The Importance of Judgment

Modern spiritual teaching has made judgment a dirty word. "Don't judge." "Only love." "Accept everyone as they are."

And there's a kernel of truth in there — petty judgment, the kind rooted in insecurity, is worth outgrowing. But somewhere along the way the entire capacity for judgment got thrown out with it.

Discernment is judgment. The willingness to look at a person, a situation, or an idea and say "this belongs in my life" or "this doesn't" is one of the most important skills you will ever develop. That skill is what allows you to move toward your mission without parasites clinging on, to understand who is meant for you and who isn't, to navigate the world with your eyes open instead of performing spiritual blindness.

The people telling you not to judge are usually the ones who benefit most from your inability to do so.