A timely gift

“Thinking is difficult that’s why most people judge.” C. Jung

I used to spend a lot of time judging other people. I used to think the world was divided into right and wrong. I thought judging others would help me stay clear on the difference. I used to do it so much, so unconsciously, that I thought judging was my job, and everyone else’s job too.

Over time I’ve learned something different about judgements and about myself. Judging others is what I do when I feel afraid, insecure, and limited. So it still happens to me of course. But judging others is something I do when I am afraid to love, when I can’t accept love because I can’t accept myself. And most important, I’ve learned that judging others is not my job, and it doesn’t need to be your job either.

When I judge others, I judge myself. It’s true. Try it on for size. Take the time to firstly catch yourself doing it, (if you can), and then reflect a while on why you did. It could unlock the door to a world of new knowledge and understanding.

(Important note at this point: try not to judge yourself for judging others when you do start to notice as that would be an unhelpful irony:)

Don’t get me wrong, yes there are issues we need to work on. Many of us have quirks we may live with most or all of our lives. But judging doesn’t help. Judgements limit us. Judgements condemn. They say “my past is not as it should be. I’m wrong, my life is wrong.” Judgements put us in prison, no matter where we are.

Judgements come from the head. Freedom and love come from the heart. Learn to look at yourself in love – who you are, where you are, where you’ve been. Learn to look at others with love too.

Maybe you’ve forgotten what it’s like, but you know when you’ve felt unjudged. It’s so rare it can feel almost magical.

When we accept others with freedom and love, we accept ourselves.

If we transcend our judgements we can be free....it could be the best gift you give this year, to yourself and others.

Andrew

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