You will be judged if you are in shape, you will be judged if you are out of shape. You will be judged if you drive a Beemer, you will be judged if you drive a Kia. You will be judged if you are young, you will be judged as you get older.

Humans judge. Period.

Being the best that you can be, based upon your definition of success is when you are in the zone, and it’s highly desirable to be and stay in the zone as often as possible.

For example, I speak from experience when I say that often times people who are carrying around unwanted weight are also carrying unhappiness somewhere else in their lives.

After losing 75 pounds about six years ago. I came to understand that fitness, health and vibrancy is not just about calories in and calories out, but also has a great deal to do with how you view yourself; and how you view yourself is paramount to your overall happiness.

Being confident in who you believe yourself to be, and following through with the activities that that type of person would consistently act upon, puts you in alliance with who you are and what brings you satisfaction.

When you say “don’t judge me”, it would indicate that what you are doing is perhaps not socially acceptable but you should be accepted anyway. Or put another way … what you are doing is not good enough or weird, but you should get a pass.

Either way, it doesn’t reflect well on who you are and more importantly whom you believe yourself to be.

Being bold, brave and relentless with anything takes actions outside of the norm; and while you are taking those actions you will be judged (“she never sees her kids, going to school and working takes all her time.” “He always makes time for a workout, even if he misses events from time to time…so self-absorbed.” “They are always talking about their goals and plans for the future, like they think it’s really going to happen…whatever…they don’t know how hard it really is out there.”).

So rather than let the world dictate what’s normal and what’s not…blaze a trail.

The judgment is coming either way and being true to yourself and your definition of success is the only way to rise above… brush off the judgment… while moving forward confidently in the directions of your dreams and goals.

by Kim Peterson, CEO CommonSenseHealth.org