Self expression has barriers to overcome.

Whether we put paint on a canvas, open our mouth or type words on a screen. It’s scary. However we got treated as kids, those memories are still there deep in our body. They come back up the second we attempt to express.

It makes us close up and as a listener, it’s your job to help us open up.

We use non-judgement to create safety.

All people need unconditional love, yet most of us don’t get it.

As listeners it’s your job get as close to unconditional love as you can while keeping your boundaries. The better you can see us as worthy and enough just as we are, the better the quality of your empathy. By creating this safety you’re allowing me to take the risk of expressing myself, you’re enabling and empowering my voice.

If you slip out of non-judgement, don’t fret - we all do it, in fact it’s probably a good chance to practice non-judgement on yourself.

When you can accept yourself, you can accept others.

Ever pass judgement on someone only to learn you are guilty of exactly what you judged them for?

This is why ‘non-judgement’ gets harped on about. Because when you can truly hold space for me, your own idea of what a painting ‘should’ be doesn’t get in your way of helping me express myself.

Non-judgement means you’ve created enough safety in yourself to be able to share it with others, accepting ‘what is’, letting go of what ‘should be’.