Self judging: People often spend a lot of time labeling behavior as either good or bad. When you apply negative words to yourself or others, it makes it difficult to like what you see in the mirror or in front of you. Instead of evaluating others in a morally judgmental way, start to view yourself and others in a productive vs. non productive way. If something is non productive you can focus on the lesson learned from it and how to correct the misunderstanding that you perception initiated.

High standards: Having standards that are impossibly high for others to meet can be reason for not accepting others. Most of us are more demanding on ourselves than other people, but when our expectations get put on to our social lives it can have devastating effects on our ability to let people be who they are. We all make mistakes and accepting those imperfections means recognizing the limitations in being human. This helps us learn to value ourselves and others. Take time to appreciate the differences in each person you come across. Our differences are what make the world as interesting as it is.

Being over general: When you make a blanket statement about a group of people who believe in something that you may not agree with, you're over generalizing and not accepting based on one common idea. This way of thinking has caused many grievous moments in human history, from religious persecution to cultural and race differences. Take a moment to treat everyone as an individual, and make up your mind based on what each person has to bring to the table rather than as a group.

Comparing: Judging others or yourself against what someone else has accomplished is a sure way to lower acceptance. Whether you judge against top performing individuals or expect someone to be "normal", you're putting a label and a generalization on that individual that hampers your ability to see their true self. You're probably missing some other amazing qualities in that person that are more worthy of your judgement like honesty, loyalty, and friendliness. Value each person for their ability to be the best person they can be, rather than the best you they can be.

Passively letting life happen: Part of accepting others is learning to accept and like yourself. Engaging in activities that help you feel good about who you are and what you have to offer to the world can make you a more accepting person overall. We tend to be more flexible with others when we feel good about our lives and what we are giving back. Look for activities and relationships that give you more enjoyment, let you try new things or push you to be better.

It's easy to suggest new ways to become more accepting, but the reality is, it takes patience and active thoughts to break the habits we may have learned as children, have seen in the media, or have come to believe through our own experiences and knowledge about certain groups or people. Take a moment to ask yourself what others may see in you before you judge them too quickly.