Meeting My Judge

It was the summer of 2015, and I found myself in a serene mountain home on a silent yoga retreat, with a 100-foot natural waterfall just off the back patio. It was pure paradise.

The idea to embark on this journey came to me one morning, as I was resting in a hotel in rural IL after supporting my ex-husband’s family through a grueling battle with a terminal illness (we were still married at the time). Little did I know that this retreat would be the catalyst for a profound inner awakening.

Turning to my phone, I searched for a yoga and meditation retreat That’s when I stumbled upon the perfect retreat and eagerly signed up, even persuading a friend to join me. Little did we know that this was a silent retreat.

From Friday night until Sunday, silence was required of the retreat attendees. No exchange of casual conversations between classes, just an opportunity to immerse ourselves in our own thoughts. It was strangely liberating, but it also unearthed a deep awareness of my critical inner voice – my Judge.

For the first time, I paused and truly listened – allowing myself to hear the hurtful things that the Judge whispered about me, about others, and about the world around me. This pivotal moment opened my eyes to a new understanding, one that held the potential to transform my life. But with this newfound insight came a flood of questions.

    Who Was This?

    At first I was confused.

    I asked myself. “Who was this inner critic? Was I a bad person deserving of such negativity? Did I do something to bring this judgment upon myself?”

    I felt like I was losing my grip on reality, and the uncertainty was overwhelming.

    After the retreat, my friend and I shared a bit about our experience during the silent period. To my relief, she was experiencing a similar encounter with her own Judge. It was a glimmer of reassurance that I wasn’t alone in this journey of self-discovery. Yet, it would take me seven long years before finding a program that could shed light on this phenomenon I had experienced – the powerful force known as the “Judge” – and provide me with the tools to truly understand it.

    We All Have a Judge

    Here’s what I have come to realize: every single person on this planet carries their own inner critic.

    It is the birthplace of self-doubt, where our perception of our own worthiness is called into question. It influences the way we pass judgment on others and how we perceive the circumstances unfolding in our lives.

    This Judge has three distinct facets: judgment of self, judgment of others, and judgment of situations.

    Learning About Mental Fitness Helps Keep your Judge in Check

    Armed with this knowledge, I am ready to share my journey with you. Together, we can navigate the complexities of this critical inner voice and learn to transform its oppressive whispers into empowering affirmations.

    We all deserve to embrace our self-worth, cultivate compassion for others, and approach life’s challenges with a renewed sense of openness. Through self-reflection, support, and valuable resources, I am here to guide you on this transformative path toward self-discovery.

    If you’re ready to embark on this empowering journey, I invite you to join me for a webinar where I explain the concepts of Mental Fitness.

    Judging is one way we self-sabotage.

    Mental Fitness is a practice that allows humans to understand how they self-sabotage, detect when they’re engaging in that behavior, and discern whether they’d like to shift.

    You also learn the tools to shift – in the moment, in real time. It helps with resilience, improves relationships, allows you to show up as your best self, and more.

    Clients who have completed this program report life-changing insights, a toolset that is available and accessible to them for the rest of their lives. This is one investment in yourself you won’t regret. 

    Growth and transformation are always available to you. Developing a Mental Fitness practice will accelerate your results, paving the way for a brighter, more fulfilling future.

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    This blog post is not a substitute for professional therapy or counseling. Desiree is not a professionally trained therapist. If you are in need of assistance from a professionally trained therapist or counselor, please seek help. This is simply a guide of what many people experience during a change or shift in their life.

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