"Every judgement is the tragic expression of an unmet need."
(Marshall Rosenberg, founder of the Nonviolent Communication movement)
This teaching comes to mind as I hear the many judgements we in progressive circles are mercilessly expressing about one another and about ourselves. We’re judging whose anti-racism is too bookish, or too late, or just too white. We’re judging how people are expressing their caring. We’re judging who is justified in their anger, or their exhaustion, or who has earned sufficient creds to be listened to. What are the needs being tragically expressed by all these judgements? Here are just a few possibilities: safety, consideration, appreciation, integrity, respect, belonging. Empathically tapping into the unmet needs beneath our judgements can provide a path to deeper connection with ourselves and with one another.