Alternative view of criticism

Dec 10

Not sure why but yesterday evening I cried when I did guru pooja.

Today had to go to office unexpectedly. Put my alarm at 5 am. Body was fine but just feel lazy cos normally rest day. In the end decided to sleep further to 6 am.
Woke up before alarm at 5.55 am.
Did Bhuta Shuddi followed by cat stretch.
Did one cycle of Surya Kriya, it was good. I can now know whether my feel is in alignment or not.
Shakti was good as Kapala Bhakti's breathing have improved. Was singing and dancing towards the end.
Shambavi was good. Wish I can sit longer in silent contentment.

Feeling blessed that I have the option to work half day today and tomorrow second half day. Will do asanas tomorrow.

Afternoon
A feeling of contentment is now with me. A sense of grounding.
It has started since the day I stopped doing plough back after Practices.

The power of empathy
The acceptance of each fluctuating aspect of the other person make it for him a rship of warmth and safety, and safety of being liked and prized as a person seems a highly important element in a helping rship.

1. We accept ourselves with all our contradictions and complications.
2. Self acceptance leads to the second stage, in which we learn to accept others with all their contradictions and complications.
3. We accept the inevitable contradictions and complications that arise in every human rship when two complicated, contradictory people meet.

Scenario
Glenn, a concert pianist told me that he could not accept making one mistake when he went on tour. With empathy guiding the way, we talked about his father who was always putting down other people (most notably his son) in the ill-fated attempt to elevate himself.
When Glenn accepted his father as "not okay" (imperfect, critical and insecure), he could admit that he was also "not okay".  Viewing his insecurities as somehow normal and an everyday part of growing up with an excessively critical, insecure father, he could accept himself as perfectly human, which really meant that he was "not okay" but that was okay.

Perhaps the deepest level of acceptance we discover in life is the wholehearted embracing of both the joy and the suffering that inevitably arise in close rships.


Soul
That's how I just saw my brother. He used to put me down so much when I was a child.
Just that day he told me how I should approach the flow of food; which I follow.  To my surprise he needed to inform others how good he was, how I followed him. I told him that "little thing" also he need to get credit to feel proud.