Judgement Days

Below is a reprint of an article by Kim Allen of Heart Math. I liked what Kim says about finding something to appreciate.

A college friend of mine used the small peephole in our sorority house front door for her blind dates. She'd look through the small hole to assess whether or not the rest of the evening would be worth her time. On a few occasions, rather than open the door, she'd let the prejudged and unsuspecting young man walk away believing no one was home.

Most of us would rather not be on the receiving end of a judgment because we don't like the way it feels. Yet how often do we see others through self-imposed peepholes? We rarely consider that the act of judging or blaming someone else can have the same ill effects on us as it has on the other: Stress.

While appropriate use of judgment and accountability in the work place is crucial, a team permeated with negative, judgmental attitudes, constant criticism and blame, is a team with limited perspectives and a slim chance for success.

One of the quickest ways to eliminate judgments and blame is sincere appreciation. Like other positive emotional states, appreciation improves human performance, including the way the brain processes information. It allows for cortical facilitation and the ability to see situations, and others, from a broader perspective.

So, next time you find yourself rushing to a judgment, open the door to see the full picture. Find something to appreciate. You'll feel better. More importantly, you'll see what’s there in a completely different light.