Is there someone in your life who you think doesn’t see you for who you are or accept you just as you are? How do you feel when you spend time with this person?
When you are relating to people who judge you or don’t get you, you might hold back from being your authentic self. This a natural self-protection measure. Let’s be honest: it can be a real challenge to be yourself when you don’t feel accepted.
But have you ever thought of being grateful to this person?
That’s right, grateful!
Relationships where you feel judged or not fully accepted can be very illuminating. The degree to which you give your power over or hold back aspects of yourself with others is a perfect mirror for your own insecurity.
Think about a relationship in your life where you feel judged and it really upsets you.
- What specifically do you feel this person believes about you?
- What connections do you see between this belief and other areas of your life?
- What is your biggest fear about this belief?
Feeling upset in a relationship can call your attention to an opportunity to heal an inner conflict. It is often easier to blame feelings of being judged on others but without an inner conflict, there wouldn’t be such a powerful trigger!
The real healing happens within yourself. When you fully embrace who you are and accept yourself, you find you care less about the acceptance of others. Of course as humans who love relating with others, we enjoy being appreciated and cared for just as we are! And the more you accept yourself, the more of these supportive relationships you will attract into your life.
So the next time you find yourself reacting strongly to the perceived judgment of someone else, dig a little deeper. You might discover a self-limiting belief, a hidden inner conflict or even an aspect of yourself waiting to be embraced.
You might even discover gratitude for another opportunity to heal on your journey to wholeness!
