Reflections of a Reluctant Judge

I am who I am. I am pretty confident in who I am because I can accept my limitations. I also can fully embrace all the gifts God has put inside me. I am a subtotal of the light and darkness that sums up the totality of my experiences. I learned, perhaps accidentally or divinely, depending on perspective, a long time ago about the personal strength that rests within the confines of a reflective heart. How does one become authentically reflective? It means no matter how deep the offense and how heavy the slap of injustice might land, absolute freedom lives within the introspective journey of self-reflection, sometimes called self-awareness, and other times, self-realization.

 

Self-reflection might be considered the road less traveled. Still, I’ve realized a halting truth: When I’ve avoided the mirror of introspection, I’ve easily slipped into the role of a moral arbiter.

 

What does that look like? It is, in essence, a projection of our insecurities onto others. By deflecting attention away from our own shortcomings, it grants permission for our focus to amplify the perceived faults of those around us, providing us with a fake sense of solace.

 

See, my and your moral superiority is only an illusion. I had to get real with myself. I had to learn how to sit with myself, with my feelings, emotions, and experiences. I taught myself how to cast judgment in spaces where I truly possessed the power to change darkness to light.

 

My 4-year-old grandbaby, Alessia Jeanne, can turn any flat surface into her personal catwalk, especially since Mommy and Daddy brought her those new silver rhinestone boots for Christmas. There’s something about a woman in a new pair of heels. Can’t tell us nothing. Each step becomes a statement and a declaration of our presence in the world, Honey, and every twirl becomes a moment of self-expression and self-acceptance.

 

Your catwalk represents your life. Your strut imbues confidence. As you navigate the different seasons of life, find the poise and the purpose in it. Even in the valley, a dose of self-reflection will help you to overcome your insecurities.

 

I said all that to say this: When you find yourself in that peculiar paradox of evading the proverbial mirror of self-reflection while simultaneously casting judgment upon others–critiquing their choices, scrutinizing their actions, and you notice you’ve become a morality police, remember the answers to what’s ailing you are on your catwalk not anybody else’s.

 

Our life, our catwalk, demands balance, grace, and resilience. As we navigate the ups and downs of our journeys, remember that we are the stars on our runways, boldly embracing the spotlight.

 

Get a pen and some paper– or open your phone’s note app and join me as I explore the intricate interplay between self-awareness and personal growth.