Love Don't Judge

“Judging a person does not define who they are … it defines who you are.”

- Unknown

***
Why are we so quick to judge others?  Why do some seem to focus in on the inadequacies, misfortunes, and failures of others?  Is it because judging makes us feel better about ourselves?  Statements like, “I would never do anything like that” or “He/She needs to grow-up” is passing judgment.  Passing judgment derives from a comparison of personal values and standards.  “Since I would never do anything like that,” that makes me better than you.  Since “He/She needs to grow-up” that means I’m much more mature than he/she.

It is human nature to compare ourselves to others.  Comparing ourselves to people we admire or aspire to be like can be a healthy comparison if the comparison serves as a catalyst for self-improvement.  Comparing ourselves to people less fortunate than us can be a healthy comparison if the comparison leads to action designed to help those who are less fortunate.  Passing judgment on another is different than making a comparison of another.   Passing judgment means that we have a strong dislike or disapproval of someone or something they did.  When we pass judgment on others, we put ourselves in a position of superiority over others, which generates a false sense that we are entitled to be their judge.

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Good Lord speaks to us about judging others (Matthew 7: 1-5) First,  we are told if we judge others, we are certain to be judged, and our judgment will be the same manner that we judge others.  Next, we are admonished about judging others when our “own house is not in order.”

There is only one true Judge.  And all of us, someday, we stand before that Judge.  The Judge has warned, “Judge, lest not be judged.”  This same Judge has told us that the second greatest commandment is “To love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).  So, if our Judge has instructed us to love our neighbor and refrain from passing judgment, to that I say, “Love, don't judge - because love doesn’t judge.” 

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
MJD

A Confession!

Any man who can kiss a pretty girl and drive safely is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”

~ Albert Einstein

***

I have a confession to make. I used to think I was really good at multi-tasking. In fact, I was proud to profess that I was pretty competent when it came to doing many things at once. Now, I’m here to say that I’m not very good at it at all. In fact, outside of chewing gum and walking at the same time, I realize that I shouldn’t be very good at doing more than one thing at a time. Instead, my focus should be on being good at the one thing I’m doing at the present time.

Because of our busy, hectic lifestyles, we tend to sacrifice quality for quantity. We tend to work harder, but not smarter. We believe that the more things we can “juggle” at one time, the better off we’ll be. Research has proven the opposite. People who multi-task while performing cognitive tasks experience a measurable drop in IQ (University of London). Medical research has demonstrated an increase in cortisol (the stress hormone) when people multi-task. Constantly switching from one activity to the next is downright stressful and exhausting. Glaring examples of the dangers of multi-tasking is texting/talking on the phone while driving.

Multi-tasking creates a lack of focus. It’s incredibly hard to focus when you have “a lot of balls in the air.” So today, I’m giving up multi-tasking for mindfulness. Mindfulness is deliberate awareness of the present moment. The first place I’m starting is with my “smart devices.” A smart device is the consummate multi-tasking lure. Don’t believe me - take a look at the number of “apps” you have on your phone and/or the number of apps that you have running at any one time. Text messages, e-mail messages, and voice messages instantly appear on-screen and distract you from the present moment. The enticement of Facebook notifications, Instagram photos, and tweets (Twitter) are social media thieves. They easily steal the present moment away from you.

Here’s a social experiment for you. The next time you go out to a restaurant, observe how many people have their smart devices out on the table. A number of them will be “ready, willing, and able” to be distracted from the present moment. In addition, watch how many people are looking at their devices when a conversation is going on at their table. It’s not uncommon to see no conversation going on at a table because the display (information/message/photo) on the smart device is more appealing than the people present.

I’m giving up multi-tasking and working towards mindfulness. Being mindful is living in the moment. It is a deliberate awareness of what is going on in the present. It is focusing on the people and the event taking place in the given moment. It is an understanding and appreciation that the particular moment is unique and it can never be created exactly the same.

So I ask you to join me in practicing mindfulness. Now, I’m not saying that there won’t be situations where you’ll have to run in different directions. That’s just a part of life. What I am saying is to maintain your focus on and enjoy the direction you happen to be running in. So I ask you, would you rather have a mind full (over-taxed) or be mindful?

I’m glad that I made this confession. It feels liberating! If I ever get asked, “Can you multi-task?” I’ll probably just say the only thing I think I can do is chew gum and walk at the same time!

Here’s to being mindful of mindfulness!

It's your life: live it, love it & celebrate it!

MJD

I Just Want to Say Thank You!

