I’m grateful for the noticing without judgment. It took me a long time to get here. via /r/gratitude

When I first heard of "noticing without judgment" as a path to self-healing, I didn't really "get it." I heard the advice to "feel your feelings without judging your feelings," and to just let your thoughts and feelings be what they are. "Just be still and notice what's happening inside your body and head. But don't judge your feelings and thoughts, and don't run away from them."

Intellectually, I tried to understand it. But that was the problem. This isn't something you can do in your head space. It has to be a full-body experience, rooted in the heart and nervous system.

When I began to understand nervous system regulation and started implementing "noticing without judgment," it was really overwhelming. I found it sooooo hard to be fully present with myself and my thoughts and emotions without running away from them and without saying really negative things to myself in my head.

But today, I'm much better at being present with myself and my emotions in a non-judgmental way. I'm not perfect at this by any means. But today, I'm perfectly imperfect for this stage in my healing. It took a long time to get here, but I'm here now.

And I'm grateful.