The Pond – Judgment – There’s No Escape

Who’s Judging You? We all feel judged. And we warriors, trying to make something of our lives, have a plan. We judge ourselves by how close we hew to our design. Others judge us by “light” and “dark” – are we warriors for good or evil. Because it’s no good pretending those categories don’t exist. Upgrade your judges.

Are We Our Own Worst Enemies? Or Judges?
We know other people are looking. We know we are being assessed, ranked, possibly dismissed. We defensively assess, dismiss and gossip about each other. But it’s so hard to know what’s really going on when we are right in the middle of it.

DREAMS – Do you dream of contests? Trophies? Or handcuffs and hangovers?

Cultivate Discernment – We are familiar with the experience of disliking some experience until a friend teaches us “how” to like it. We treasure the interesting adventure of seeing the world through another’s eyes , feeling with their hands, tasting with their tongue and remembering through their memory. An out of body experience for sure, as well as a bonding exercise. But what about when we start asking ourselves about “end results”? Is developing a taste for absinthe or designer drugs “good” for us? How does it benefit our bottom line to cultivate an enjoyment of “ghost cars”?

Challenge – There is a saying that youth produces Bad Experiences and Bad Experiences develop Good Judgment. Which then produces Wisdom! But you ought to be able to see some of these Bad Experiences coming at you, because in our competitive capitalistic society these can be extinction events. How many decades of your life can you devote to unethical corporations, scammy multi-level marketing schemes, bad marriages and “secret” investments? Our time, our youth, our energy and our assets are limited. Know and respect your limits.

Danger – Regret is a potent force. Sometimes it is possible to be too cautious. But can you just “dip a toe?” The principle of “dollar cost averaging” suggests that you keep “paying yourself back” for investments that seem to increase rapidly, so if that if they suddenly plunge, you will never have actually lost money. This requires that we not get swept up in the experience and infect our mind with inebriating substances. Ask yourself honestly, is that possible for me? Or do I need a sober coach to remind me: “Do NOT go there.” And we can return the favor!

Opportunity – Now’s the time for you to develop yourself outside “the group.” How often do you do things because “the group” is doing them? Warriors can’t submit to group identity, or their power becomes a weapon wielded by Somebody. We wield ourselves. How smart is your group? Who controls it? How close to the cliff ARE you? Think about the nature of leadership. Of models. Once you start evincing discernment you will be challenged but respected. As you lose your taste for the group, you find a new group that respects your autonomy. Evolve.

#Haiku: Dear Jane Austen

Formalizing play
Of mind on nature’s
Riot;
Assess:
Emote:
Judge.