“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger”

- Friedrich Nietzsche

30-Second Timeout Talk:

I have been blessed to have had so many wonderful people teach me so many things about life; my parents, my siblings, relatives, friends, mates, acquaintances, and even strangers. Your guidance, counsel, impact, and influence on my life have been profound. To all of you, I say thank you! I’ve also been fortunate to have not very many, “not so wonderful people” teach me a thing or two about life. And, to you, I say thank you too!

You’re might be wondering why would you thank the “not so wonderful people?” The not so wonderful people are those people in your life who intend to create problems for you. Their motives are self-serving. These people delight by intending to destroy your reputation, your career and/or relationships. When you become the victim of the “not so wonderful people” of the world, the experience is emotionally distressing. Knowing that someone is trying to destroy your life can be “gut-wrenching.”

It’s “gut-wrenching until you figure out that the “not so wonderful people,” who are intending to tear you down are actually building you up. You see, the “not so wonderful people” are motivated by envy. You have or possess something they lack. In the process of attempting to tear you down (taking away what you have), they unknowingly teach you valuable lessons about yourself and about life! It’s when you embrace the learning opportunities that you begin the process of “building-up.” Talk about a plan backfiring – someone who wants to destroy you actually makes you a better, stronger person!

So yes, I say thank you! Thank you to everyone who has taught me about myself and about life. You all have had a great influence on my life. A special thank you to the few “not so wonderful,” you unknowingly, have perhaps, taught me some of the greatest lessons I have ever learned!

Here’s to better and stronger!

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!

MJD

The Exam

“Life is the most difficult exam. Some people fail because they try to copy others, not realizing everyone has different questions.  ” –Author Unknown

30-Second Timeout Talk:

                       

Life is one great big exam.  Every day we must answer questions.  Some questions don’t require much thought and we can answer them almost instinctively; while other questions can be very complex and require a great deal of careful consideration.  Just like any other test our answers (words & actions) will determine our results. 

Charles Caleb Colton is credited with saying, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.”  It’s perfectly alright to espouse the redeeming qualities of people we admire.  Who would not want to espouse the way Mother Teresa’s demonstrated love and compassion? How about the leadership qualities and visioning of Dr. Martin Luther King?  What about the qualities of your favorite teacher, favorite coach or favorite boss.  We all need role models and people we admire.  The examples they have set forth should help us in our journey of becoming the person we were designed to be.  There is and will only be one Mother Teresa, one Dr. Martin Luther King, and one you.  So be you! 

Life is a big exam and the questions on the exam are different for each and every one of us.  The Good Lord created your exam specifically for you.  Moreover, he’s created you with a unique set of DNA.  DNA designed to equip you with getting high marks on your exam.  So it does you no good to try and copy (be just like someone else) others.  Their exam is different – with a different set of questions and designed specifically for them.  Always remember, you are unique; unique purposely!  Mike Robbins says it best, "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken

Here are my tests taking tips:

1. Be self-aware.  Know who you are and determine the person that you want to become.
2. Understand what is important to you and why it is important.
3. Don’t be in hurry – you have the rest of your life to complete your exam. 
4. Be willing to change.  You can always change your answers.  Progress comes from change.
5. Live in the moment.  Appreciate the people and the experiences that that are occurring in the present moment. 
6. Love don’t judge.  Since everyone has a different exam and you don’t know their questions, don’t judge them.  Instead, love them!  When you love others, you’ll easily find all the right answers to the questions your exam.  Love always prevails!  Remember, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (wrong answers).” 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV). 

Here’s to achieving 100% on your exam!  

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!

MJD

***

You've Been Robbed!

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.”

- Abraham Maslow

***

You’ve been robbed! However, there is no sense in calling the police. You see, not only are you the victim, but you’re the perpetrator too. You might ask, “How can that be so?” A victim is a person who suffers harm. A perpetrator is a person who carries out a harmful act. Hence, you become both a victim and perpetrator when you allow fear to take hold in your life and rob you of living a happy, exciting, and fulfilled life.

Fear is a powerful and primitive human emotion. It’s actually intended to serve us by alerting us to the presence of real danger. The innate, physiological response to a fearful situation is referred to as the “fight or flight response.” When confronted with a fearful situation the body engages in a readied state to either fight or flee.

