We’ve all known people we characterize as judgmental.  We know what it is and it doesn’t feel good to be around.  We’ve all walked away from an interaction thinking something less than kind about an individual.  But then, there are times that we don’t think those things and just feel… neutral.  What could be the causation of that difference?

If we’re willing to be honest with ourselves, maybe we could accept that our own harsh judgment could be a sign that something needs to be healed in ourselves.  Judgment can come out of protection from our own blame, shame and guilt or of that put upon us by others.  The act of judging can simply be a knee-jerk reaction to shake off those uncomfortable heavy feelings onto someone else (anyone else.)  Let’s face it, most of us have been in survival mode for a loooonnng time.

So here, I’ve just thrown out some thoughts on steps to help acquire freedom from self judgment and to practice less judgment of others.

1. It’s okay to be honest with ourselves- One of the first things we need to let go of as we evolve into our better future selves, is be honest.  These are little conversations we have in our heads, and it is the perfect time to admit our true feelings because nobody else has to hear.  It may feel strange and forced at first, but soon it will feel natural.  As we hear our own truth, it unlocks our compassion for the painful struggles of our own journey.

2. Remember, these are experiences, and can be looked at in many different ways-  Based on the state of current emotions in any given moment, a situation can be read totally differently.  It’s possible that the right and wrong we’re so stubbornly attached to is actually a neutral experience, and it’s our judgment of it that is causing the problem.  Loosening our grip on seeing something a certain way can and will benefit us now with the gift of freedom, health and better quality of life.  So, try letting it go.

3. Forgive yourself for everything-  The best gift you can give yourself is an understanding that you acted a certain way in the past based on the information and experience you had at the time, and you did the best you could with it.  Believe it or not, others did too.

4. Kick those yucky thoughts and feelings to the curb-  Clear and cleanse.  Get out in nature.  Meditate.  Take a salt water bath.  Envision the Light of God the Creative Source filling your body entirely and kicking out all the shadows and gunk.

5. Just for this one day, try not to judge- and if you struggle or catch yourself doing it, it’s okay.  Keep trying. Try tomorrow.  It isn’t important that you are doing it perfectly, just that you try.  Every moment is a brand new powerful moment and you have the power to choose how you will think, feel, act and react.

Further discussion related to this is Dr. Wayne’s blogpost “Heaven Within.”