Look… judging and criticizing whether you like it or not is part of everyday life. It’s part of the world we live in and it’s not going to disappear any time soon.
It’s part of our human nature to judge and criticize and if you tell me you’ve never criticized or judged someone I don’t believe you.
How many times have you heard someone saying “Don’t you judge and criticize me!” ?
Or maybe you said it to someone.
But what exactly is judging and criticizing?
Is there a difference between them? And more importantly …is it ok to judge and criticize?
Well let’s start with criticism…
Criticism can be positive ( also known as constructive criticism ) or negative.
In constructive criticism you express your opinion ( even if it’s a negative one ) without putting the other person down. You don’t do it with the intention of hurting the other person.
You express criticism in a way that is understandable and beneficial, helpful. You point out the faults but in a way that will help the other improve.
* If the other person has the capacity to receive constructive criticism is another story but for now let’s just pretend it has.
With negative criticism you express, give an opinion, objection, approval or disapproval in a way that will hurt the other person or cause some sort of damage.
It’s focused on the bad side of things, constantly finding fault, constantly putting down, condemning, attacking or insulting someone. Some don’t know what they’re doing but often it’s done with the intention of hurting.
Negative criticism can sometimes be destructive for the other person.
Judging can also be positive or negative
In short…
Judging is forming an opinion good or bad about someone or something based on something or nothing and it’s not always expressed verbally.
Sounds weird?
Let me explain…you can judge a person, a situation, a behavior based on facts, evidence, knowledge, feeling and experience. And you can label that situation, behavior or person being good, bad, beneficial, dangerous, trusty or not, etc. This is a good thing that HELPS you in your everyday life.
And then you have judging as a form of putting others down by making assumptions and expressing opinions based on nothing, on appearances, gossip, lack of knowledge, understanding, with the intention of hurting.
Do you see the difference?
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