Growth requires a willingness to let go. As we change, we learn that certain habits no longer serve our dharma (life's purpose), relationships must change or dissolve, the very definition by which we have lived our lives may need to be rewritten. In the case of the latter I recommend invisible ink, that way you don't get too attached to the new definition! In order for any of the above to happen, however, we must let go of the past, along with any attachments to outcomes or results in the future, and simply be here now...in as true a state of harmony as we can. That state requires a lot of letting go, as well: of stress, of the roller coaster ride of emotions, of the "monkey mind", etc.
In class last night, Aadil said something that really stuck with me:
"Let go of your willingness to accept stress."
My mind hiccuped at first in indignation (it cracks me up when my mind is indignant). "'Willingness'?" It scoffed, sounding oh-so pitiable and crossing its arms defensively. "I beg your pardon! I am not stressed because I am 'willing' to be." Then my wiser part chuckled and smiled softly at my mind, shaking its head. My mind uncrossed its arms as understanding dawned: "Oh, well, waitaminute. I just now got kind of stressed out about that, didn't I? Hhhmmm. I can see that there's something to this."
By the way, all of that happened in about .36829 seconds. It wasn't a long scenario or anything. Also - as a side note - I didn't really imagine my brain having arms at the time...it just makes for good reading.
One of the most beautiful (and potentially frustrating) aspects of yoga is that it empowers us to be fully accountable for our lives. How we feel, live, think, act, speak, etc. at each moment is the result of all of our choices up to now. We can, at any time, choose to change. That is an amazing potential as well as responsibility. The fact of the matter is, we do choose to allow stress by continuing to live fast-paced lives, over-scheduling ourselves, not sleeping enough, eating poorly for our constitution, denying our spiritual lives, exposing ourselves to harmful chemicals, etc., etc. It's just that while we make those choices, we blame the results of them on other people or forces "outside of our control".
We have the power, however, to choose differently...at any moment. I trust that, eventually, my mind will really understand.
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