Why Should I Let Go of Judgment?

In mindfulness practice, we are often advised to “let go of our judgment.” We are supposed to practice “nonjudgment,” whatever that means!

A common question that comes up is: “But why is judgment a bad thing?”  It’s a fair question. Judgment is not necessarily a bad thing. Indeed, we rely on our judgment to get us through life. We rely on our judgment to keep us alive!

• Is it safe to walk down that dark alley?
• Is this leftover from last week still safe to eat?
• Can I trust this person?

Yes, there is nothing wrong with judgment. It is a helpful tool. Judgment is a type of thinking, and like all thinking, it can help us or hinder us. The question is: Is your judgment helping you or hindering you in this moment?

When judgment is not helpful, do we have the ability to let it go? Have you ever found yourself spending hours, or even days, wrapped up in being critical of yourself or other people? I certainly have. This kind of judgment can lead to stress, resentment, and depression if we let it fester. Wouldn’t it be helpful if we could let go of that kind of judgment when we wanted to?

When we practice nonjudgmental awareness, we are practicing this specific skill (among others). We practice letting go of judgment, any kind of judgment. Maybe we notice that we don’t like the sound of traffic outside when we are meditating. Maybe we don’t like how distracted we are during meditation. Maybe we don’t like how tired or tense we feel. We can notice those likes and dislike, or judgments, and see if we can gently let them go. And return our attention to the breath, to the present moment.

When we do that, we are practicing nonjudgmental awareness. We are practicing mindfulness.