Thursday, March 12, 2026

How to become more nonjudgmental

 

AI Overview
To become more nonjudgmental, cultivate awareness of your judgmental thoughts, practice active listening, and focus on understanding others' perspectives rather than immediately judging themConsider how you would feel if judged and try to empathize with others' situations. 
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Recognize and Observe Your Judgments:
  • Be aware of judgmental thoughts:
    Pay attention to your internal dialogue and identify when you are making judgments about others. 
  • Journaling:
    Write down your judgmental thoughts to understand your patterns and triggers. 
  • Mindfulness:
    Practicing mindfulness can help you observe your thoughts and feelings without getting carried away by them. 
2. Develop Empathy and Understanding:
  • Active listening:
    Focus on truly hearing what others are saying without interrupting or formulating your response while they are speaking. 
  • Ask questions:
    Seek to understand the other person's perspective by asking clarifying questions and showing genuine interest. 
  • Put yourself in their shoes:
    Try to imagine yourself in their situation and understand their experiences and feelings. 
  • Assume positive intent:
    When possible, try to assume that others are acting with good intentions. 
3. Challenge Your Judgments:
  • Reflect on your assumptions:
    Question the basis of your judgments and consider whether they are based on facts or personal biases. 
  • Recognize that you don't know the whole story:
    Remember that you don't always have all the information about someone else's life and circumstances. 
  • Challenge your judgmental thoughts:
    When you notice a judgment, reframe it by asking yourself, "Who am I to judge?" or "What am I not understanding?". 
4. Practice Non-Judgment in Conversations:
  • Use "I" statements: Express your feelings and observations using "I" statements rather than making generalizations about others. 
  • Focus on the behavior, not the person: When addressing a behavior, focus on the specific action rather than making personal attacks. 
  • Be open to different perspectives: Accept that others may have different opinions and experiences than you. 
5. Reduce Exposure to Judgmental Environments: 
  • Limit exposure to judgmental people:
    If certain individuals consistently trigger judgmental thoughts, consider reducing your contact with them.
  • Set boundaries:
    Politely but firmly let people know when their judgmental comments are not welcome.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Looking back I miss them, snowstorm memories

 

Wednesday to Monday

Amidst snow storm

Jan 2026

Eventful in a way

Pleasant unpleasant 

Lots of work

But now Tuesday looking back

I miss them

They might have felt same too in the good byes yesterday 

Despite the memorable puke night Sunday by Luca

The planning of Monday that was disrupted by change of plans

All these memories coming back

Bettina harnessing everyone to get first place in Duolingo tournament

Gargantuan effort of Bob to help

Unexpected. A surprise. Love him. . 

Their Playing monopoly endlessly 

The joy in him playing with them

Despite his annoyance with their eating 

Delays in leaving for errands because of these games 

Unpredictable delight in dishes i prepared 

Broccoli salad would you believe 

Mishaps w McDonald take out causing puking. 

Then the highlight 

being asked to be gift bearers Saturday mass

They didn’t even want to attend monopoly addicts

But so proud after esp friends found them adorable or something 

Bonding in the storm. Who knew. Esp between Bob and kids. 

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Be not afraid






 1.  PRAYER

Prayer for Overcoming Fear: "God, because You are with me, I have no reason to fear. Help me to stop worrying. Help me to relax and rest in the promises of Your Word. I know You are with me because the Bible says so. I also know You never will give me more than I can handle. Lord, thank You for giving me the faith to trust You in this situation, and the strength of character I need to get through it in perfect obedience to Your Word. I pray right now for Your wisdom and guidance, Your favor and protection. And in the name of Jesus, I receive Your peace. In Jesus' name, Amen."

2.  MEDITATION


https://youtu.be/y8KSid0WFwY?si=DVSi_b0x8SThLLBi


3.  SONG

https://youtu.be/IJ0jOjqISPU?si=qHfbiCnzg6llPgm5




4.  NARRATIVE

BE NOT AFRAID

What Do We Do with Our Fear?

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Father Richard believes that we must learn to name and to live with our fears instead of merely denying them or projecting them onto others: 

Our age has been called the age of anxiety, and I think that’s probably a good description for this time. We no longer know where our foundations are. When we’re not sure what is certain, when the world and our worldview keep being redefined every few months, we’re going to be anxious. We want to get rid of that anxiety as quickly as we can. I know I do. Yet, to be a good leader of anything today—a good pastor, manager, parent, or teacher—we have to be able to contain and hold patiently a certain degree of anxiety. Probably the higher the level of leadership someone has, the more anxiety they must be capable of holding. Leaders who cannot hold anxiety will never lead us anyplace new.  

