BEST of PONDER on THIS for Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D in KITCHEN TABLE WISDOM
“The life in us is diminished by judgment far more frequently than by disease. Our own self-judgment or the judgment of other people can stifle our life force, its spontaneity and natural expression. Unfortunately, judgment is commonplace. It is as rare to find someone who loves us as we are as it is to find someone who loves themselves whole.
Judgment does not only take the form of criticism. Approval is also a form of judgment. When we approve of people, we sit in judgment of them as surely as when we criticize them. Positive judgment hurts less acutely than criticism, but it is judgment all the same and we are harmed by it in far more subtle ways. To seek approval is to have no resting place, no sanctuary.
Like all judgment, approval encourages a constant striving. It makes us uncertain of who we are and of our true value. This is as true of the approval we give ourselves as it is of the approval we offer others. Approval can’t be trusted. It can be withdrawn at any time no matter what our track record has been. It is as nourishing of real growth as cotton candy.”
Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., in “Kitchen Table Wisdom”
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Judgment does not only take the form of criticism. Approval is also a form of judgment. When we approve of people, we sit in judgment of them as surely as when we criticize them. Positive judgment hurts less acutely than criticism, but it is judgment all the same and we are harmed by it in far more subtle ways. To seek approval is to have no resting place, no sanctuary.
Like all judgment, approval encourages a constant striving. It makes us uncertain of who we are and of our true value. This is as true of the approval we give ourselves as it is of the approval we offer others. Approval can’t be trusted. It can be withdrawn at any time no matter what our track record has been. It is as nourishing of real growth as cotton candy.”
Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., in “Kitchen Table Wisdom”
For more information regarding this book, visit Amazon.
A FREE service since its inception, "Ponder on This" benefits subscribers, authors, and publishers by including "links" to Amazon.com and other Web sites where subscribers can learn more about the book being quoted, and also purchase it. In all instances these links are provided as a convenience, and do NOT generate any type of compensation for Pondercentral.
Individuals interested in a direct subscription to "Ponder on This" are requested to please click here or feel free to forward to a friend.
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