Tolerant & Nonjudgmental vs. Intolerant & Judgmental

"Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I  have walked in his moccasins,"  Sioux Indian Prayer.  It is hard to be a loving tolerant, nonjudgmental person when we all have our opinions and beliefs about the way think things should be.  However, we become tolerant if we recognize and show respect for the rights, opinions, and practices of others even if we don't agree.  To tolerate is simply accepting people who are unlike us and/or putting up with things that we don't like.   Tolerance is being patient, even tempered, forgiving, loving, open minded, and kind.  Nonjudgmental is more a refraining from evaluation or assessing a person based on personal opinions or standards, and it is also kind and forgiving.  It's opposite, judgmental, is stronger than tolerance's opposite, intolerance.  Judgmental is a negative word to describe someone who often rushes to judge in a  harsh, critical, and controlling way.  On the positive, healthy side, both tolerant and nonjudgmental are a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior.  We cannot presume to know what anyone else should think, feel, or do.  Richard Carlson, Ph.D., who is the author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff,,,and it is all small stuff, writes ".... when someone is acting a way that we don't like, the best strategy for dealing with that person is to distance ourselves from the behavior, to 'look beyond it,' so that we can see the innocence in where the behavior is coming from.  Very often, this slight shift in our thinking immediately puts us into a state of compassion."  After all we do not know what that person has been through, or the news he may have received.  We need to be more tolerant and nonjudgmental of others and extend the respect and courtesy to them that we want for ourselves.  If we can remain tolerant and nonjudgmental we will be less annoyed, frustrated, and more peaceful.  Then, from a compassionate peaceful place, we can love others.  There was a song written in 1967 by Bert Bacharach and Hal David called "The Look of Love."  What if we all looked at our families, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and even our animals and the environment and see it all through the eyes of love rather than imperfection? "....time will change and even reverse many of  your present opinions.  Refrain, therefore, awhile, from setting yourself up as a judge of the highest matters."  Classic Greek philosopher, Plato (428-427BC to 348-347BC).