While reading to boost my writing imagination, I stumbled onto something that reminded me of an idea that several yoga teachers have impressed upon me over the years: Yoga is about peeling away the walls and layers that cover up who we really are, and letting our true self shine through our actions and appearance. I often heard talk of polishing the gem, the idea that the work we did in yoga class as removing the grime and other impediments to just being ourselves and being at peace.
The idea came from http://www.amazon.com/Inspiring-Creativity-Anthology-Practical-Successful/dp/0976737108/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232862198&sr=1-1, which is an anthology of discussions on aspects of creativity and harnessing it. This idea came from an essay titled, "Self-Appreciation: How to Star in Your Own Life," on page 141. Put simply, we fixate on celebrities and such because we are not yet starring in our own lives. That stuck with me, resonating deeply within. It's a powerful thought: if I am the "star" of my own life, then I am comfortable with who I am and what I do.
Does it seem weird? Yes, at first. It's about deciding to draw contentment and excitement from within ourselves, and then from those close to us. I feel that I've come closer to achieving this since I feel I could do completely without gossip shows, tabloids, and their kin in all media. I'm still working on internalizing this; I believe that being Proactive takes serious acceptance of being your own "star."
How do you think you could become your own Star? What steps - mentally and physically - might be needed?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Habit 1: Be Proactive - A Mindset Shift
Yogis start every practice with setting an intention for that practice. It requires an awareness of your own abilities and that your words are powerful - that they can make things happen by being expressed. Now, I feel that they only have that power when we commit ourselves to being the primary acting force on our own lives.
It took me a while to believe that thinking of something in the present tense (because thinking in future tense doesn't encourage change) could do anything, and certainly the idea of releasing it to become a seed in my mind made no sense. But focusing intently on something doesn't always assure it'll come true, as I've found. It requires action, forward movement, and that isn't always hand-in-hand with thinking. Sometimes you just have to do and not think to make something happen. (Most of our movements are like that.)
Intentions are supposed to come from the heart. They should feel like they resonate throughout your being. For a gal who's as rational as I am, that was kinda hard to fathom, but I guess it's like when we were little. We just knew that something felt right - although it wasn't always best for us. I've used a number of intentions. "My body is healthy and whole." "I feel ease in my body and my life." "I am open to all the creativity within my mind." Those are a few of them, and I know everyone can think of their own. It's a goal that you phrase in a way so you don't limit the odds of it happening, and it opens you to other changes.
This has everything to do with what Steven Covey described as the "See, Do, Get model." How we see the world influences our actions, which dictate what happens. So if you assume that you're too old for something or you can't do a particular thing, you're self-fulfilling. Saying that you can do something doesn't assure that you'll do it, but it leaves more possibilities open, and it's the start of all change.
So being proactive requires a mindset shift, which involves accepting the mantle of taking care of yourself and your life. For most of us, in yoga it starts with acknowledging our body's limits for a given practice and day. It build into increased body awareness which encourages better care of the subtle needs.
It took me a while to believe that thinking of something in the present tense (because thinking in future tense doesn't encourage change) could do anything, and certainly the idea of releasing it to become a seed in my mind made no sense. But focusing intently on something doesn't always assure it'll come true, as I've found. It requires action, forward movement, and that isn't always hand-in-hand with thinking. Sometimes you just have to do and not think to make something happen. (Most of our movements are like that.)
Intentions are supposed to come from the heart. They should feel like they resonate throughout your being. For a gal who's as rational as I am, that was kinda hard to fathom, but I guess it's like when we were little. We just knew that something felt right - although it wasn't always best for us. I've used a number of intentions. "My body is healthy and whole." "I feel ease in my body and my life." "I am open to all the creativity within my mind." Those are a few of them, and I know everyone can think of their own. It's a goal that you phrase in a way so you don't limit the odds of it happening, and it opens you to other changes.
This has everything to do with what Steven Covey described as the "See, Do, Get model." How we see the world influences our actions, which dictate what happens. So if you assume that you're too old for something or you can't do a particular thing, you're self-fulfilling. Saying that you can do something doesn't assure that you'll do it, but it leaves more possibilities open, and it's the start of all change.
So being proactive requires a mindset shift, which involves accepting the mantle of taking care of yourself and your life. For most of us, in yoga it starts with acknowledging our body's limits for a given practice and day. It build into increased body awareness which encourages better care of the subtle needs.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Introduction and Upcoming Posts
Welcome to discussions and commentary on absorbing the habits, actions, and principles of yoga into the busy life of the Western World. Yoga has been, for me, about slowing down and reconnecting with what's important to me and listening to my body's signals. That's the beauty of yoga once you find a connection with it.
We in the West generally only get exposed to the asanas, but there are many other elements. My goal is to help improve knowledge of them, and suggest ways to integrate them into our lives. Yogic knowledge about breathing, meditation, beliefs, and living are helpful, and the principles are shared in some practices already in use in the West.
Starting late last year, I began studying The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and found a number of parallels to yogic practices and principles. Part of learning is teaching what you know and are learning, so what better way to spread awareness of two things I find helpful than to make my blog posts relate to the habits?
I will touch on aspects of each habit, talking about what Steven R. Covey has said, and showing how they apply to yoga and a yogic lifestyle. When applicable, I will interview fellow yogis and yoginis who I feel have something to share on the topics at hand.
Just as yoga starts with the foundation (what touches the ground), any discussion of the 7 Habits starts with Habit 1: Be Proactive. I will post as soon as I feel I have a solid post to publish. Thank you for reading.
Namaste
We in the West generally only get exposed to the asanas, but there are many other elements. My goal is to help improve knowledge of them, and suggest ways to integrate them into our lives. Yogic knowledge about breathing, meditation, beliefs, and living are helpful, and the principles are shared in some practices already in use in the West.
Starting late last year, I began studying The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and found a number of parallels to yogic practices and principles. Part of learning is teaching what you know and are learning, so what better way to spread awareness of two things I find helpful than to make my blog posts relate to the habits?
I will touch on aspects of each habit, talking about what Steven R. Covey has said, and showing how they apply to yoga and a yogic lifestyle. When applicable, I will interview fellow yogis and yoginis who I feel have something to share on the topics at hand.
Just as yoga starts with the foundation (what touches the ground), any discussion of the 7 Habits starts with Habit 1: Be Proactive. I will post as soon as I feel I have a solid post to publish. Thank you for reading.
Namaste
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