So, I've been hearing and seeing a lot of girls and even guys saying that they don't want to go in public anymore because they don't want to feel judged or like they're judging anyone. They say they feel this way the most at big events.

I am here to say that it is okay to judge people. It is human nature and a survival instinct, especially in large group situations. This feeling is called hyper-vigilance. You feel anxious and you are more aware of your surroundings. Your logical brain says, "Oh my God! Stop judging these poor people!!"

You're not judging them. It's a natural state of anxiety felt by even the most calm person in the world.

All of this is okay and it doesn't make you a bad person at all. Your instincts took over to protect yourself.

"You don't know what you're talking about! How could you?"

Well, I do know what I am talking about because I have been in self defense classes and martial arts class since I was 10. This is one of the first lessons we learn. There was a story one of my instructors told me when I got old enough.

He was a parole officer and a deputy before that. He had a case where there were two girls out and about and they both had the feeling set in. One girl told her friend to stop being so judgmental and have fun. She didn't listen and kept her guard up the whole night. She ended up saving her friend's life because of this. Because she was being "judgmental," she saw a man follow her friend into the bathroom and got security and the guy got arrested.

Judging people isn't always bad. The list of things I will judge you for is very small but protecting yourself is not on there.

So, judge away as long as it'e in the name of safety.