TINY WISDOM: HOW WE MISS OUT WHEN WE JUDGE
by Lori Deschene
“Judgments prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances.” -Wayne Dyer
The other day I was writing at a community table at Starbucks when an older man asked if he could sit next to me. Since our chairs were backed up against a wall, I had to get up to facilitate this.
I thought he was looking at me in a slightly strange way, but I put this out of my mind. We were sitting side by side in a confined space, not walking down a dark alley together—there was no reason to be alarmed.
Several hours after he’d left, he came back in to use the bathroom. When he saw me, he said, “Wow, you’re still here.”
I responded, “Yup, I pretty much live here. It’s my unofficial office.” And we both laughed a little. Again, he was looking at me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.
Then he asked me what I do.
After I told him a little about Tiny Buddha, he told me that his passion is music—and then he offered to show me this trailer for a documentary he’d made.
If it were online, I would have posted it, because it moved me, and reminded me how music can inspire, connect, and heal. I could see he was proud and excited to share this, and I felt grateful for having seen it.
After it ended, he told me music means so much to him partly because he was born 80% deaf. After many operations, his sense of hearing has improved dramatically, but still, it isn’t perfect.
That’s why he’d been looking at me in a way that seemed odd; he was trying to read my lips.
I almost completely judged him by appearances and assumptions—and if I had, I would have missed the fleeting opportunity to see inside his heart and find a piece of myself.
I write and publish a lot of posts about opening up and reserving judgment, and yet sometimes it’s still instinctive to shut down and close people out.
It’s even more tempting when we suspect there’s something to fear. Of course it’s always best to follow our instincts when we genuinely feel we’re in harm’s way.
But the truth is we rarely are. Most often, we’re sitting side-by-side with someone just like us, who has something amazing to share if only we’re open to receiving it.
Photo by Akuppa
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lori Deschene is the Founder of Tiny Buddha. Her first book,Tiny Buddha, Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions is now available on Amazon. Follow Lori on Twitter @Lori_Deschene and don't forget to read the submission guidelines if you'd like to submit a blog post.
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SHOWING 37 COMMENTS
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.You're most welcome. =)
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Kate Britt, Kate is a retired teacher, editor, and technical writer living in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She's enjoying learning how to be a retiree: "Human being, not human doing." [Rumi]I constantly work on my judgementalism. I find myself kind of making up a story about people, hear myself thinking negative things. For example, I'm sitting in my car at a stoplight, somebody walks by in the crosswalk, and I'm thinking something like, "Why would you buy that coat, it just doesn't suit you!" or something about their hair being ugly; whatever. Why do I do this!? I just don't know.So when I became conscious of that tendency, I began trying to become more conscious of it. When I catch myself making internal criticisms, I switch over to making up a good story instead. "Wow, that coat is a great color," or "Aren't you fantastically unique with that haircut," or, "I think that dear lady could use a smile, so I'm gonna give her a huge one if she glances my way."Yesterday at the pool before my aquafit class, an older woman in the class, whom I'd had judgemental thoughts about, came up to me and asked me my name and introduced herself. We had a little chat about the class. She was wonderfully kind and friendly! It was a great reminder to me that I'm probably usually wrong in what I think about others on first impression.Gotta stop the mind-chatter and let *them* present their own stories instead of making stuff up in my head about them!
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I love that--about allowing people to present their own stories. I find I'm more apt to create judgmental stories when I'm feeling annoyed/irritated with something else. It ends up being an outlet for negativity that's in my head. I think I'll try your idea about creating positive stories...sounds like a much better way to defuse negativity!
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Thank you for this post. A good reminder to be open (and also alert to any real threats vs. perceived threats). When I find myself slipping into judgement mode (a billion times a day) I repeat to myself "Just like me." It helps me to remember that everyone is just like me....doing their best, often failing, busy, stressed, etc. It helps me to remind myself to be gentle, to be curious about others.
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.You're most welcome Ann. That's a wonderful mantra!
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This is a lovely post on so many scores and a gentle reminder to me to open up - not only with strangers but those I live with! I think working in a cafe environment must be great. I feel rather alone at home with the computer and I think I will try to go somewhere else to work at least once a week. and see what happens? Thanks
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.That's what prompted me to start working in coffee shops--I felt quite isolated working from home. It makes a huge difference in my day to be around people, even I'm not actively engaging with all of them as I would if I had coworkers. Plus, it's always nice having someone else make the coffee! I'm sure you'll love it. =)
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Great one! You have me wanting to see his video.
Cracking up at another thing we have in common. Your Starbucks comment....( I pretty much live here. It’s my unofficial office.) -
Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I wish the video was online so I could post it! I will keep an eye our for it and share it once it's available. That's too funny that you also practically live at Starbucks. I love that I can camp out there pretty much all day!
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joychristinThank you for this beautiful reflection! I spend lots of time working from our local coffee shop, and we have this huge table that is often shoulder to shoulder with people. I find it interesting that some days the energy is such that people just work on their own stuff; while some days the energy is open and we are all speaking and comparing projects and lifestyles. It's inspiring and fun to me to be in open energy and sharing :)
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I'm with you Joy! It's always a different energy there...and it's always a different energy for me. Sometimes I'm really open to connection, and other days I'm a little more caught up in my own world.
