"When they judge you, yawn. When they misunderstand you, smile. When they underestimate you, laugh. When they condemn you, ignore." — Matshona Dhliwayo

At some point in our lives, most of us will experience the harsh judgment of others. While this is an expected part of life, it can be exquisitely painful. Below are strategies to help you better understand judgment and find relief from the discomfort of judgment so that you can move forward and thrive.

Let’s start by exploring some facts about the psychological tendency to judge:

Now that we understand judgment, let's look at some strategies for mitigating the discomfort that arises when we feel harshly judged:

Consider the source. Ask yourself: Would I take advice from this person on how to live my life? Is this someone with the life I want? If someone who is moving on a vastly different path or with different goals and values is judging you, trust that their opinion doesn’t matter. Save your energy for the feedback of people who are living the life you........

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