Have you ever gone through times that are so busy, but nothing much seems to get done? That feeling for me can feed into a cycle of stress and anxiety. When there is a sense of not doing or accomplishing enough, the inner critic's volume can get turned up. I try to do to appease the growing discontent about my abilities, a reflection of my conditional self love.
The Yoga Sutras include Santosha, contentment, as a part of the journey towards harmony. When I slow down and let myself just be with myself as I am, even with all there is or isn't to do, I can move from a more calm place. I can practice opening up to unconditional love. What courage that takes! To find love, acceptance and contentment when that critic is telling me I'm failing or not good enough takes tremendous softening, strength, and practice.
Regular meditation trains us and rewires our brain. We watch what unfolds as it unfolds; we nurture our ability to be at peace with ourselves just as we are. Throughout that process our discontents can teach us about our relationship to ourselves and the life we're living. Try the practice below and notice how that affects the intention you move with for the rest of the day.
Start with a Centering Meditation.
Notice your breath as it is
Your body in this moment
Your thoughts as they arise
Your emotions
And what's happening now in your life.
Stand with your feet hip width apart. Bring your palms together in front of your heart center. Take a deep breath here. On an inhale, reach your arms up and over head. As you exhale, fold forward, hinging from your hips. Bring your hands to your legs or down to the floor.
Notice what's happening now. What's your relationship to yourself in this position? Stay here for at least 5 deep breaths or as long as it feels right to.
When you're ready, place your hands on your hips and inhale back up to standing. Pause here and notice what's happening in this moment.
Invite your hands to touch in Anjali mudra again in front of your heart. Draw your navel in towards your spine. Inhale reach your arms up. Exhale and slide your shoulders down your back and let your chest open upwards as you lift your gaze. Take at least 5 breaths here and notice what happens.
Inhale to lift back to upright, exhale your hands back to your heart.
What do you notice now?
"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship."- Buddha
"A youthful mind is seldom totally free from ambition; to curb that, is the first step to contentment, since to diminish expectation is to increase enjoyment."- Frances Burney
Namaste
Jessica
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