Judgment. As a writer, or any type of creative person, it’s something  you will face. People won’t “get it,” won’t like it won’t accept it for a variety of reasons. Some people are jealous that you dare to create, while others just really aren’t into artistic endeavors and just won’t appreciate it.

So, what does one do?

Forget them. You don’t have to be rude, or even tell them that you’re not listening, but just let their judgment roll off of you. Don’t absorb it, don’t push it back to them, just let it go.

If you’re a creative person, it’s what you ARE, not something you do. It’s an aspect of your personality. Anybody who has had writer’s block or has been too busy with their day job to paint will tell you that when that happens, a part of them feels very unfulfilled. And it’s not a feeling that will go away. And frankly, it doesn’t matter if you’re any good either. Granted, if you’re not, you may never make a dime from it, but in the end, that’s not what matters.

So when other people judge you, and they will, you just have to let it go.

Now, I’m not talking about constructive criticism. That’s the advice you get that helps you grow. LISTEN to that, and know the difference. If somebody says, “Hey, this sentence didn’t work for me. Try rewriting it, see what you can do with it,” that’s advice. Take it. Learn from it.

Judgment is the person over there telling you that what you’re doing is stupid, wrong, not a viable career option, a waste of time. They’re not helping you grow, they’re putting you down. And you don’t have to take that. Smile and nod, or tell them you don’t agree, but in the end, let it go.

This is one of those first hurdles that we get to jump when we decide to tell people about our creative activities. This is the point where many people decide they don’t want to or can’t deal with that kind of judgment and so they stop creating. Don’t let that happen. Don’t be afraid to express who you really are. Life is too short to be parading around as somebody else.

When have people judged you? How did you deal with it? Have you ever stopped creating for a time because of it?