Why you should “Judge” others

It is often quoted that, “you are not supposed to judge others.” This is nonsense. Sadly, it is usually cross referenced with a poorly interpreted proverb or biblical scripture. There is no biblical commandment that says “thou shalt not judge.” In fact in John 7:24 it states

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

Yet, like most common knowledge, this philosophy is blindly accepted without proper examination. While it is promoted not to judge, it is literally impossible for us not to do so. The original meaning of “judge” according to etymology is to “examine, appraise, make a diagnosis.” It is impossible for any thinking being not to examine and place a value on all that they encounter. This is done consciously and unconsciously. Therefore, we are always judging.

When we constantly say “I don’t judge people” or “I’m not judging you”, we are lying to ourselves and others. In addition to lying, we create unconscious biases about people because we have tricked our conscious mind into believing that we don’t determine a person’s value to us based off of their appearance, online presence, conversations, philosophy, reputation and life experiences. Truth is, we do and that’s ok. Good judgement is celebrated because it often shields its carrier from misfortune. If we choose to ignore what we learn or lack the ability to discern, we ultimately make bad decisions. The better we are at discerning the information we receive, the better we are at using sound judgement to our benefit and the benefit of others.

The human mind creates a profile for all stimuli that it encounters. In these mental profiles we form opinions about people, ideas, food, experiences, etc. Our ability to judge shapes who we are as people and how we see the world. So instead of denying that we are passing judgement, let’s improve how we judge, and utilize it for the sake of being proactive and making wise decisions. Let’s keep in mind that sound judgment is perhaps one of the most crucial assets required of a leader. It is how we determine who our friends are, what career to pursue, whether we take advice, and a host of other decisions that have a major impact on the quality of our lives.

Don’t deny your gift to judge. Embrace it and use it for good.