Being someone worth watching
Sadhguru, on bringing up children:
If you want to bring up your child well, the first thing is, you should be happy. But you, by yourself do not know how to be happy.
Every day in your house, when tension, anger, fear, anxiety and jealousy are the only things that are being demonstrated to your child, what is going to happen to him? He will obviously learn only these, isn't it?
If you really have the intention of bringing up your child well, you should change yourself to be a loving, joyous and peaceful being. If you are incapable of transforming yourself, where is the question of you bringing up your child?
If we really want to bring up our children well, first of all we must see if we can do something with ourselves. Everyone who wishes to be a parent must do one simple experiment.
Let them sit down and see what is it that is not okay with their lives, and what would be good for their lives – not about the world outside, but about themselves.
Something about yourself – your own behavior, speech, modes of action, and habits – if you can alter that in three months, then you would handle your child also with wisdom.
What you'll need
- A few quiet minutes each day
- One thing about yourself to look at: your behaviour, speech, or a habit
- The willingness to start with yourself, not your child
Method
Each day, take a few quiet minutes to look at yourself — not your child.
Each day, pick one thing about your own behaviour, speech, or habits.
Stay with that one thing; bring your attention back to it through the day.
Over a month, notice what shifts — in you, in your child, and in the space between you.