"Don't judge a book by its cover."

How many times in your life have you heard these words? Too many to count, I'm guessing. But do they actually carry any weight?

The point of this statement is to encourage people to love other people for who they are, not what they appear to be, but that is much harder than it seems. As humans, our brains are wired for expedition. We instinctually form our opinions about the world based on what we see because sight is our most dominant sense. It is the fastest way for our brains to register the outside world and the relationships they have with that world. So, how could something so subconscious be so detrimental to the way we function in society?

Humans love to live inside comfort zones. Comfort zones are created based on familiarity. If something or someone is unfamiliar, we tend to become judgmental as a defense mechanism. The brain's primary goal is survival, so when we encounter something unfamiliar, our brain sends defensive signals that showcase themselves as judgment. Although this is a chemical process in our brains, it can appear that we are fully in control of our judgment at all times. This can lead to issues.

If someone feels judged, he or she will get defensive. One might feel his or her character is being attacked, while really the one doing the judging is doing it based on sight and without thinking (at most times). As a result, both parties feel offended and take refuge in their comfort zones, leaving the situation unresolved. This pushes people farther into their comfort zones and makes them more afraid of the unfamiliar. Guess what happens next? Yep! They begin to judge others more harshly based on what they see; it is an unrelenting cycle.

How do we break the cycle if it is caused by defensive instincts? One way is by taking the cliche phrase seriously. Stop judging books based on their covers and start reading more; but not simply reading. Immerse yourself in the words on the page. Let the world the author created envelope your senses. This will open your brain to new experiences and possibilities. Because our instinct for judgment comes from deep within our psyche, one way to combat that is to broaden our mental horizons. I realize this is much easier said than done, but once that first step is taken to broaden your mind, you can begin to take steps to broaden your comfort zone in the real world. This will shrink the pool of unfamiliarity and thus shrink the need for judgment.

Next time you pick up a book, maybe think twice about why you are picking it up. Yes, the cover originally draws you in, but that does not necessarily mean its world will be as beautiful as it outwardly appears, and vice versa. Humans are the same way. If you are immediately attracted to or turned off by someone based on his or her outward appearance, pause a moment and think. Think about why you feel this way. Then think about all the beauty you could be missing out on if you are too uncomfortable to scrape beneath the surface.