I am about halfway through my month of no judging. This focus has been more difficult than I thought it would be, but for a different reason than you might think. I actually feel like I am doing very well at not making value judgments about people based on their appearance, beliefs, attitudes, or actions – at least not directly.

One of the biggest questions I have had in regards to not judging others is how to label an idea false based on the logic I am using to understand it, without implying that people who believe that idea are somewhat inferior or deceived. Even in the times I do make this distinction in my mind, I am not so sure the people around me make the same distinction, and so they could feel judged even if I thought I was being neutral.

Another problem I have sometimes is sarcasm. When I satirize someone in my own mind or in the presence of others, I think it is inevitably a negative judgment of them. Yes, it is a joke. But the joke gets its punch from the supposed laughable actions or beliefs of another. A simple question I have asked myself: would I ever want to be the object of satire? No, I would not. So, should I be doing this to others?

So, I have made some clarifications for the rest of this month that will help me make the right judgment calls (pun intended).

• Avoid studying, thinking, and talking about controversial subjects. I am not banning myself from these arenas entirely at this time, but am limiting my exposure to them. If I don’t have a specific “need” to engage in these subjects, I will err on the side of simply not focusing on them for the present.
• Avoid all sarcasm and satire. I am thinking this prohibition will probably continue beyond my month of no judging. I cannot think of any very good reasons to think or speak in this fashion.
• Avoid default judging by always directing thoughts. One of my Scriptural focuses for the past 6 months has been ‘taking captive every thought.’ However, I shielded philosophical appointed times from this focus from the beginning and recently have become less structured with my thoughts in general. For the next two weeks of this monthly challenge, I want to really take ownership of all my thoughts. There will be several streams of thought that I can default to instead of judging: contemplating scripture, giving thanks, thinking about others (just in a neutral way – who are they, what do they like, etc.), thinking to the Father, making melody in my heart, and focusing on breath.
• Avoid judging yourself too much. The hardest thing to conquer in the area of judging is losing the judgmental attitude. Sometimes the judgment I have of others is simply runoff from being overly critical of myself.

I believe these clarifications will help me out a great deal as I discover how to not judge other people. This focus has made me very conscious of what I say and how I say it. I am definitely more conscious of when I am judging or about to judge others.