🌿 Springtime, Judgement & Gallbladder Energy

“If you catch yourself judging, celebrate it.”
~ The Z’s – Lee Harris

Awareness is the First Step

At least you are aware of it…
We all carry wounds from being judged. This tells us that on some level, we know how painful judgment can be, yet, we can still find ourselves judging others. That energy of judgment is a frequency of disempowerment. It’s like hitting someone over the head with your unprocessed emotions. When we’re not in control of what we feel, it often manifests in anxiety, frustration, anger, sadness, and even physical symptoms.

Tense shoulders, clenched jaws, grinding teeth, head and muscle pain, and even a bitter taste in the mouth are signs that the energy of judgment is stirring within us. Interestingly, the gallbladder—energetically linked to judgment and decision-making can create that same bitterness when inflamed or stressed.

Ever call someone a “pain in the neck” and then suddenly feel one? Our words and energy have power. They point us to what we’re resisting.

What's Beneath the Judgement?

Sometimes, it’s jealousy disguised as righteousness. It’s an aching feeling that life has been unfair to us. Envy often means we are witnessing someone living what, or having something, our heart desires. While painful, this emotion offers clarity. It points us to our hidden longings.

But what if those desires feel impossible right now? Then we must learn to accept. To let go. To soften.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
~ The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr ~

Soothing the Storm Within

Try this simple nervous system reset:

Cluster your fingers at your throat with one hand.
Place the other hand behind your knees.
Breathe in through your nose and exhale with a soft “shush” sound.

Or gently hold your temples and breathe. Let the steam cool. Let the mind settle.

Relinquishing the Role of Overlord

We must be careful not to act as overlords in our relationships - whether as a parent, partner, friend, or caregiver. Every connection involves two people. No matter how close we are, we can’t control another’s journey, emotions, or actions.

We only see a small part of them - maybe 30%, compared to someone else’s 5%. But even then, it’s not the whole picture. Each person’s reality is shaped by their unique experiences, which we may never fully understand.

Rethinking Love and Control

Our pasts and conditioning teach us what we think love is. But sometimes, it’s not love, it’s control in disguise. Real love is not about caging others with our truths or expectations. It’s about freedom. It’s a force.

So ask yourself: Are you using your “truth” to justify your behaviour toward someone else? If so, it’s time to pause and examine it more deeply.

Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness

We live in a time of greater emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and mental health awareness. Self-understanding is foundational to healthy relationships. The more we understand ourselves, the less we project our needs, pain, or control onto others.

When we step out of the illusion that we “know best,” we can finally enter into right relationship with those around us.

Gallbladder Energy & Spring’s Yang Force

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, gallbladder energy is Yang, the active, outward energy of decision, courage, and clarity. When balanced, it helps us make empowered life choices, guided by our inner principles and truth.

Spring reflects this perfectly. It’s nature’s surge forward, a time of expansion, direction, and decisive growth. Just like sap rises in trees, energy rises within us.

Tips to Support Your Gallbladder Energy

🌱 Move your body: Walk, stretch, twist. Help energy flow.
🥬 Eat bitter greens: Dandelion, arugula, kale; bitter supports gallbladder and liver.
🧘 Breathe and sound: Use your breath with sound (like “shush”) to soothe the nervous system.
✍️ Journal your triggers: They reveal where your healing wants to begin.
🧠 Notice your judgments: Then ask: What part of me needs attention or softness right now?

Closing Thoughts

Judgment isn’t always bad; it’s a signal, a flare from the soul. When we catch ourselves in it, we’re being offered insight into what still wants to be healed or heard.

So this spring, let yourself burst forth.

Release what you no longer need.
Honour the courage it takes to grow.
Let your energy rise, not in control or judgment, but in clarity and compassion.