Great expectations of energy

Back at the ‘plague’ we know as value judgement, we still make them, frequently. As vegans we feel justified in making forming harsh critiques. But we’re not as brave as our beliefs make us feel: we slander the omnivores (but not often to their face). We judge politicians (usually slagging them off in private). We argue the issues vigorously (in our own heads or amongst other vegans). If we want to be critical we should do it in the glare of public scrutiny. We have to be prepared, to back up what we say and take any amount of questions. If we have to judge people then let’s do it courageously and, of course, enjoy the experience.
We, as vegans, have a lot to say. If we can’t be vigorous and yet gentle at the same time, if we can’t resist having a cutting edge then it’s best to ‘keep it in our pants’. They say in the old books, “Judge not lest ye be judged”, and it’s true that we all fear it; it’s the worst feeling, being disapproved of, especially if you’re being unfairly judged or misjudged. Judgements are found in minefields, explosive with half truths.
What’s the safest target, one that can’t fight back? “Humans”. “Humans are wicked, that’s why things are so bad”. Half true, half not-true. The judgement is so amorphous it means nothing and therefore no one gets especially hurt, so it becomes common currency, a phrase like this. Waste no more time on this. It’ll go nowhere. But get more personal, where we set up more space between the accuser and the accusee, and separation is felt. On this level we’d do well to avoid making judgements since they have a funny way of coming back at us later. And then, when they do, we are forever looking over our shoulder.
Value judging is a black hole. It’s an energy drain. At the time, for a moment, it solves something - like a dish of chips it ‘fills us up’, and then it dries us out. When we’re riled up by something we can think of nothing else to ‘do’, so judging is our last resort. We become known for our typical judgements. We say the same things over and again, and the harder we press on the same tired nerve the more we are perceived as ‘hurters’. And the less people listen to us. We fail to communicate and so the more we look defeated.
Judgementalists doubt themselves, not on the position they take up but their inability to communicate it adequately. You know what it’s like? You come away from an exchange with someone feeling drained and annoyed, showing the look of a battle fought and lost. Apart from the trail of bad feelings we leave behind us after one of these ‘encounters’ the feeling of not having succeeded is depressing and saps our energy.
High energy, on the other hand, is something you associate with something satisfying, which others might want to see in us. When we seem to be ‘busting-out’ with energy we want to feel this often, in a state of high-ish energy. Of course, actually, on one level that’s precisely what plant-based foods do to us. Vegan diet transforms in that way, believe it or not (Only one may not believe this, not having had the experience of regularly eating plant-based) Physical energy from food is certainly common amongst vegans, and that’s all I need to say on the matter. However it’s the other one under assault - I mean mental energy.
Motivational oomph … how do we preserve mental energy? With it we can plan. With it we can do things we want to do.
Let’s say, for example, I have this project but I’m afraid of not having the energy (motivation) to carry it through. If energy levels are there we’re more optimistic of success. Animal Rights, as a project, if we approach it in a more efficient way, we’ll surely find the mind working nicely for us, in our favour, without waste, without squandering energy. It all comes down to not making unnecessary mistakes, not driving with the hand brake on, etc … We need all the energy we can muster if only to let all negativities roll off us, like water off a duck’s back.