Phenomenal Engineering and the Superpower of Being Nonjudgmental

Humanist Perspectives is a joint program of the Secular Hub and Jefferson Humanists on the 3rd Saturday at 4:00 pm. Feel free to BYOB (beer and wine are OK) or an appetizer to share.

Presented by Jon Frederick, PhD, LPC

Phenomenal engineering might sound like the name of an architecture firm. Consider it your own personal architecture firm for building your own personal house. The word phenomena means subjective experience, so phenomenal engineering means taking charge of your power to design and construct your own subjective experience. Phenomenal engineering draws upon several established ideas in philosophy and psychology, including existentialism, emphasizing personal agency and responsibility, and internal locus of control, your confidence in how your efforts, decisions, and actions shape your experience. Phenomenal engineering is the intentional effort to maximize your personal freedom and power over your internal and external world.

Nonjudgmental acceptance is a facet of mindfulness, and a key strategy for increasing your personal freedom. Often, when we complain that someone is being judgmental, it is because we disagree with their judgment. Being judgmental is commonly associated with self-righteous, narrow-minded moralistic people. It is a self-deceptive way to cope with insecurity and to feel superior. In unhealthy relationships, it is a tool for domineering and manipulation. However, being judgmental can hurt us even when we are right—immersing and entangling us in negative thoughts and feelings. In this discussion, we will talk about how being nonjudgmental can give you a feeling of mastery over annoyances big and small, enhance relationships, improve emotional regulation, and increase compassion and empathy. We will ask the timeless question, “What Would Obi-Wan Kenobi Do?”

Related educational handouts can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ysAeu8oIs7pecOFcwPDDv0jkhKnP_Et/view?usp=sharing

The Hub, Jefferson Humanists, and Humanists of Colorado Chapters of the American Humanist Association are very pleased to offer a regular exploration series on the 3rd Saturdays, 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Each session will be slightly different and include several segments to showcase aspects of Humanism through a presentation, videos, movies, forums, and explorations, followed by discussions. We will include time for participants to socialize and get acquainted, in keeping with the chapters' goals of building community.