Appreciate vs. Judge

At first glance, the words ‘appreciate’ and ‘judge’ seem fairly far removed from one another. Truth be told, they are strikingly akin. Let’s talk about them in terms of trees. Most things can be tied back to trees. These essential giants are are so deeply rooted into our lives and our existence.

Picture yourself walking through the forest. You go to this particular forest often, and each time you go, you notice something new. Today you revere a row of birch trees. The sun dances between them flooding naked spaces with light. They look like a family. Their sun-framed papery uneven skin compels you to run your fingers across their trunks. You appreciate their unique colors and their craggy exterior. Their individuality calls you to deem them as art. Do you judge the trees for not looking like their neighbors? Do you judge the tree to the left for looking disproportionate or asymmetrical to it’s right counterpart? Do you judge how much taller one birch tree has grown compared to the next?

Or, do you appreciate? Do you appreciate the variations? Does the peculiarity of the tiny crooked birch enhance the magical essence of the scene before your eyes?

Picture yourself walking through a crowded street. You walk this route often, and each time you go, you see different strangers passing you by. You hear different voices and conversations. You see different bodies and faces. A conflux of lives completely concurrent – yet we like to fight this notion. To truly be “right” in our living, we would realize it’s never “them”.. It’s always “us”. We are just as much a forest of trees as we are a string of lives – all connected. Unfortunately though, our cloudy egos often judge others. We judge them for not having as many rings in their trunks as the next. We judge others for their unique colors and craggy exteriors.

How simple it would be to change the word judge to appreciate.

As we work on shifting our view of others from judging, to appreciating – we can also do this same favor for ourselves. It is not selfish to work on one’s self. In fact, it’s one of the most compassionate things you can do for the world as a whole. When we learn to quiet down and watch our minds, we learn to be better human beings. We become more light.

I lived my whole life “hating” my body. Typing this out is painful… because I realize that hating my body is hating the source. Hating my body is hating mother nature. Hating my body is hating the universe. Instead of judging ourselves, we could step back and look at ourselves as unfolding essence.

“Truth waits for eyes unclouded by wanting.” – Plato

When we stop wanting to be this way, or that way…
when we stop judging ourselves for our discrepancies… we will realize that all forms are related to all forms and everything is unfolding naturally.

Desire is the root of all suffering. Judgement leads to desire. Appreciation leads to recognizing oneness and accepting ourselves and others.