Stop being so judgy, Judgy Von Holier Than Thou

Curiosity over judgment. It’s one of our core principles here at Performance Reimagined because it’s a HUGE game-changer for athletes.

Some may think there’s power in judgment. It’s something that’s easy for us to lean into as athletes. It’s part of our competitive nature. In order to win, sometimes we feel the need to judge others - especially our opponents. And we’re really good about judging ourselves.

The truth is: there’s far more power in curiosity. 

Curiosity is a skill that’s developed with time and intention. It takes awareness and sometimes restraint to keep from jumping right into judgment (or bring yourself back from that ledge). It takes courage to instead ask questions.

Get really curious about what’s going on. You can ask questions like:

• What role am I playing to contribute to the judgment that I feel?

• What assumptions might I be making about that?

• Am I allowing my competitive drive to override the bigger picture?

It’s really easy to get down in the dumps and make harsh judgements when things aren't going your way. You may not be getting the playing time you want or have the position you want or see the score you want. With curiosity, you can tap into the minds of those around you to help you figure it out.

So ask yourself what can I learn from this situation?

Then ask the people on your team (parents, coaches, teammates) questions that can deepen your understanding and give you clues about how to change it.

And, here’s a pro tip about asking those questions from a place of curiosity instead of judgement… because we all know you can ask a question in a judgmental way - especially in the heat of the moment like:

What were you thinking?

Or

Why did you do that?

Try taking the whys out. For example - what led you to make that decision? What can I improve?

Stay curious!

BTW: If you really want to be brave, ask the person who got your spot if they would be willing to work with you. And if you’re the person who has the spot, be willing to share. In the end, you all win - or lose - together.