"私たちの仕事は判断することではありません"

The quote gets right to the heart of something many of us struggle with: judgment. It's all too easy to look at someone and immediately form an opinion. We judge their choices, their actions, their appearances—even their thoughts. But what if we shifted our mindset? What if our role wasn't to pass judgment but to understand and, where we can, to help?

Imagine this: you’re at work, and a colleague’s project is running behind schedule. Your first instinct might be to think they’re lazy or disorganized. But what if, instead of judging, you took a step back and tried to understand why? Maybe they’re dealing with a personal crisis or perhaps they took on too much because they wanted to impress the team. By not judging, you open the door to empathy and potentially to offering a helping hand.

This idea isn’t just modern-day advice—it’s deeply rooted in history and philosophy. Think of ancient wisdom like the teachings of Jesus or Buddha. They emphasized compassion over judgment. Jesus, for instance, famously said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone,” highlighting the idea that none of us are perfect enough to judge others.

Let’s bring this into a real-life scenario. Picture a high school classroom. There’s a student, Jake, who’s always acting out. Teachers and students alike have labeled him a troublemaker. But then a new teacher comes in. Instead of judging Jake, she decides to understand him. She finds out that Jake’s home life is chaotic—his parents are going through a rough divorce, and he’s acting out because he doesn’t know how to process his emotions. With this new understanding, the teacher approaches Jake differently, offering support and a listening ear. Slowly but surely, Jake starts to change because someone took the time to understand rather than judge.

How can you apply this in your daily life? Start small. Next time you catch yourself judging someone—pause. Ask yourself what might be going on beneath the surface. Maybe the person who cut you off in traffic is rushing to a hospital. Perhaps your friend who cancelled plans last minute is dealing with something heavy they haven’t shared. By challenging your initial judgments, you develop empathy and strengthen your connections with others.

Let me tell you a story. There was this guy, Mike, who used to be incredibly judgmental. He’d make snap judgments about people all the time. Then one day, he read an article about the struggles of homeless individuals. It hit him hard. He realized he’d been judging people without knowing their stories. Inspired, he started volunteering at a local shelter. He met people who’d lost their jobs, had medical emergencies, or were escaping abusive relationships. Mike’s perspective shifted entirely. He stopped judging and started helping, both at the shelter and in his everyday interactions. His relationships improved, his stress levels dropped, and he felt more connected to his community.

In essence, not judging isn’t just about being nicer—it’s about fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience. It’s about creating a world where we support each other rather than tear each other down. So, next time you find yourself ready to judge, take a breath and think about the whole picture. You might be surprised at what you find.