You're listening to Encounter, a simple daily podcast to help you find this sacred in

the ordinary.

We have 100 meditation episodes on this podcast, but if you want to listen for free to the

entire library of 500, I encourage you to download the Encountering Peace mobile app where

all the meditations are free, as they should be.

I'm an idiot.

I never seem to say the right thing.

I don't fit in.

I don't belong here, and I have deep emotional scars that will never be healed.

Do any of these self-criticisms sound familiar to you?

I have secretly whispered to each of them at some point, maybe even worse.

Have you?

It must be true that self-judgment is one of the major causes of our fears, anxious thoughts

and depression.

And unless you're an egomaniac, you probably are your harshest critic.

But remember that the self-judging voice in your head is far crueler than whatever you

hear from others.

And self-judgment can be even more stinging because you know your wounded spots better

than anyone else.

So are you ever your own worst critic?

Well, this meditation from Matthew chapter 7 is a reflection on coping with self-judgment

and being mindful of how Christ absorbed all of your judgment.

...