Nonjudgmental Awareness: Difference between revisions

Sometimes judgments are formed to escape what we are really feeling, because we really are uncomfortable with the thoughts we are having when triggered by others. Sometimes judgmental people are refusing to take responsibility for their own feelings, especially when they find it difficult to find acceptance in emotionally charged topics. Stopping judgmental thoughts comes through the compassionate practice of greater acceptance, which means to accept what you are really feeling inside by acknowledging exactly what it is that you are feeling, and refraining from defining yourself by those feelings. We can locate emotions that we experience inside our body, and this recognition allows us to choose to surround difficult feelings with compassion and loving kindness.   

First, become aware of when you are engaged in an inner or outer dialogue of judgment and criticism. Source where these thoughts are coming from, are they coming from the environment or are they your deep rooted fears and insecurities? One of the most important life skills is to pay attention to what you are noticing when you are being exposed to something, or even just what you are thinking when you are alone. If you notice negative or judgmental thoughts, you can reframe that thought into something more positive by simply making the choice in that moment to do so. Choosing to be compassionate and kind to yourself and others, shifts the negativity that was formed by the judgments and criticism immediately.  Surround yourself with compassion and positive people that are kind and caring towards others. Take note of extremely judgmental people around you that are always criticizing or judging others, and don't let their negativity rub off on your behaviors. Harshly critical people can spread negative energy in a room like a virus, so shielding yourself to deflect negativity, while committing to be a compassionate and kind person anyway, neutralizes the results of excess negativity. Nonjudgmental awareness through the practice of compassion is the key to breaking the pattern of being overly judgmental and critical.  

For a few suggestions for daily practice exercises to refocus judgmental thoughts, see [[5 Steps to Refocusing Negative Thoughts]].

==Discernment==

[[File:NineStepsMasterRel.png|thumb|Nine Steps to Mastery]]