I try not to judge people.. because when I judge people, I limit my view of them. Instead, I look for the good in people and do my best to lift them up when they are down.

IF you judge people, you don't have time to love them. So said Mother Teresa.

I think the worst aspect of judging others in our life is that when we pass that judgment we are creating limitation. We are limiting or narrowing a person down to our perception of them at a certain point in time.

We are refusing to see them in a wider context... often missing the light that is contained within them which is the same for us too.

We might judge a shop assistant for not smiling at us and being off hand.
But we do not know what is going on in that person's life... may be she had just learned that her mother had been taken ill, or she had just broken up from her boyfriend.
We might judge a taxi driver for being sullen and uncommunicative

But we do not know what is going on in his life... may be he has just learned that his child has cancer.
All through our lives we can make these judgments.  And when we do so we limit ourselves and miss the truth of that individual or the ability to look beyond what might be our first impression. There is an old saying that you cannot judge a book by its cover.
It could not be more true of human beings.

If we have stored up a well of love within our own hearts... and we in this group are finding ways to do this for ourselves.. then we have a well of resourceful love that can be poured out to our "quiet" shop assistant or moody taxi driver. Or it could be a down hearted friend, or withdrawn work mate.

And we can change the day for that down at heel person. Yes, we can put a smile on that person's face rather than go away feeling miserable and blaming that person for making us feel miserable.

Why let someone's mood bring us down? Instead why not lift that person up? Of course, if they still do not respond to our warm smile, our tender touch or kind word then it is nothing to do with us anyway... it is all about them.It just wasn't their day!

May be they will go away thinking about what we have done to make them feel better and when we see them again things might be different.. or not. Again, it is up to them. After all, we cannot control people... just help them live to the best of their potential.

So often our judgments come from ourselves...we do not like what we see in others that mirrors those aspects of ourselves that we don't like. The glum look we see in another brings us discomfort because we do not like it when we put on a glum face.

Instead let's give that person a little love...just what we need to do for ourselves when we feel in need of a little love. If the smiling does not work and the words just do not come then try psychically sending love.. from our mind to theirs without them even consciously knowing it. We feel better... and they receive it too! Let us focus on the spark of good that burns in all of us.

So dear and special friend.. I wish you a super Saturday with all the joy and happiness in the world... Please do open your heart... share what is going on for you.. and know how much I love you for being in this group and in the world at this time.

mick