Having a non-judgmental perspective means recognizing and understanding our own values and standards so that we can suspend judgment and critical reactions and minimize their influence on the way we were respond to other people. In order to be authentic you must remain true to your values and standards. You cannot become a human chameleon. When you take a non-judgmental perspective, that stance is perceived by others. No communication can convey a non-judgmental perspective if it does not genuinely live within you. You may not like all people, but it is wise to make every effort to be free from prejudices which will lead you into being judgmental. You may find this aspect of your evolution to be quite challenging but remember you are a work in progress. And non-judgmental perspective means holding within the core of your being a respect for other people’s opinions and Lifestyles.
Very often we are judgemental over value issues. A non judgemental perspective does not mean being valueless or without standards. It does mean trying not to mold others to fit into our value systems. Our values may be right for us, however, they may be totally wrong for other people.
Developing a Non-Judgmental Perspective
You can begin to develop a non-judgmental perspective by:
- Recognizing and carefully scrutinizing your values and standards; you may decide to get rid of some of them
- Trying to see the world from the other person’s shows; they have had different life experiences than you
- Trying not to jump to conclusions; first impressions are often misleading
- Trying not to compare people; each person has a unique experience that leads to who they are at the moment
Values
Look over the list of values below and pick five Aspirational Values and five Functional Values that feel right to you:
Now list just your aspirational values in order of priority. It is important that you prioritize these values so that you will have more clarity about what is most important to you. It is okay to change the order at a later date. (See printout)
Do your prioritized aspirational values embrace a non-judgmental perspective? If so, how? (See printout)
A non-judgmental perspective involves:
- Be open and accepting
- Concentrate on what the other’s experience might mean for them
- Be interested in the other person, not just in the task or problem at hand
- Demonstrating genuine respect for the other as a person of worth
- Trying to understand what it means to be this particular person
- Trying to get into the other’s inner world; their frame of reference
- Not rushing to solve problems or fix situations
- Being aware of your own values
- Listening, then responding to the other’s expressed and implied feelings