If you think judgment day is coming soon, you might want to think again. From what I observe, our own human-made version is already here: Most of us are already busy judging each other endlessly, every day. We judge our friends when they show up late. We judge our partners when they forget a special occasion. We judge our children for making stupid choices. We judge the contents of newspapers, the decisions of city councils, the news reported by news reporters, the tidiness of street sweepers, and the volume of the neighbor’s music.

The list gets longer and longer and longer once we add how often we judge ourselves: For being idiots, for being impatient, for breaking our promises, for being overly enthusiastic, for forgetting just about anything, for being unkind or too kind. Need I say more?

Judgment day is every day.

Can you imagine the effect these judgments have on each one of us, all day, every day? How about focusing on a new concept – non-judgment day. Hmmm. Could we do it?  Could we get through the day without judging?

Imagine the level of awareness it would take to recognize all the thoughts that pass through our minds. Imagine the effect that these judgments have on each one of us. Now imagine being free of all this judgment.

My guess is that we’d walk around less worried, less angry, less defensive, less aggressive, and free of the unconscious energetic weight of all those judgments. Is it time we stopped spending so much of our life energy judging each other, and judging ourselves?

Let’s see what that might look like. If we become keenly aware of every judgment we make during a day, how do you think it would impact our lives? Imagine every furrowed brow, every tense neck, all aching backs, every puckered butt and inhaled stomach relaxing because we don’t feel judged. Imagine that! Can’t you already feel the tension leaving your body? What a relief, yes?

If we become willing to pay attention to the judgments, to feel how toxic they are, how they create tension and emotional upset, disrupt relationships and create life-long resentments, then we can free ourselves and choose a new way of being.

And, being is the key. Let yourself be. Let others be. As the Beatles first sang, let’s, “Whisper words of wisdom -- Let it be, let it be.”

Non-judgment days include replacing every judgment that arises with a thought of kindness, a thought of forgiveness, and a thought of compassion. Imagine that.

Instead of ignoring self-judging thoughts like, “Dang, I’m an idiot,” notice it and respond with something like, “I’m replacing that thought with, I love myself unconditionally.”

Judging begets judging. Forgiving and loving beget forgiving and loving. That’s the nature of life. The seeds we plant determine what grows. And, what we plant and grow is what we harvest.

We live in times of great change. And change gets scary sometimes and not many are comfortable living with uncertainty. Yet practicing non-judgment moves us out of unproductive thinking and allows us to focus on new possibilities that nurture, inspire and sustain us and those around us.

Consider letting go of every judgment you have about yourself. Yes, every judgment. Lay them all down, those judgmental swords that have pierced your heart and the hearts of others. Say no to judging thoughts and your heart opens to spaciousness. Non-judgment is a state of being with our innate goodness. Our well being thrives.

This change is no simple, overnight task, and it begins with you and me. It begins by first noticing the judging thoughts, then refocusing – choosing to turn away from the judgments. Instead of pointing out the shortcomings of others, look again, and make a different choice. Instead of judging someone else as impatient and unloving, take the opportunity to remember that you want to be more patient and more loving.

I’m encouraging everyone to consider making the Peninsula a judgment-free zone, a continuous succession of non-judgment days. This could spread as fast as yesterday’s “practice random acts of kindness” bumper stickers. The disposition of each of us would be altered. Headlines would read: Peninsula citizens inspire a planetary trend that alters the course of human evolution. I see it. Do you?

It helps to remember that the distance between our judging minds and our loving hearts is about fourteen inches.