The Daily Sip: Apologize To Your
Child And Open
Your Heart
Have you ever treated your child in a way that you
later came to regret? Odds are you were not mindful at the time
you acted. But your subsequent realization grew out of
mindfulness. How wonderful to have become mindful! It
is a state of awareness through which we can touch our true feelings
and beliefs. And it is from such a state that we can experience
joy.
It all starts with awareness. And while it is
difficult during the to-be-regretted moment to wake up and be mindful
of what we are doing, there are tools we can use to help
us wake up.
Today, let us use the tool of the apology.
The apology is extremely powerful. Not only does it help the
person we apologize to, it is a magical mindfulness tool.
Plan
today to apologize as quick in time as possible to your child to
an act for which you "feel" an apology is warranted. This
is all prospective -- forward looking -- but know in your heart that,
if and when such a time comes, you will express your regret then and
there. The apology may be something like "I'm sorry I wasn't
paying attention to what you said," or "I wish I hadn't said that
to you that way." You'll know.
Here is what you
may find: This vigilance awakens you to more mindful speech
and action. That make you feel good. If you apologize
(even for the slightest thing), your heart will open.
But
above all . . . well you'll see.
