Objects come and go. Experiences come and go. There is no permanence to them… In this mad world, it is okay to act like a madman. Act like a madman, but keep the fire of truth burning in your heart… Do not forget yourself.
-Vasant Lad, Strands of Eternity
*Photo above from a magical holiday wellness brunch, where we discussed the importance of both living in the moment as well as living our dreams.
Take a breath. How do you feel?
Can you watch your breath float along to the next moment, unattached to the previous moment, without expecting the moments to come?
This, in a nutshell, is the essence of yoga: remaining present and mindful in each moment so that we loosen our kung fu grip on the impermanent past and future. Our life is happening in this moment, and if our headspace remains in past or future we’ll continually take ourselves away from the truth the present moment provides.
Does this mean I am blissfully floating in the abyss of the present moment at all times? Being human presents this challenge, which we can either befriend or knuckle punch out of the way.
Like the quote above advises – it is OK to go a little nuts in this lifetime, because we are alive and things happen that might drive us bonkers. The duality of being emotional humans versus clear souls is what gives us our unique perspectives and helps us to decide how we choose to live on this planet.
It is, however, imperative to to let the impermanence of anxious moments and feelings move on. Clinging to them will only pummel our worry from one moment to the next until it snowballs into a destructive comfort zone.
In my recent consultation with Pratima I’ve been sharing, she spoke to me about the ways in which worry and stress about past or future is what ultimately causes dis-ease.
You might be able to relate: stressing about something in the future whether it’s a meal or exam or project, so much so that the mind is completely disconnected from the present moment. If this becomes common practice, our ability to stay with and accept what is will be overrun by obsessing about what has already happened or what hasn’t happened yet [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][and may never happen], which will never serve the moment we’re currently experiencing.
It is one thing to have goals to aspire to, but it is another to let those goals become our end all, be all. Impermanence can be very refreshing in this sense: we can always rely on the fact that it will pass whether it is “good” or “bad.” All the more reason to cherish, or at least learn from, the art of be-ing.
Life is permanently impermanent, thank Buddha. This means we will never be stuck, even when we think we are.
We have the opportunity to experience every emotion and fully be with them as they pass. We have the ability to hold memories in our hearts and envision the future we desire without daydreaming ourselves out of the present moment. Do not forget yourself.
What will you do with this power?
Read the newsletter for my new favorite warming recipe, good music and more.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
No Comments