Finding Fulfillment Through Non-Judgment
“Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, non-judgmentally, in the present moment.”
– Jon Kabat-Zinn
Practicing Non-Judgment
Have you ever assumed something about someone that ended up not being true?
Maybe you met someone and thought that they were standoffish, only to later become friends and discover they were, in reality, very timid.
Or maybe there was a time that someone was gruff with you and you took it personally, thinking that you had done something wrong. But later you discovered that the person was going through a difficult time and was struck with grief. Their attitude had nothing to do with you at all!
These projections come from our feelings, fears and biases that we cultivate throughout our life, and we throw them on other people, experiences or even objects without knowing we’re doing it. This distorts our reality and can be a self-induced source of stress.
Remember: just because you think it, doesn’t mean it’s true.
Is It True?
Speaker and Author, Byron Katie, developped a process of self-inquiry, called The Work, after going through a lot of personal turmoil. One day, she had a profound realization: when she believed her thoughts were true, she suffered, and when she didn’t, she was happy.
Her Work consists of asking four questions about each belief that causes pain:
- Is it true?
- Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
- How do you react when you believe that thought?
- Who would you be without the thought?
When you go through this process and entertain the notion that you can exist without believing this thought, there’s freedom waiting for you on the other end.
Objective Reality
One of the fundamental principles of sophrology is objective reality or non-judgment. As we begin to live with non-judgment, we actively withdraw our projections or assumptions before they change our perception of the situation.
Through living more objectively and seeing things as they really are, we live life at a deeper level, where we’re not altering our view of things based on our subjective experience.
Accepting people and situations as they are, without any assumptions or projections, also changes how you view your existence.
In sophrology sessions, whatever feelings or sensations you experience is OK. You are encouraged to notice and welcome all your feelings and sensations without any judgment. Through practicing acceptance in this way, you can start to take it out into the world with you.
- Instead of getting upset at somebody cutting you off in traffic, you can simply observe that someone was in a hurry (for who knows what reason?) and remain calm.
- Instead of assuming that someone is mad at you, you can openly reach out and ask if anything is going on.
- When a challenge comes your way, you’re able to put it in perspective and detach yourself from any negative implications.
Finding Fulfillment
How does this lead to fulfillment?
Well, your reality isn’t clouded by all those negative projections, so you’re free to keep an open mind and observe things as they are. This means that you’re not weighed down by the negativity of your projections and assumptions, and you’re free to see the world just as it is.
As you witness your growth in practicing non-judgment, you feel more grounded in your sense and purpose. Your values become apparent, as does your feeling of liberty and freedom in your choices.
You start living in a whole new reality: an objective reality.
Lighter. More grounded. Fulfilled. Happy.
Curious to find out more and experience this for yourself? Download my Mini Sophrology Session down below.
Want a small taste?
Check out the free Mini Sophrology Session Video with Interactive PDF that I created for you.
Click the image or the button down below.