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BuddhishMDAssumptions and judgments arise as part of our human condition. Trying to stop them from "showing up" is not the point. So what is the point? Well, to me, the point is to recognize when i have judged/assumed (about a gazillion times a day) and then , once recognized, to then ask myself two questions: 1. Is it really true? and 2. Is it helpful? What Lori is pointing to (i think) is that by being open to seeing our judgments for what they are (i.e. assumptions) we create enough of a space to be open to alternate viewpoints. Once we open up that space lots of good stuff is then free to unfold.
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.Indeed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I think creating space is a great way to explain it.
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Frances WilsonThis is so great. I live with a guy who Is constantly judged at first impression for his appearance when to me he should be being praised for not hiding his individualism and being comfortable expressing who he is. If only more people were in this mind set...sigh. It's true though, everybody judges in some way. Although we wish it wasn't true. Your article made me more aware of this and I will be more alert next time my mind jumps to judges something.
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I'm glad you enjoyed this post Frances! Your roommate is fortunate to have a friend like you in his corner. =)
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AJTI do wrestle with this, from a safety standpoint. It bothers me that I can't always reach out and help strangers because I'm female and theoretically more vulnerable. I try to balance my concerns for others with concern for myself...
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.That's a smart plan I think--creating that balance. I find that being kind and open to possibilities is something I can encourage myself to do more often--however, I wouldn't have given him (or anyone else) a ride in my car, no matter how much I saw myself in them!
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Oh so true Lori. And whilst we do need to be cautious in certain circumstances, the question I ask of myself is am I coming from love or fear...and best as I can I stay in love...and no I'm not perfect at it. :-)
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I'm not either Elle! But how liberating to switch into that love mindset when I catch myself.
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It is very vivid.Reminds me of the paradigm shift example, when the guy with kids is traveling back home in metro train from the hospital where his wife died hours ago....
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I loved that story, too. Never forgot that. Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Habits"...he was discussing what a paradigm-shift. Thanks for reminding me of that, Elly.
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.Is that a story that's available somewhere online?
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Wright LisaI really enjoyed reading this, it makes you think about the bigger picture!! What's going on around us.
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I'm glad you enjoyed it! =)
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So true - we often judge so quickly we don't even know we're doing it.
What a nice day you must have had at the coffee shop :) ~ p.s. I was happy to share this post as well! -
Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I did have a nice day actually! I always enjoy writing there. It's such a nice change from working from home.
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ConnieThis was very insightful in many ways. I do close down and give the "evil" eye but only when warranted and this is only when a dirty old man or 'perv' as they are called starts looking at me in a seedy way. That is something I will not tolerate and make it known, however there are many instances where I've misjudged people and situations and am learning from them. I cannot go back and change the outcomes, but have the gift of moving ahead and learning from the past. There are many other instances where I have when ready to shut down have opened up and meet some real interesting individuals.
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I hear you Connie. I'm not a fan of being ogled either! I assumed that was the case with this man, and it turned out I was wrong! I love what you wrote here: "I cannot go back and change the outcomes, but have the gift of moving ahead and learning from the past." Such an empowering mindset.
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JyotisolThank you for this post. I have so many different personalities at work that at my work place everyone is constantly judging each other. You email keeps my grounded at work. Thank you again!
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.You're most welcome!
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Thank you SO much for writing about this! I'm profoundly hard-of-hearing as well and I live a very mainstreamed life by lip-reading. I can't tell you how many times I've had people look at me strangely or back away as I'm watching their lips intently. I have to work hard to bridge that gap to others so that they understand. It can be exhausting on some days!I would LOVE to see his documentary is! Do you have any information at all?Again, thank you so much for this. You just made my whole day!
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.You're most welcome Sara! This experience certainly made me think about my instinct to jump to conclusions. I can imagine it would be challenging to read people's lips--particularly if they aren't aware you're doing, which would make them speak more slowly and clearly!Unfortunately his documentary isn't yet online. He actually had the trailer on his desktop. I wish it were online so I could share it!
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I love that you shared this. I try to think sometimes that I'm not judgmental but honestly, when I really look at what being judgmental is and the MANY ways it cane manifest, I realize I am - just like everyone else. I am learning that my perception is just that and it doesn't equal reality - almost ever.
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Lori Deschene, LA writer into yoga, travel and self improvement. Founder of tinybuddha.com.I think you're right Wendi...that we all judge from time to time. I think it's because we need to be able to think critically to keep ourselves safe. If we can do that while also giving people the benefit of the doubt, we're in good shape! I work at finding that balance.
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BettinaThis is has been a big lesson for me over the last year. I now feel terrible for some of the people I judged prematurely. Whilst I can't go back and change those judgements I try to use them as reminders to not be so quick to jump to conclusions about people. There are always many layers and motivations that I do not know about.Bettina @ http://lovelylittleone.blogspo...
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