Blaice,

In addition to Jasmine’s kind hearted words, consider that you seem to have a lot of judgment inside you for others. This is taught to us as protective, but doesn’t actually help us connect with others… walls go up, the gavel comes out, and ick, heartsludge.

Consider a different view. Buddhists often describe self absorption as an afflictive state of mind. Much like a sprained ankle draws our attention to it, a wounded heart calls the mind to tend inward. If someone is thinking about themselves a lot, trying to showcase themselves, prove themselves, its just a limp they carry from old wounds of the heart.

And then along comes the critic, flames alight, blazing women for limping. “Wow, women of today are so fucked up… what’s wrong with them?” Such as “why aren’t they right, correct, old fashioned, like me?” Instead, consider “how can I build a bridge from my heart to theirs?” Said differently, put away the gavel, pull out your heart, and you may just see one stop limping and grow/reveal her wings. Namaste.

With warmth,
Matt