Don’t pre-judge:

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Don’t pre-judge.

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We’re quick to rush to judgments.

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We assume someone is the way WE think they are.

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We’re quick to judge.

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Quick to assume.

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Quick to imagine another person like our mind tells us.

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But, people are complicated.

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People are not who you think they are.

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For good and bad.

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Malcolm Gladwell told the world in ‘Talking to Strangers.’

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The way we see people has nothing to do with how they are.

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Two stories chronicled in that book stick out.

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One is Amanda Knox.

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This woman who was quiet, scared and on her own in an Italian prison was made out to be this devious sexual murderer when she wasn’t at all.

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Meanwhile, Ana Montes, was this good-looking, smart, honest Spanish girl working for the CIA who turned out to be one of the biggest double-agents in US history.

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Things are not always as they seem.

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It’s hard getting dismissed based on one interaction.

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But there’s nothing you can do.

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I reached out to someone recently to see if we could go on a second date.

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Made the case that our first one was solid and we should give it another go to see if we like each other.

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That was shot down immediately.

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She said our communication styles were different.

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This girl assumed who I was based on one interaction.

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She didn’t want to give me a chance to change her mind.

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Goodbye.

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It’s her loss.

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If someone isn’t willing to meet you halfway and give you a chance, turn around immediately.

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You want someone who is not quick to judge.

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Someone who does not assume you are one person when you may be someone completely different.

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You want someone willing to take a chance.

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Who’s willing to be patient and get to know you.

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If someone doesn’t want you, you shouldn’t want them.

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Let them pre-judge.

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Let them think they know you.

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Let them assume that you won’t get along.

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You can’t change their opinion.

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And you don’t have to.

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As long as you brought your authentic self to the interaction, you have nothing to regret.

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Never change who you are to be accepted by someone.

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Always be your authentic self.

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Those who want to be in your life will.

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The others won’t.

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Forget about them.

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They can judge you all they want.

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They don’t know you.

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They don’t understand you.

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They’re not willing to give you a shot.

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So leave them.

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Let them go.

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But also, don’t be like them.

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Be open to change.

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Be open to changing your perception of people.

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Let them show you who they are.

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Not with their words but their actions.

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Don’t be so quick to judge.

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Don’t pre-judge.

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