To start I should define what I mean by judgment.  For the purposes of this discussion 'judgment' is the internal feeling of condemnation and superiority that comes when we make another person or situation 'right' or 'wrong'.  It is a feeling more than an action.  When we judge we look around us and define what things, people or actions are 'good' or 'bad'.  When we think things are 'good' we feel good inside (happy or joyful).  When we see things as 'bad' we feel negative (sad or angry).  

 In this sense when we judge we play God.  We assume we have all the information about a situation and 'know' what is right or wrong.  We put ourselves in a position to judge and become convinced that we have a complete view of reality. 

 But we don't.  We can't know everything, and so placing ourselves in position to judge something presumes a power that we do not have.

 Take, as an example, a dysfunctional family.  We look at the family from the outside and are tempted to say 'this is wrong'.  We lament 'the poor children'.  We respond to the pain we see with judgment, thinking we know what things 'should' be.  Then we find out 20 years later that one of the children, having experienced what she experienced, became the founder of an organization that has saved thousands of other children from abuse.  The situation we judged as 'bad' has created a person who ends up doing tremendous 'good'.  Can we still say we 'know' what is right or wrong?

 I understand that what I have said opens myself to the claim that this is 'moral relativism' that justifies inaction in the face of brutality.  This is inaccurate.  We can still act to do the most loving thing possible in any situation, yet not judge the participants or situation itself.  This is important so I will repeat it:  We can act and still not have a feeling of condemnation inside.  

 We can intercede to stop a crime, but not judge the perpetrator.  We can rescue a child, but judge the situation.  We can help someone see the damage they are doing to themselves, but not judge them for doing what they are doing.  When we let go of judgment we let go of 'should'.  We simply act in the most loving way we know how in all situations, and let the chips fall where they may. 

 To release judgment is to move into a place of unconditional loving...which is the premise of most major religions.  Love ALL, judge NONE.  Leave God or fate to do the judging, because we cannot know all potential outcomes. 

 A truth:  There is pain in the world.  It hurts to see people in pain.  We want to help.  We feel the urge to try to heal what hurts.  This is normal and loving.  We can do what we can to make a situation better.  Keep in mind, however, that feeling angry and judgmental inside does not help.  Condemning someone or something as 'bad' only adds more anger and pain to the world.  Painful situations are not healed by applying more pain!  Only love can make a painful situation better!

 Think about this the next time you are tempted to judge someone or something.  Step away from the desire to play God, and move to a place of compassion.  Then act from a place of kindness and understanding.  If you can do this you will find that your actions are not only more effective, but the feeling you have while taking them will be a lot less stressful.

 “Dr. Sergey Sorin’s Daily Message”  - The Transitional Thoughts for the day by Dr. Sergey Sorin are with collaboration from KC. Hildreth, an Industry Consultant. 

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