Is Your Court in Session?

Is your courtroom in session? That is, are you acting asnprosecutor, judge, and jury for your fellow humans? Do younevaluate the actions and behaviors of your loved ones,nreminding them even silently that they’re doing things then"wrong" way? I thought my courtroom was closed, but I wasnfooled by my mind.

I thought I had ceased judging behaviors of others as rightnor wrong, but found that I had simply masked the judgments;
I covered them up with self-righteous thinking. Avoidingnjudgment is difficult, a big shift of behavior for many ofnus. I succeeded, for the most part, in avoiding verbalizingnmy judgments, but the internal judging continued, and thatnself-righteous energy transmits to others just as stronglynas words.

So now I’ve renewed my commitment to myself to avoid judgingnothers for what they say, how they say it, and thei
resulting actions. Why? Judging others is hard work. Judgingnothers is not only hard in terms of effort, it adverselynaffects one’s state of being. The next time you findnyourself judging some behavior as right or wrong, stop andntake an inventory of your feelings. I think you’ll findnfeelings of tension, defensiveness, superiority, andnseparation. I think you’ll observe your mind at worknprosecuting the offense and handing out punishments. Focusnon your body. I think you’ll notice taut muscles, grimnfeatures, and aggressive positioning. Is this what you wantnfor yourself? I don’t, yet that’s the result of judging.

When you accept what others say and do, without judgment ornevaluation, you’ll be more peaceful and calm. You’ll be ablento observe what is without conce
or ownership. You’ll nonlonger have to defend your judgment, prosecute you
position, and justify your punishment. Life will be easier.

Now, that doesn’t mea
I can’t work to change what isnshowing up. If it doesn’t serve me, I will work to changenit. But, that is best done without assigning good or bad tonthe situation. By fully accepting what shows up as thenperfect situation for right now I have more power to changenit. Since I have embraced it, it is fully within me, andnthose things I can change. That’s my commitment, knowingnfull well that God will soon send me ample opportunity tonexperience my declared state of being. I’m looking forwardnto it. If you choose to join me, prime yourself to watchnyour thinking. Be aware of the judgments you make thatnsomething is good or bad, right or wrong. Observe your bodynand your feelings--tension and irritation are sure signsnthat your courtroom is in session. Maybe it’s time tonadjourn.