7 Benefits of Being Non-Judgmental

We all have times when we jump to conclusions based on the information we’re presented. And, although it is human nature to do so, it’s not always very helpful – especially when you’re wrong.

Certainly, it is difficult at times to not pass judgment as the way you interpret things is based upon your life experiences and beliefs. However, if you can learn to suspend judgment until you have enough information to do so, you’ll benefit yourself tremendously.

Here are seven advantages of being completely non-judgmental:

#1: It’s less stressful

Think of all the energy you waste on passing judgment about a person or situation. Not only is it exhausting to try to figure out their every motive and feeling, but it can also be very stressful.

You spend countless hours sitting there trying to dissect every aspect of something or someone based on some very limited information.

However, if you let go of the need to judge people and things, you relieve yourself of that pressure and can enjoy life (and everyone in it). You don’t have to label everything in order to appreciate it.

In fact, labeling is one of the worst things you can do because, once attached it is hard to remove – even if it is wrong.

#2: You enjoy friendships more

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Have you ever had a friend that you could talk to about anything? You can tell her your deepest darkest secrets and not worry about what she thinks about you because you know that she’ll love you just the same? That is the joy of being in a non-judgmental friendship.

When you can listen to those you love and cherish in a way that doesn’t cast judgment on them for what they’ve done (or not done), you open yourself up to friendships that transcend to a whole new level.

You’ll be able to thoroughly enjoy the closeness you create with someone because you’re not worried about whether they’re “good” or “bad”.

#3: You’re more productive

When you meet someone for the first time, how long do you spend trying to pick them apart from head to toe, working to decipher their very being?

Is it minutes? Hours? Whatever the amount, imagine if you used that time elsewhere doing something that will actually help you as opposed to driving you absolutely crazy.

Instead of working so hard to create a judgment of someone you just met, choose to hold off your feelings toward them until you know more information. Use this time to ask them questions and learn more versus just letting your mind wander to ideas that it probably shouldn’t be having to begin with.

#4: Possibilities become endless

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When you pass judgment on a person or situation, you essentially put yourself into a box. You decide what you ‘know’ and so your mind closes off any other possibilities or choices. Essentially, you limit your thinking and may even rule out perfectly good options.

The more open you are to the fact that there can be more than one explanation as to why things are the way they are, the more you realize that the possibilities are endless.

You keep your creativity at an all-time high and you’re not stuck in just one way of thinking.

#5: You look like a fool less often

The problem with making a snap judgment is that you risk being wrong. And, if you’ve ever had someone do this to you, you know how potentially hurtful this can be.

Creating an incorrect judgment based on just a glimpse of information does no one any good. It puts people on the defensive when they don’t need to be and it makes you look foolish. Neither of these is necessary, so avoiding them is always a good idea.

#6: You’re more level headed

Young woman enjoying a summer day

Along with judgment comes emotion. And, the stronger your judgment, the stronger the emotion. That means that reserving any preconceived ideas will save you a lot of grief and allow you to stay more level headed in the process.

An example of this is if you’re working with an individual who isn’t pulling their weight. You start to get frustrated and angry because you seem to be doing all of the work. You may judge him or her as being lazy, inconsiderate and lacking a good work ethic.

However, what you may not realize is that they were just diagnosed with a major disease and they’re having difficulty concentrating. They’re depressed at the fate that lies before them and they’re unsure how to cope.

If you didn’t pass judgment and give him or her a hard time for not pulling their weight, you may be more able to see that things aren’t what they seem and handle them appropriately. You pull the emotion out of the situation and can deal with it in a positive manner.

#7: Life is more satisfying

Do you ever wonder what makes children so happy? Other than not having major responsibilities in life, one of the primary factors is that they don’t spend all of their time judging the people and situations in their life. They are what they are and that’s it.

You can have that same level of life satisfaction and enjoyment simply by being child-like and keeping an open mind. It is then that you see the beauty in everything and allow things to speak for themselves.

You don’t expend all of your time and energy trying to decipher why this or that happened; you don’t look at someone else and try to play psychologist by creeping into the recesses of their mind.

Suspend your judgment and just enjoy life. Yes, there will come a time when you will make a judgment about things, but let it be after you have enough information to intelligently do so. You’ll save yourself a lot of grief if you operate this way.

About the author

Christina DeBusk

Changing careers mid-life from law enforcement to writing, Christina spends her days helping others enrich their businesses and personal lives one word at a time.

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