SatiSeva Acceptance of the Heart and Mind

We've explored the mindfulness practice of ambivalence, which if you're new to Sathya Seva, might make you crinkle your eyebrows like, what, ambivalence, huh? What's that all about? Would you look at that? And ambivalence is one of my favorite things to talk about because it is so under appreciated.

And one of the mistakes that is very common is mistaking ambivalence for its sister apathy.

Apathy is totally shut down.

Apathy is a state of mind and spirit where you've run out of options.

It's kind of like giving up in a way.

giving in, sinking.

When we're wallowing, we're in an apathetic state.

When we meet every suggestion with, I've tried that, I've done that, doesn't help, we're in an apathetic state of mind.

Ambivalence, on the other hand, has just enough curiosity to be open to a few surprises, a few options.

It's not like the curtains are completely wide open, but they're not completely shut either.

Ambivalence has the curtains open a little bit.

There's a little light coming in, but it's refrain is not yet.

I need a break.

I need some time.

Not yet.

I'll think about it.

Not yet.

Ambivalence knows when to take a break and explore some of the other practices.

What we've been talking about is the fifth one, acceptance.

And the take-home message from acceptance that I want to emphasize is we're not practicing acceptance as a way of putting a veil of okayness over everything.

Oh, I accept it.

It's okay.

I'm fine.

I accept.

It's good.

We've explored the mindfulness practice of ambivalence, which if you're new to Sathya Seva, might make you crinkle your eyebrows like, what, ambivalence, huh? What's that all about? Would you look at that? And ambivalence is one of my favorite things to talk about because it is so under appreciated.

And one of the mistakes that is very common is mistaking ambivalence for its sister apathy.

Apathy is totally shut down.

Apathy is a state of mind and spirit where you've run out of options.

It's kind of like giving up in a way.

giving in, sinking.

When we're wallowing, we're in an apathetic state.

When we meet every suggestion with, I've tried that, I've done that, doesn't help, we're in an apathetic state of mind.

Ambivalence, on the other hand, has just enough curiosity to be open to a few surprises, a few options.

It's not like the curtains are completely wide open, but they're not completely shut either.

Ambivalence has the curtains open a little bit.

There's a little light coming in, but it's refrain is not yet.

I need a break.

I need some time.

Not yet.

I'll think about it.

Not yet.

Ambivalence knows when to take a break and explore some of the other practices.

What we've been talking about is the fifth one, acceptance.

And the take-home message from acceptance that I want to emphasize is we're not practicing acceptance as a way of putting a veil of okayness over everything.

Oh, I accept it.

It's okay.

I'm fine.

I accept.

It's good.