Today I Will Judge Nothing
Print this out on 8½x11 paper. Put it on your desk, your bathroom mirror, in your kitchen. Every time the impulse to judge arises, stop and say, “Today I will judge nothing that occurs.” Everytime you see someone and think “they should” or “they shouldn’t”, “that’s good” or “that’s bad”, “she’s right” or “she’s wrong”, instead just observe. Don’t comment to yourself or others. Go cold turkey and stop judging totally for a period of time.
Do a Judgment Detox.
A judgment detox means giving up judgment of all things. Judgment of self, others, the world, things that happen or don’t happen. This means giving up positive judgments as well. I suggested a judgment detox to a client and she said, “What will I do with all my extra time?”
How much of your time and energy is taken up judging what is right, wrong, good or bad for everybody and everything? How much of your time today do you spend trying to predict the future? And judging it before it even happens. “That would just be terrible” or “If I do this, then I’ll be miserable.” Or “If I do this it will make me happy”.
You Never Really Know
Who really knows what is ultimately terrible or wonderful, a good thing or a bad thing? In the big picture, you never know. How many times in our life have things happened to us and in that moment we believed it to be truly terrible? Have you ever had a break-up with someone only to find out later that it was truly a good thing? Maybe it freed you to meet your true soul mate. Or maybe you just missed an appointment and thought it was a terrible thing, only to be instead at just the place you needed to be for an opportunity.
The problem is we think we do know. Then we become limited by our perceptions and beliefs. We become bound by what we think we know and may be missing some of the greatest opportunities and lessons of our lives.
Learn to Discern, Not Judge
This is a subtle yet powerful shift. When making choices for our lives, let’s learn to make them from preferences, passions, desires, and our best quesses. Learn to discern what is true and important to you and then make your choices from there. Don’t make your choices from places of judgment…what is right/wrong, good/bad, etc. And certainly don’t make decisions about others based on judgments. Remember, you never really know.
How Then Might Your Life Be Different?
Try going one full day judging nothing that occurs. No more judging what is good or what is bad. See what happens to your energy and your attitude. When you notice that you are shaming, blaming, evaluating someone else, yourself, or events, realize it and say,
“Today I choose to judge nothing that occurs.”
Then wait to see what happens. You may be very surprised. You may find that you will have more peace. You may find that you feel less anxious because you are not having to figure everything out. You may find that you start living life more.
Powerful Question:
How do you think your life might be different
if you stopped judging, even for one day?
9 Responses to “Today I Will Judge Nothing”
will you stop picking on me!! you always seem to hit the nail right on MY head. love the interview in PINK
Thank you dear Kathy. Wonderful way to begin the day. The Dali Lama is in town today and I am told this date 10/11/12 is lucky. I shall practice your message today and listen/wait for the shift. Excellent!
Are you going to see the Dali Lama? Always so sweet to hear from you and to know you’re out there listening! And let’s us know what happens if you do a Judgment Detox for one full day.
My judgement detox today produced a new blog(see website)and I felt so much love I nearly burst! Did not leave the gardens today, yet felt such positive energy from the DL’s presence. I hope to hear from a neighbor who attended his programs. Namaste, D.
I’m new to your site, Kathy, and look forward to meeting you in Highlands this January. I love the judgement detox idea, and am reminded of a saying, “the great way is not difficult for those who have no preferences”. I think it rings even truer to say, “the great way is not difficult for those who have no judgements”. Here’s to Loving What IS.
Welcome….so glad you are here. Didn’t you just love Diane’s post above you? And like you say, it makes life so much easier. It makes me dizzy to think of all the things I judge and then the energy it drains.
I am thrilled. Have you already signed up for the retreat at the Old Edwards Inn in Highlands? Good news is that women are signing up so it is definitely a go! We’re on to start the new year off with renewed clarity and energy. You will love it.
Stay in touch.
Hi, Kathy! This thought of not judging is incredible. I’ve always believed that we are much harder on ourselves and others because we allow our judging mind to lead us. I am going to go through this detox so I can start to see more of the beauty that lies in all of us. Thanks for your mission, as it is helping me beyond belief! Take care!
Hi Kathy – This is such a great reminder! As the daughter of a policeman, I have a big issue with “right and wrong” with myself and others. I continually aim to let go of that judgement and bring my focus back to peace and love, live and let live and just do my best, and acknowledge that others are doing their best as well. Your message helps to reinforce an easier, more positive way of being in the world. Thank you!
Kathy,
I love this concept, but I am struggling a little. For example, if we are invited to dinner and the hostess asks how the soup tastes, are we to simply say “it is soup?” Should the detox include excluding “good cook” or ‘great job” on homework?
I have observed that reducing judgments, even positive ones, frees us and others from the contraints of categories. Very freeing.
Kristi
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