Internal judgment and its relationship to suffering

One of the most important sources of our suffering is not the original emotion itself, but the judgment we make about it.

When we feel an unpleasant emotion like anger or anxiety, we often add a second layer of emotion: guilt or shame for feeling that way. ''I shouldn't feel angry,'' ''I'm weak for being afraid.''

This internal judgment is what really makes us suffer. The primary emotion (fear, anger) is a simple psychophysiological response. It is energy and information.

Suffering appears when we label it as ''bad'' or ''wrong.''

We begin an internal struggle against ourselves, trying to suppress or eliminate that feeling. This struggle is exhausting and, as we will see, counterproductive.

The philosophy of Mindfulness offers a very valuable perspective on this. It teaches us to practice acceptance without judgment.

It's about observing our emotions as they are, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness, without needing to evaluate or change them.

By doing this, we remove that second layer of suffering. The fear is still unpleasant, but we no longer feel bad for being afraid.

It's simply something we are experiencing in this moment. The key, therefore, is to shift the focus of action.

Instead of wasting energy judging and fighting the emotion, we must direct our energy into acting constructively despite the emotion.

I can feel fear and, at the same time, take a step forward. I can feel sadness and still call a friend for support.

The emotion is not the problem; the problem is what we do with it. And the first step to constructive action is to stop fighting with our inner world.

Summary

Much emotional suffering comes not from the emotion itself, but from the judgment we make about it. Feeling guilt or shame about normal emotions intensifies the discomfort.

Primary emotions like fear or anger are natural responses. By labeling them as bad, we generate an internal struggle that exhausts and blocks our ability to manage emotions.

Mindfulness proposes observing our emotions without judgment, accepting them with kindness. This frees us from additional suffering and allows us to act constructively, even in the midst of discomfort.