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I recently moved from the quiet of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the high paced, traffic intense, N.VA area. I’ve been aware of my judgments since landing. To help ground me during this transition, I’ve taken 3 yoga classes, all different from the style I’m used to. I’ve been aware of my judgments during these yoga classes– they play music here (darn), they have mirrors on the wall (uggh), they have hard wood floors (ouch). The yoga classes have been a good way for me to bring my awareness to my judgments. It’s a safe place to allow my judgments to surface so I can be aware of them and then (hopefully) let them go.
I’ve also been aware of some of my judgments as my partner and I move my things to make a new home. I don’t like my dresser there, my meditation area is too small, the dishes are too high in the cabinet, there are too many nick-nacks in the living room. Other judgments are less conscious and I’m only aware of them once my partner does something that makes it more noticeable.
I could write this blog about change management, and I probably will write more on that topic later. This move is as much about transition and change as any thing else. But today the word for me seems to be about judgments, my judgments, and I’ve been aware of many of them.
How do we embrace change- newness, new opportunities, differences- without the judgments?
I think it starts with awareness. Staying in the moment and saying, ‘I’m aware that……’ and then allowing the thought or judgments to pass through.
Try this exercise. Think of a situation where you weren’t happy or someone did something different than what you expected. Bring to mind the event and your judgments about the person or the situation. Allow these judgments to surface, don’t filter or hide them or push them away. Bring into your awareness the judgments, thoughts, criticisms, opinions about the people, place or things going on.
Now say, ‘I’m aware that (fill in the blank)….. (do this repeatedly for everything that comes to mind for you)
For example, I’m aware that I’m bothered by this. I’m aware that I don’t like when you do that. I’m aware that the music is too loud, that I am frustrated. I’m aware that the directions aren’t clear, that I don’t know what you want. I’m aware that I need more time, that I’m feeling anxious about getting this done.
Now breathe … deeply….. Take slow deep breaths for every judgment that comes up for you. Breathe into the thought, breathe into the evaluation, breathe into the negativity. Adding your breath to the thought or judgment will allow you to let it go.
Imagine putting your thought into a bubble and with the breath you blow the bubble away. It’s that simple, that effortless. Bring your awareness into your judgments and place them into the bubbles. Slowly blow away your judgments one at a time as they emerge. No judgments involved as you do this, just breathe, bubble up, and let go.
Try this for the next week as you become aware of your judgments of things or people or situations that bother you. Allow yourself to be conscious of your judgments. Then breathe into that awareness and allow your judgments to move by easefully.
Namaste.
When the Breath wanders, the mind is unsteady, but when the Breath is still, so is the mind still. Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Pranayama is the yoga practice of breathing mindfully. 
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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.
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Linda is an author, speaker, coach, and consultant. Go to her website www.lindajferguson.com to read more about her work, view video clips of her talks, and find out more about her book “Path for Greatness: Spirituality at Work” available on Amazon.
