In this brief video, Terry invites you to let go of looking good and open up to freedom. Instead of pretending to have it together, celebrate when you look ridiculous! Losing face is the secret to reacquiring the totality of your being.
The Practice of “Losing Face”
Losing Face
Thanks Terry! This is a great message and practice! Not an easy one, but extremely valuable as you know! A former teacher of mine used to say “have a good embarrassment!” I continue to practice allowing myself to bring my willingness to feel vulnerable as well as want to ‘look good!’ Embracing the polarities with love! 🙂
Losing Face
What joy I felt in watching and listening to your sincerity in this video! There was a time over the last 10 years when I would not have expected such a video to come through you. Perhaps through someone you were interviewing, but not you…. Yet I have watched you grow now for years and have often felt like a proud older sister, aunt, or (do I dare say ?) mother, as your need to prove yourself lessened and you began to meet people right where they are. I salute you for this, Terry Patten, and wish you continued success as you continue to reap the benefits of walking your talk as a futurist, mystic and sacred messenger. You no longer merely report on the growing edge. You are on it.
Right on!
Yes! I love it, thank you.
Yes! I love it, thank you.
inspiring
Thank you for an inspiring message. It’s great to see these insights reemerging. There used to be branch of sufism in Turkey in the 14th century near Istanbul that made this though the core of their practices. They believed that the facade of of self importance that most people uphold is a major barrier to growth and tried to ridicule themselves as often as possible.
G,J. This branch of Sufism is
G,J. This branch of Sufism is still alive and well, in several countries and here in the States, although the people who are following this path are called the invisible Sufis because they don’t wear distinctive clothes and don’t have distinctive practices, or are part of any religious organization (tariqat). They practice sincerity and spiritual friendship and mix with people of their time and place. Let me know if you are interested in knowing more. Dr. Safken at southwestcenterofhumaninquiry@gmail.com
Beautiful representation of vulnerability
Thank you Terry. Beautiful. I love your cartoon character. 🙂
A child of no one
I”m the first caller on line confessing that I”m the last to know.
At seventy years of age I discovered that my DNA did’t match my paternal orgins.
Naming my revelation as an” interabang ?!
An un-common ironic insight of betrayal notion of family.
Being a bastard has a new meaning, as intergaded with the intra-personal stranger within.
Terry, thank you for this
Terry, thank you for this insight. I practice and teach the Sufi “Path of Responsibilty” which focuses on practicing honesty and sincerity, sometimes at the cost of losing face.
Losing Face
Wonderful! Have forwarded it to friends as well. Seems like this can help us loosen up about other people looking ridiculous as well. . .
Safety and the Process of Losing Face
Very true. There are so many shades of mask, and dropping them is a real issue withing spiritual circles. I know for me, as a woman and spiritual mentor, this has shown up in two ways. Students are looking for the ‘perfect’ teacher, and can find it difficult to trust someone who is available to all facets of their humanness; it isn’t perceived as ‘safe’ and ‘enlightened’. Trust comes over time and continued relationship with each other.
To be really spontaneous, messy, undone, requires a space of safety – whether between student/teacher/mentor/friend/co-worker/family members…to know that you will not be judged for what you reveal – then the amazing creative energy within us flows. Life often does not offer us this safety, this permission, we are being called to give it to ourselves. I think this is the deepest gift of ‘losing face’,the invitation to return to a profound place of trust in one’s own goodness, and through that, to life’s goodness.
Fear of humiliation and judgement by others gradually dissolves, as we touch our vulnerability and longing. We become raw and bare to the world, because we have become raw and bare within, stripped down to the most central aspects of our humanness – where meaning is found. Then the beauty of our essence is free to shine…
beautiful!
Hey Terry,
Such respect for you sharing this! I have done comedic psychodrama in corporations and family businesses for over ten years and the greatest joys come when we let down the veneer that “we’ve got this under control,” or whatever the pro line is. Everyone goes away happy, inspired, and trusting that life is ok no matter what. THANK you for opening this door.