You Can Be Happier if You Aren't Doing a Dung Jig
Check out this anagram.
I love anagrams. You know, you take a word, rearrange the letters and come up with something else. I’ve been thinking about the word JUDGING this past week. If you practice kindness, then you try hard not to judge people. It’s a great concept, just really hard to do. I judge. I admit it. I try not to, but it sneaks up on me.
Do you judge people? Ok, you don’t have to write in the comments, “I judge people”, unless you want to. I admitted it, but then, that’s me.
You know, research shows that you’ll be happier if you don’t judge others. Really. So let’s explore how to stop judging, so you can be happier.
But first, my anagram for judging. It’s Dung Jig. Sounds gross. Yes? So is judging. I picture someone who is judging others and I just see them dancing around in ‘stuff’ (I try not to swear, so you can fill in the blanks). They are doing a Dung Jig.
According to Wayne Dyer,
Whenever you have a thought that excludes or judges anyone else, you aren't defining them. You're defining yourself as someone who needs to judge others.
Why Do We Judge Others
We make ourselves feel superior to the person we are judging - instead of tearing someone else down, we are better off figuring out how to elevate ourselves
Sometimes the bad qualities we attribute to others are the very same bad qualities that we see in ourselves
We want to feel part of a group. If the groups judges others, then we may, sadly, judge others too.
We often judge others because we are afraid that others are judging us. This is a symptom of our own insecurities.
How Do We Stop Judging Others Using Kindness
The minute you start to judge someone, instead, take the time to get to know them by asking questions and listening. Your perspective may change.
As soon as you feel yourself judging, stop and do something kind for the person.
When you start to feel yourself judging, turn your focus to yourself and your own insecurities and how you can resolve them by being kind to yourself.
If you are part of a group that regularly judges others, you might want to find another group. All of that negative judging will make you negative, too.
What Are the Benefits When You Stop Judging Others
When you stop judging others you can focus your energy on your own life and being the best you can be.
Your relationships will improve when people know that you are not judging them.
People will respect your decision not to judge others.
You open up opportunities to get to know people for who they really are, not who you judged them to be.
You will be happier because you are focusing on kind thoughts, not judgmental ones.
Imagine your day, free of judgment. When you start to feel like doing the Dung Jig, just stop.
Instead, choose to think of something kind about that person and do an act of kindness for them. A few kind words. A smile. An appreciative note. It can make all the difference….for them….and for you.
May your life be filled with Kindness 💜
Heather Johnston Brebaugh
Read my bio, background and quirks.
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See you next week!
Ah, Heather, how many dung jigs have I danced in my life? And how many times a day do I continue to do the dance? At least I am aware of it and try to catch myself! Progress is slow. But I have learned one thing. A certain friend I have LOVES to gossip and judge and when she begins, I remind myself it takes TWO to play the gossip game. If she says, "He is such an insufferable egotist!" and I reply with, "Yes, maybe, but you know he is so good to his family," then the judging has no where to go. Do you find that, too? I always try to reply with something positive. She may not want to be my friend any more if I don't follow the gossip rules. Or maybe she will learn something. Thank for this fine reminder - so helpful, as always. Sharron
How clever and fitting that an anagram for judging is "Dung Jig." What a great lesson in what you look like when you judge others. It reminded me of the life lesson in a 1928 silent film called "Street Angel". One of the title cards reads:
"Everywhere… in every town, in every street… we pass, unknowing, human souls made great by love and adversity." So don't look down on others. The people you are judging may be a lot nicer than you think.
https://moviewise.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/street-angel/