Let's be real– we've all been there. You see someone do something that seems totally ridiculous, and your brain immediately goes into judge mode.

"Who does that?"

"What were they thinking?"

It's like we're all contestants on some invisible reality show, handing out scores for every action we witness.

I'll admit it; I used to never miss any chance to snap judgments.

• That guy who cut me off in traffic? Clearly a selfish jerk.
• The coworker who always shows up late? Must be lazy and irresponsible.
• The friend who cancelled plans at the last minute? Obviously doesn't value our friendship.

But here's the thing I've learned (the hard way, might I add): it's ridiculously easy to judge, but it's a whole lot harder to understand.

Take my neighbor, for example. For months, I silently fumed about his messy lawn. "How hard is it to cut the grass and keep them clean?" I'd think, shooting dirty looks at the jungle next door. Then one day, I actually talked to him. Turns out, he'd been struggling with severe depression after losing his job. Suddenly, the overgrown grass seemed a lot less important.

Or consider my former coworker, Anjali. She always seemed distracted at work, often making careless mistakes. I'll admit, I judged her pretty harshly. "If she can't handle the job, why is she even here?" But then I learned that she was dealing with a sick parent at home, juggling hospital visits with work deadlines. My irritation turned to admiration for her strength.

We're all fighting battles that others know nothing about. Behind every action, every decision, there's a story. And most of the time, we're not privy to that story.

It's like we're all icebergs, floating around with just a tiny part of ourselves visible above the surface. We make judgments based on that visible 10%, completely ignoring the 90% that lies beneath.

So why do we judge so quickly? Maybe it's a survival instinct, a way to make sense of the world around us. Maybe it's easier than taking the time to understand. Or maybe, just maybe, it makes us feel a little better about ourselves.

But the thing is–

Every time we judge someone without trying to understand, we miss out on an opportunity. An opportunity to learn, to grow, to connect. We rob ourselves of the chance to see the world through someone else's eyes.

I'm not saying it's easy to stop judging. It's a habit, and like all habits, it's hard to break. But I've found that simply pausing before jumping to conclusions can make a world of difference.

The next time you feel that urge to judge, try asking yourself: "What don't I know about this situation? What might be going on beneath the surface?" It's amazing how a little curiosity can replace judgment with empathy.

And let's not forget – just as we judge others, others judge us.

How many times have you felt misunderstood, your actions misconstrued?

It doesn't feel great, does it?

Maybe now we can all make a pact. To judge a little less and understand a little more. To remember that everyone we meet is fighting a battle we know nothing about. To be kind, always.

Because at the end of the day, we're all just human beings trying to figure out this crazy thing called life. We're all messy, complicated, and beautifully flawed. And we all deserve a little understanding.

So the next time you're tempted to judge, take a breath. Seek to understand instead. You might be surprised at what you discover – about others, and about yourself.

After all, it's easy to judge, but it's the understanding that truly enriches our lives!