That’s probably why the Bible says “Do not be afraid” almost 150 times! If we cannot calmly hold a certain degree of anxiety, we will always look for somewhere to expel it. Expelling what we can’t embrace gives us an identity, but it’s a negative identity. It’s not life energy, it’s death energy. Formulating what we are against gives us a very quick and clear sense of ourselves. Thus, most people fall for it. People more easily define themselves by what they are against, by whom they hate, by who else is wrong, instead of by what they believe in and whom they love.  

I hope you recognize from this common pattern how different the alternative is. We might catch anew the radical and scary nature of faith, because faith only builds on that totally positive place within, however small. It needs an interior “Yes” to begin, just as the “Yes” of Mary began the entire process of salvation. God needs just a mustard-seed-sized place that is in love—not fear—that is open to grace, that is thrilled, that has found something wonderful.  

CAC teacher James Finley shares how Jesus is a model of how to say Yes in the midst of our deepest fear:  

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweat blood because he was afraid [Luke 22:44]. It is possible that he was infinitely more afraid than we could ever be. But the difference is: Jesus was not afraid of being afraid, because he knew it was just fear. . . . We are afraid of fear because we believe that it has the power to name who we are, and it fills us with shame. . . .  

Jesus invites us to discover that our fear is woven into God’s own life, whose life is mysteriously woven into all the scary things that can and do happen to us as human beings together on this earth. This is liberation from fear in the midst of a fearful situation.  

References: 
[1] Adapted from James Finley, Thomas Merton’s Path to the Palace of Nowhere (Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2002), CD.

Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Wisdom Pattern: Order, Disorder, Reorder (Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2001, 2020), 32–33. 

Explore Further. . .






Richard Rohr finds hope amidst terror by anchoring oneself in contemplative, loving awareness rather than reactionary fear. He teaches that divine love acts as a "womb" of safety, even while experiencing suffering, urging a shift toward radical, non-dualistic trust in God's presence
. Key insights include:
  • Radical Resilience: Shifting from a "fight or flight" mode to a "prophetic" stance, which critiques destructive, fear-driven systems with love.
  • Woundedness & Resurrection: Embracing the idea that one can be both wounded and resurrected simultaneously, mirroring Christ, rather than needing to be perfect or unhurt.
  • Contemplation in Action: Using contemplation to "safeguard" a inner space of peace, enabling action that radiates light and love rather than bitterness.
  • Transcending Fear: Recognizing that while fear is a natural response to terror, it can lead to dangerous, "tunnel-visioned", and self-centered behavior.
Rohr encourages seeing the physical world as both a hiding place and a revelation of God, which helps maintain a sense of safety and meaning.
5.  MEDITATION






6. SHARING
Quuestions:  written by Maggie Miklancie.  

1. Can you share an example of a time when you were afraid? How was it resolved?
2. Talk about your "womb of safety?"
3. Can you site an example of how someone gave you strength and courage?
What was that like for you?

link to surrender novena  (thanks linda b)


7.  PRAYER AND INTENTIONS

happy birthday

https://youtu.be/_z-1fTlSDF0?si=nSR23PJQWKNwG-J2

Dear Lord, I come before you this morning with an open heart and mind, ready to receive your love and grace. I confess that I often allow fear to consume me, worrying about the future and the unknown. But I know that you are with me, guiding me every step of the way.

Lord, I ask that you cast out all fear from my heart, mind, and soul. Help me to trust in your perfect love, knowing that you have a plan for my life. I surrender my fears to you and ask that you replace them with faith and hope.

As I go about my day, I ask that you be my guide and my protector. Give me the courage to face any challenges that come my way, knowing that you are with me. Help me to remember that I am never alone, and that your love surrounds me at all times.

Lord, I also pray for those who are facing difficult situations today. I ask that you give them strength and courage to overcome their fears and trust in your perfect love. May they feel your presence and know that you are with them, even in the darkest of times.

Thank you for your unconditional love and grace, which sustains me each day. Help me share that love with others and be a light in the world, casting out fear and bringing hope and peace.

I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who is perfect love.

Amen.


8.  SONG