Judgement-free Thinking
A regular topic for discussion with Coaching clients, is our view/ judgement of the world around us; what it offers us (or doesn't) and whether something is wrong or right, black or white. In the outside world our judgement is quick to take up space in our thinking.
A Coaching partnership is designed to be judgement free, and instead focus on creating space to explore other perspectives, other possibilities, other reasons behind our opinions. Often we can talk ourselves out of taking action before we have done a good amount of exploring … Coaching encourages us to see the bigger picture, focus inwards and quieten the noise of others people expectations and opinions.
Defaulting straight to judgement of a person, situation or of ourselves immediately offers a limited view point. And working towards to a place of accepting things 'as they are' can be a real step change for many of us, and takes a lot of work (also from my own, honest perspective) however it brings a lot of peace in the longer term. When we start from a place of ‘as is’ with no judgement then we can move towards a place of what could be.
We rarely know more than a small amount about those around us, the lives they live, the kind of person they are or the experiences that have shaped them, yet we can be very quick to draw a clear conclusion on who they are from our very limited viewpoint, either positively or negatively.
Often we have made our mind up about something or other before we have experienced it for ourself. We can be easily swayed by the opinions of others.
Sometimes, we make a quick judgement of someone which may feel so true and may even hold some truth, but keeping an open mind and seeking to understand those around us, based on our experience (rather than the opinion of others) is a more compassionate and stronger foundation from which to make decisions.
Living by our own values and beliefs is important, building a life 'that fits' us, is where we are aiming … and allowing others to do the same too.
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