Do you ever wish you could stop giving yourself such a hard time? You might wonder how you can lovingly accept yourself, even (or especially) when you make a mistake. The secret to loving yourself fully is through the development and practice of non-judgmental self-awareness. Self-awareness is similar to a mirror that allows you to see your actions, feelings, and thoughts objectively. This capacity is vital if you are to grow, be willing to take risks, and to love yourself. With this remarkable skill, you will be able to acknowledge your errors, make amends, and get on with your life, allowing you to feel confident and be in a state of inner peace. Let’s explore how our judgments come about and how we can learn to let them go.

As human beings, we attach to the concepts of right and wrong, good and bad, at an early age. When we are young, we need these concepts to keep us safe and protect us from harm. However, these two concepts are also the basis of our judgments, both on ourselves and on others. And, as adults who have learned the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, we no longer need that inner voice that constantly evaluates and judges our behavior.

The first step to release our judgments is to acknowledge that all human beings have them; this makes it easier for us to see our own. The next step is to become aware of our inner voice. Until we do, it will run our life. When we put in the effort to listen for this voice and tell it, “I am a grown up now and I no longer need to listen to you,” we begin our journey on the path to self-acceptance. The more we do this the easier and more natural it becomes. Though non-judgmental self-awareness takes patience and effort, it is worth it! We are much more relaxed and peaceful when we accept our humanness.

Meditation will support you in doing this. The practice of meditation assists you in developing your capacity to know you are not the thoughts in your head, merely the one who is hearing them. A simple method is to listen to the sound of your inhale and the sound of your exhale. Each time you become aware that you are thinking, let that awareness bring you back to the sound of your breath. Start with 5 minutes and increase to 10 minutes after a few weeks.

Another powerful practice that will develop your non-judgmental self-awareness is by choosing to turn a negative thought you have about yourself into a positive thought. For example, a negative belief, such as, “I am not able to create the realty I desire,” can be changed to, “I am creating my ideal life, right now.” This exercise is enjoyable, uplifting, and best practiced at least once a day. The more you practice, the happier, more peaceful, and more aware you will become.

Each step on the peace to inner peace is taken with non-judgmental self-awareness. Enjoy the journey.

I wish you peace, joy, and love,
~Sheila Radha Conrad

Sheila Radha Conrad, M.A. is a Hawaii-based spiritual counselor. Her Life Mastery Skills website, contains a variety of audiobooks and written exercises that will teach you the skills you need to be the master of your life.