When you allow the fear of failure, the fear of commitment, and/or the fear of rejection to “rob” you, you are the person committing the harmful act. When you choose to “flee” (avoid) a fearful situation, you become a victim and remain a victim each time you “flee” the situation. Although “fleeing” from the fear of failure, the fear of commitment, and/or the fear of rejection may seem like the safe thing to do, it’s actually detrimental; detrimental to your personal growth and development. You see, real personal growth and development will take place when you “step outside your comfort zone.” The “comfort zone” is a safe place. It’s everything you’ve known and have experienced. It is predictable! That’s why it is called the “comfort zone.” Uncertainty lurks outside the “comfort zone.” The further you venture from your “comfort zone” the more fear you're likely to encounter. However, in return, when you venture outside your comfort zone, you'll learn things about yourself that you never knew, you’ll experience opportunities that you never knew existed, and you’ll meet all kinds of interesting and diverse people.

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that 85% percent of what we worry about never happens. Moreover, the researchers found that 79% of people handle the 15% that does happen in ways that turn the situation around or teach a very valuable life lesson.

Research has demonstrated that the stress hormone, cortisol, which is released during stressful/fearful situations, can interfere with cognitive functioning (impairs memory and learning), emotional states (increase the risk of depression and mental illness), and physiological processes (lower immune function and bone density, increase weight gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease).

So, if research has demonstrated that the much of what we fear never happens (and what does happens, people generally handle well) and it has demonstrated the damage caused to the body by elevated levels of cortisol, why do we continue being a perpetrator and a victim?

A happy, exciting, and fulfilled life awaits all of us. We just have to create it. It’s time to arrest the perpetrator within you so that you’re no longer a victim to the fear of failure, fear of commitment, or fear of rejection. You can arrest the “perp” within you by stepping outside your comfort zone and facing your fears head-on!

Here's to taking a step forward!

It's your life: live it, love it, and celebrate it!

MJD

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

"Other people are like a mirror which reflects back on us the image that we cast."

- Fulton J. Sheen

***

30-Second Timeout Talk:

When you look at other what do you see?  What are the things that you like or dislike about others?  You see, our view of the people in our world is actually a reflection of the way we view ourselves.

It’s easy to comprehend this notion when we see the positive traits in a person.  When we see the positive traits in others, it’s easy to embrace the concept that the positive traits we observe are a reflection of the traits we see in ourselves.  The concept is much more difficult to embrace when we see negative traits in others.   How could I possibly possess the same traits of people that annoy me? 

Look at it this way – our ego protects us from our true reality.  Nobody really wants to see them self in negative light.  It’s difficult to admit that we might have some work to do.  Hence, our ego projects these undesirable traits onto others.  You’re probably saying, “No way, I’m not like that.”  Oh but you are, you’re just not capable of seeing it because of projection.   Projection inhibits ownership!

  

You "can’t have your cake and eat it too": you can’t see a reflection of yourself in the people you admire and not see the reflection in those who annoy you.   If you want to see more positive reflections, embrace the fact that as humans we are imperfect – this includes you!  We all have work to do and growth should never stop.  No growth will ever occur until we take a good look at our life and take ownership of our shortcomings.  So the next time you have a negative reaction to someone don’t reflect and project;  instead, reflect and accept!

A mirror is an object that reflects an image of an object placed in front of it.  So when we look at others, remember that the reflection we see is intended to give us a glimpse of what our inner-self is really all about. 

Take a good, long, and deep look - Here’s to inner beauty!

It’s your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!

MJD

Everyone Has One

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your inner voice.”

- Steve Jobs

***

30-Second Timeout:

There once was a farmer who took his grandson to town on a donkey.  The grandson rode the donkey while the grandfather walked alongside the donkey.  A man passed by and said, "Look at the selfish boy making his grandfather walk."  The grandfather heard the comment and took the boy off the donkey.   The grandfather began riding the donkey while his grandson walked along side.  Then someone said, "Look at that selfish man making that little boy walk while he sits and rides. Hearing that, the grandfather pulled the little boy up with him and they rode the donkey together. Then somebody said, "How cruel of that man and little boy to place such a heavy load on that donkey."  By the time they got to town the grandfather and the grandson were carrying the donkey. 

The point of the story is that no matter what you do you're not going to please everybody.  People will view things from their own perspective and they're certainly entitled to their own opinion.  Don't live your life trying to please others.  It a lose-lose situation.  You rob yourself of creating your own happiness based upon a strategy this is doomed to fail from the very start!  Take heed of the wisdom of Dr. Seuss, who said, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Remember, everyone has an opinion.  It is neither right nor wrong.  It is simply a characterization of a person or an event based upon one's own values, beliefs, and experiences.  Hence, their opinion is not your reality.  Yes, everyone has the right to their opinion and you have the right to ignore it!

It's your life: live it, love it & celebrate it!

MJD