It’s ok if an exchange or experience with a teacher left a bad taste in your mouth. It’s ok if you didn’t like the dynamic. It’s ok if you’re disoriented by exposing your most vulnerable self and wanting to feel that personal connection with the teacher. Instead, feeling flattened by the impersonal dynamic of teacher-student.
You have to give yourself that freedom. That freedom to notice. Something in you felt questioned in that, like your experience isn’t valid. And it’s okay to acknowledge that.
Especially if you’ve had your experience extremely validated and honored and not over simplified in the past even if it was just once. That one time counts. And so noticing when there’s a qualitative difference there.
You’re not ungrateful for the exchange but it’s okay to discern that there’s a difference. Because when you don’t, you’re actually going against yourself.
But noticing your experience, validating your experience – even if it isn’t like everyone else’s – is important. And trusting yourself, your instincts and your ability to tune into nuances – not gaslighting yourself out of that.