Week 8
The Concept
"The Wisdom Inside the Judgment"
We can think of ourselves as having two ways of thinking to choose from. The first, to pursue our judgmental or "habitual" thought patterns or the second, to pursue an awareness of feelings and needs (life energy).
Ironically, many of us think of these choices as good and bad - "feelings and needs awareness as good (we "should" be in this awareness) and judgment as bad (we "shouldn't" be in judgment). I say ironically because these thoughts are a form of judgment thinking (i.e. good/bad).
As we have discussed previously, judgments hold inside them a path to discovering needs. So, when we hold our judgments as being "bad", we can inadvertently disconnect ourselves from our needs. In effect, we stop our process before it starts. The two scenarios below illustrate my point and the potential pitfalls and opportunities that await us.
Scenario One
I find myself thinking that a coworker is "inconsiderate". If I think I'm doing something "wrong" by thinking this way, I will likely stop myself at "inconsiderate" (thinking I shouldn't think this way).
As we have practiced before, I now have the opportunity to translate "inconsiderate" into my desire to experience, perhaps, more consideration, or care - and with that, I have a connection to my needs (life energy)...
But wait!
Scenario Two
I find myself thinking that a coworker is "inconsiderate". This time I think, "Good news, my life energy is calling me. Let's explore." So I let my judgments run, knowing that my judgments are not coming from an understanding of my life energy in a connected way. Why? Because I also know that although they are expressing my life energy in a "disconnected" way, I can "translate" that into a more compassionate and connected experience.
So I let it flow - "Yeah, she's inconsiderate and a big liar... and she's a user!"
Now I have three ways I can find out about my life energy. So as we have practiced before, I now have the opportunity to translate. This time I have three times as much to work with, translate and ultimately connect about.
I have "inconsiderate", "liar", and "user". Now I can tap into my desire to experience more consideration and care; and now perhaps trust, self-care, mutuality and more - a deeper, more complete, connection to my life energy.
This process of letting my judgments run (in my mind can be seen as "enjoying the judgment show". I like this phrase because it creates a distinction between two parts of me, my life-connected part and my not-so-life-connected part. I can watch my judgments as preliminary information, not as "the truth". And ultimately, I can have a more complete connection, more understanding and more compassion.
This "two-headed" approach takes some time and practice, although the benefits are profound.
More to come, as The Compassion Course continues...