Whether we like it or not, admit it or not, and despite our best efforts, we are creatures who have a natural instinct to judge either positively or negatively.
I have never come across anyone who is not judgmental, and I am no exception.
I too, have suffered the consequences of negative judgement and I know perfectly well how being judged feels.
It is always easy to identify faults. However, it takes a lot of effort to see the good in people and in yourself.
When you focus on pointing out faults, you stop concentrating on your personal improvement.
Instead, train your mind to turn judgement into understanding. Negative judgement will stop you from living a healthy lifestyle with positive wellbeing and peace of mind.
No matter how you justify judgement, know that no one will benefit from it. Negative judgement always has its adverse consequences. It contributes to an unhappy world.
In the world of creativity, judgement is deadly.
A creative process, where ideation is separated from idea development and selection, helps prevent this.
What’s the opposite of a judgmental mind? One secret of creative geniuses is that they have learned to master their judgmental mind.
Instead, they cultivate what Zen Buddhism calls an open, curious “beginner’s mind”.
Albert Einstein, when asked why he was the one to discover relativity, said, “My secret is I remained a child. I always asked the simplest questions. I ask them still. All I have tried to do in my life is ask a few questions.”
Think back to when you were a child. You explored the world, which was new to you and full of wonders, with insatiable curiosity.
You learned at a rapid pace. You embraced new ideas, knowledge and people. You asked questions. You loved life with your open, curious beginner’s mind. You were creative, enjoyed wild ideas, and indulged your imagination and fantasy. As a child, you were close to your genius.
If you want to express your full creative potential, you must gain control over your inner critic.
You must suspend your judgmental self and cultivate an open, curious beginner’s mind like Einstein’s, who said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
