A man must love his father and yet be free of his father's expectations and criticisms in order to be a free man. Imagine that your father has died or remember when he did die. Are there any feelings of relief associated with his death? Now that he is dead, is any part of

you happy that you need not live up to his expectations or suffer his criticisms? How would you have lived your life differently if you had never tried to please your father? If you never tried to show your father that you were worthy? If you never, never felt burdened by your

father's critical eye? For the next 3 days, try at least one activity a day that you have avoided or suppressed because of the influence of your father. In this way, practice being free of his subtle expectations, which may now reside within your own self-judgment. Practice being free in

this way once each day for 3 days, even if you still feel fearful, limited, unworthy, or burdened by your father's expectations.

- Live As If Your Father Were Dead

The Art of Knowledge

The impact of a father's expectations and criticisms on a son's freedom.

A man needs to love his father but be free from his expectations and criticisms to be truly free.

Reflect on feelings of relief after the father's death and the freedom from his expectations.

Consider how life would have been different without trying to please or meet the father's expectations.

A three-day exercise to overcome the father's influence.

Engage in at least one avoided activity daily for three days to break free from the father's subtle expectations.

Continue the exercise even with lingering feelings of fear, unworthiness, or burden.