How do you feel when people giving you good advice? Do you think that you are under attack, or do you feel that people are actually trying to help you? Do you feel criticized as a person, or do you still feel loved? I always used to react negatively when people gave me good advice. It felt more like an attack to me. I took it that I am not good enough, so I wanted to defend myself, sometimes even strike back. Looking back, it is clear that my ego flared up. Our egos are always happy to hear compliments and praise while constructive criticism isn't welcomed at all.
Our reaction certainly depends largely on the way people talk to us. Some are better in providing feed-back, while giving encouragement at the same time. Others manage to drain your energy instead. However, you can learn to listen to what other people have to say without getting your ego involved at all. You can observe their words like a neutral bystander would. With that a new world opens up to you. As a matter of fact, walking the Tao you never feel criticized. On the contrary, you receive positive feed-back every step of the way.
Along the Tao you see hidden messages no matter where you look. They become part of you and are so much fun to study. As you merge with the Tao it is as if your ego has a time-out. You can now feel and see that all the messages are an expression of love. The notion of friend and foe also merges into nothingness; both are here to help us so how can we label them either way? Actually, even when you give advice to others you experience the "you" lecturing yourself in the process.
So, every encounter is an encounter with your Self. People act as mirrors that way. Tao travelers never get criticized because they get "feed-back" all the time. That way you can literally look forward to meeting everyone and facing everything that comes your way. Enjoy walking the Tao!
By Su Zhen and Christian
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