I was out walking this morning and found myself making judgments about neighbors who keep their yards maintained versus the neighbors who don’t. That’s not how I wanted to spend my walk. Thankfully, I was able to catch myself fairly quickly and redirect my attention.

 

Without thinking, I can go into judgment mode all too frequently about anyone or anything. I challenged myself with the questions: Who are you to judge anyone? How do you know what they’re dealing with? How do you know where they are in their journey of life? How do you know what has broken their hearts through the years, or maybe what’s breaking their hearts right now?

 

I have no business judging where someone appears to be on their path. I don’t know why they are where they are. Often they don’t either. But even for those of us who study personal development and are constantly seeking to learn and grow, life still happens to each of us and we get taken off course. Most of us are probably not where we want to be, regardless of how intentional we’ve been.

 

Grace is what we all really need. Giving people what they may not deserve. Giving people the benefit of the doubt. Cheering people on instead of condemning them, out loud or silently.

 

Silent condemnation of others is also destructive to ourselves. If we're thinking thoughts of judgment and condemnation, that means we're not thinking thoughts of gratitude and humility.

 

When I was too busy judging yard maintenance on my walk, I was missing everything else I could be appreciating. I was closing myself off to the higher thoughts and spiritual revelations which usually show up on my walks. (In true #FindingTheGift fashion, however, at least a lesson came out of it for me to grow some more and to be able to share it with you.)

 

Our time is always better spent dwelling on the positive—in our own lives and when we decide to look into the lives of others. I will remember to start judging less and start giving grace more, as much for myself as for the other person’s sake. Remember, we can’t judge others and focus on goodness at the same time. Gratitude and humility yield sweeter fruit for everyone at the table.

 

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Cheers to a great week, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share this with a friend. Until next time...

 

To your gifts!

 

 

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