How to Deal When You Feel Judged

"Most of us know the pain and isolation that occurs when we feel judged unfairly by others. We can move through the discomfort of judgment by understanding the reasons why others judge. By focusing on forgiveness and learning the lessons of our situation, we can adopt a healthy mindset. We all make mistakes. Sitting in the discomfort that judgment creates can deepen our connection to humanity."

"We all judge, even when we don't mean to. Most of us were raised to be cautious about judging others. There are countless religious teachings and sayings on this subject, such as "Judge not, that ye be not judged" or "Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes." Yet, even when we strive not to judge others, our brains have a tendency to pass judgment unconsciously. Indeed, judgment is a habit of the brain rooted in survival, cultural conditioning, personal values, and biases we may not even be aware of. Often, judgments reflect fundamental thinking errors (like attribution errors and the actor-observer bias) that we can all fall prey to."

Experiencing judgment often causes pain, isolation, and emotional discomfort. Judgment operates as an ingrained mental habit shaped by survival instincts, cultural conditioning, personal values, and unconscious biases such as attribution errors and the actor-observer bias. Some people judge intending to influence behavior or enforce moral norms. Healthy responses include forgiveness, learning from the situation, adopting a resilient mindset, and choosing to ignore unfair condemnation. Sitting with the discomfort of judgment can deepen empathy and strengthen connections through shared human fallibility. Practicing curiosity and forgiveness reduces the sting of unfair judgments and supports personal growth.

Read at Psychology Today