Here comes the Judge!
You already know that your Thoughts are what create your experience. You’ve likely already spent some time monitoring your thoughts, at the very least to find out where your attention goes most often.
As the Thought Analysis is completed, you’ll see a type of thought that may come up from time to time.
Judgment.
What is a Judgment?
This is the definition I found at Merriam-Webster.com:
Main Entry: judg·ment
Variant(s): or judge·ment \?j?j-m?nt\
Function: noun
Date: 13th century
1 a : a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion b : an opinion so pronounced
2 a : a formal decision given by a court b (1) : an obligation (as a debt) created by the decree of a court (2) : a certificate evidencing such a decree
3 a capitalized : the final judging of humankind by God b : a divine sentence or decision; specifically : a calamity held to be sent by God
4 a : the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing b : an opinion or estimate so formed
5 a : the capacity for judging : discernment b : the exercise of this capacity
6 : a proposition stating something believed or assertedsynonyms see sense
A Judgment is a strong opinion. This opinion is often based upon our experience. This opinion is then expressed through our Filters.
I’ve talked about Filters many times. Filters are how we choose to look at things, and are generally a learned response. We have learned these responses from the important people in our life, and also from how we have interpreted an experience. For example, when a new child is born into a family, the older child may interpret this experience as “I’m not good enough. My parents had to have a second child.”
I like to say that Judgments are Thoughts with Emotional Baggage.
This form of Judgment is often labelled as a negative thought pattern, and not of service.
I have come to learn that this is not true, at least for me.
Judgments are Sign Posts and Growing Opportunities
Our Judgments can be used as a tool, and therefore can be of service.
When we are expressing a Judgment, it is around something that has triggered us.
All too often, Judgment spills out without another thought. These are just missed opportunities.
When Judgment spills out and is caught, the typical reaction is to judge self as being negative and judgmental.
Rather than heading down that winding road, there is another choice.
Judgments are Growing Opportunities.
When Judgment is used as a Tool rather than a Weapon, a valuable transformation begins.
Powerful Questions
Use Powerful Questions to extract the juicy goodness from the Judgment. Before you do, make sure you put on your Observer’s Hat. This means setting aside your emotions for a moment.
Examples of Powerful Questions could be:
- What am I showing myself?
- Where is this showing up in my own life?
- What other facts are available to me?
Judgments may be coming forward to show us what we may be avoiding or not noticing in our own life.
Judgments may also be inviting us to look more deeply as our opinions may change when we have more information or facts.
Activate Your Observer
Powerful Questions can activate your Observer. This part of you is not ruled by your emotions.
There is another side of Judgment, and it was briefly referred to in the definition above. This is Discernment.
Main Entry: dis·cern·ment
Pronunciation: \di-?s?rn-m?nt, -?z?rn-\
Function: noun
Date: 1586
1 : the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure : skill in discerning
2 : an act of discerningsynonyms discernment, discrimination, perception, penetration, insight, acumen mean a power to see what is not evident to the average mind. discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art) <the discernment to know true friends>. discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent <the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music>. perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling) <a novelist of keen perception into human motives>. penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial <lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles>. insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy <a documentary providing insight into the plight of the homeless>. acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment <a director of reliable box-office acumen>.
When you activate your Observer, you activate Discernment.
When you activate Discernment, you are able to make choices from Truth rather than Emotion.
Simple but Not Easy
Using Judgment as a Tool sounds simple, and it is. Sometimes, though, it’s not easy.
Our emotions, while valuable and important, can sometimes take off like a run-away train. Putting on the brakes is not always easy, but it can be done.
Sometimes activating your Observer can be easier when we bring in another set of eyes. Call on the support of a wise friend or mentor. It does become easier over time when you practice with someone.
Remember. Practice makes permanent.
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Velma Gallant, The Queen of JOY! is an author, speaker, teacher, and healer. As the host of “Welcome Changes Radio, she has interviewed over 100 personal growth and development experts. Between growing up, raising a family, and building her business, she’s come to the conclusion that life is a continuous series of events and transitions. There were times when she felt lost, broken, and confused, until she realized she wasn’t defined by these events and transitions. Velma has stopped defining herself by what she does and the events of her life, and invites you to do the same! JOY comes from within, and has been there all along, waiting to be rediscovered.
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