“Just like we have windows in our house to see outside the world , in the similar way Mental Window is our brain’s virtual window . Our brain sees the world from its perspective, whether good or bad through its mental window.”
This window is so called judgment. When the window is transparent and clear , then we will be able to see things as they are. When it get dust and particles, we then struggle to see the world as it is. Judgement is really important, because that is how we see the world try to interpret it. problem is that we sometimes misjudge the things and then this misleads the track of reality.
In simple judgement is core process of evaluation and labelling (in general automatic and unconscious). One problem with judgement is -- it is based on dichromatic thinking. In this blog we will delve deep into the details about the judgement to clean the dust from our window.
Someone greatly said that,
"To judge is to distort perception and limit understanding."
Later in this article i want to realize the same.
Judgement is a lens.
Consider that judgement is just similar to to lens. Imagine two people watching the same rainstorm: A farmer will see the rain as a blessing because it helps his crops grow.At the other side traveler sees the rain as a problem because it delays his journey to his office. The rain itself is neutral, but their lenses of seeing things is different.
"A person sees the world not as it is, but as they are conditioned to see it."
The colour of the lens is shaped by beliefs.
If someone believes that marks in exams are really important to get succeed , they might start judging students as following.
if student have good marks, we label that student with good student.
if student have bad marks, than we label that student as bad student. But But But...The student who have bad marks in the exams, might have great technical skills. so judging based on the particular point might stop us from knowing the reality of that student. This influences or shape how we react to the world around us.
Duality
We need to understand that these opposites exist only in relation to each other. Consider one example, We understand happiness because we have experienced sadness. So it is only possible to evaluate how happiness feels because we have feel the sadness as well, but judgment often focuses on just one side of this duality (e.g., labeling something as "bad" without considering its good aspects). This creates an incomplete view of reality. In reality there nothing so called good or bad, it only the mental markers.
For instance go though below exercise and try to feel what i am saying
Exercise: Imagine You Are Alone in the Universe
If you were the only person in the universe, are you a "tall" or "short"? are you a "good" or "bad"? Exactly, These labels only make sense when compared to something else. There is dark because there no light.
This shows that opposites are interdependent—they cannot exist without each other.
How Judgment Limits Reality
Reality is incredibly complex, but judgment simplifies it by putting things into small "boxes." its just like seeing only one side of a coin by ignoring another side. For example: Labeling someone as a "Bad " ignores their true nature.
May be you have many appearing good peoples in life, but are they really good. just because you label them good doesn't mean that they are good, but they actually make us blind from the reality of those good people who seems good people. That is the biggest reason we end up in breakups, we end up choosing wrong carrier path... etc
By focusing on just one aspect of a situation, judgment reduces its richness. This limits how we perceive and interact with the world.
Reflection Exercise: Finding Balance
Think about a painful event in your life. What were its negative consequences? Now consider its positive aspects—what did you learn from it? How did it help you grow? This exercise shows that nothing is purely good or bad; every experience has both sides.
How Judgment Creates Conflicts
Judgments can take us into internal to conflicts within ourselves and even with others.
For example: Judging yourself harshly for making a mistake can lead to feelings of guilt or shame. Judging others as "wrong" can create internal misunderstandings.
Practicing Mindfulness to Handle Judgment
A mindful person approaches judgment with awareness and acceptance. Here are some steps to practice mindfulness:
Notice Your Judgments: Be aware when you are judging something or someone.
Separate Judgment from Reality: Understand that your judgments are not absolute truths; they are shaped by your beliefs and emotions.
Return to the Present Moment: Focus on what is happening right now instead of getting stuck in your judgments. For example, if you catch yourself labeling a situation as "bad," pause and observe your thoughts without reacting emotionally. This helps you see the situation more clearly and respond calmly.
Judgment is a powerful tool that shapes how we see the world, but it can also limit our understanding of reality and create unnecessary conflicts. By recognizing the role of judgment in our lives and practicing mindfulness, we can develop a more balanced perspective that embraces life’s complexity instead of reducing it to extremes like good/bad or beautiful/ugly.