When we look at the beauty of nature, such as a blooming flower, the flow of tides and the movement of sparklingly stars, there is no straining, only graceful effort. The beauty of the Law of Least Effort is minimising effort to maximise effect. The most current scientifically founded belief about best method for transformation is timing and sensitivity. In terms of this law it is about doing less and achieving more.
As with other laws, intentions and motivations are vital to the returns received, with the Law of Least Effort, the motivation that brings positive transformation is Love.
In the western world the slogan, ‘No pain, no gain’ is the usual motto for many health focused individuals. Yoga on the other hand focuses upon relaxing into the pose, the exercise, and not forcing the body into a pose. For example, when bringing the body into a flexible pose, let the breath find the point of resistance or sensation (not pain), allow the breath to breathe into the resistance and surrender (let go). A sense of additional reach and flexibility will ensue. Staying aware of the body, being patient and surrendering to your limitations and vulnerabilities, will suddenly mean your limitations and vulnerabilities will have less of a hold. This surrendering to limitations and vulnerabilities will bring more balance, energy and flexibility to life on the mat and off the mat.
The three steps to living this Law of Least Effort during your yoga practice and in your life:
1. Exercise acceptance during your yoga practice via acceptance of the body for the way it is. Practising this type of acceptance is not removing the way you like to change it but being thankful and accept the way it is right now as it is the way it should be (and that is perfect). How to practice is off the mat is by accepting people and circumstances as they are, and acknowledging where you are right now is the produce of past choices. Let go of fighting against resistance you may experience whether the resistance be coming from others or situations. Bring awareness back to the moment, accept and practice conscious choice making from that point now.
2. After truly accepting, move forward by taking responsibility for the challenges being experienced. Challenges are opportunities in disguise; keep this knowledge as you move from moment to moment, pose to pose, and you’ll soon discover the fruits of acceptance and least effort.
3. Step three mindfulness of openness. To live this we need to let go of our defences and need to change people. Remain open to all points of view and remove the need to attach to a point of view.
The final step is particularly applicable to the experience of yoga due to the variations in approaches, teaching styles, postures, strength of class, and pace. Yoga is a system to develop flexibility to body, mind and spirit, which is why the different approaches have been supported and celebrated throughout yoga’s growth. This flows into the individual’s life as a yogi needs to experiment with different types, approaches and teaching styles to discover the one that fits with them at that particular time of life. Once the yoga for you is found, draw in the practice of least effort. As you’ve read this, make the class you last took, the last time you waste energy of fighting, pushing, struggling and straining. Removal of these, releases creativity, promotes growth and supports healing.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Law Three: Law of Karma or Cause and Effect: Tuesday
As we sow, so we reap. With every action we undertake, an energy forms and returns to us correspondingly. When our actions come from an intention of giving or bringing happiness and success to others, the return to us will be karma of happiness and success.
The Law of Karma is about choosing freedom, about making conscious decisions, making choices, from the multitude that are available to us. Our true selves are found in unlimited potentiality and unlimited options. We consciously and unconsciously make decision, the most effective way to work with the Law of Karma, is to practice being consciously aware of each choice you make in each moment.
Regardless of how you feel about it, your current situations are due to the choices you have made in the past. In every situation there is one choice, out of the many, which will bring happiness to others and yourself. To find this choice, becoming aware of the choices we make unconsciously is required. Once this choice is decided upon, those around you and yourself will be nourished and your true self will grow and shine brighter.
This law is present while you are on the mat through the reaction to every action you perform during the holding and movement between each pose. The attitude you bring to each pose will cultivate different experiences while being on the mat. If the attitude is of impatience or intolerance (of yourself or the teacher or others around you) your time on the mat will be filled with strain, tension and unease. If the attitude is of gratitude and kindness to and for your body then your time on the mat will be filled with ease and effortlessness.
Becoming more aware of each movement and making them slowly, you will soon be conscious of the karma flow from your choices. For example, if following a yoga session the body is sore, you have overlooked the law of karma and pushed the body too hard and far – a less than ideal choice and the discomfort is a karmic result.
Karma is a present (now, in the moment) showing of the past.
How to make the most of your freedom of choice and in influencing your karma is by practising these three steps:
1. While on the yoga mat become a witness of each choice you make as you move in to and out poses. Influence your future by being present in the now.
2. Through the discomfort felt in a pose or use any resistance in the body during a pose as an opportunity to investigate: “What are the consequences of the choice I’m making?” and “Will this choice bring comfort?” When you are off your yoga mat pose the same questions – “Which choice is most likely to bring happiness and fulfilment to me and to those affected by my choice?”
3. Begin awareness to your heart, to its guidance towards comfort and discomfort, ease and hardship, gratitude and ingratitude. The reason behind heart awareness as it is the connection between the body and mind. When a choice is ‘right’ the body will respond accordingly, so move forward with confidence. Sitting within the body, become mindful of the sensations that arise from thoughts, situations and intentions, this will help in determining how the body, mind and heart will indicate a choice of true happiness and success. The heart will also indicate which choices will bring unfavourable consequences and therefore similar karma.
Respect the marvellous intelligence of the body, mind and heart, listen to the messages in each moment to nourish the kind of karma you wish to travel through lives with.
The Law of Karma is about choosing freedom, about making conscious decisions, making choices, from the multitude that are available to us. Our true selves are found in unlimited potentiality and unlimited options. We consciously and unconsciously make decision, the most effective way to work with the Law of Karma, is to practice being consciously aware of each choice you make in each moment.
Regardless of how you feel about it, your current situations are due to the choices you have made in the past. In every situation there is one choice, out of the many, which will bring happiness to others and yourself. To find this choice, becoming aware of the choices we make unconsciously is required. Once this choice is decided upon, those around you and yourself will be nourished and your true self will grow and shine brighter.
This law is present while you are on the mat through the reaction to every action you perform during the holding and movement between each pose. The attitude you bring to each pose will cultivate different experiences while being on the mat. If the attitude is of impatience or intolerance (of yourself or the teacher or others around you) your time on the mat will be filled with strain, tension and unease. If the attitude is of gratitude and kindness to and for your body then your time on the mat will be filled with ease and effortlessness.
Becoming more aware of each movement and making them slowly, you will soon be conscious of the karma flow from your choices. For example, if following a yoga session the body is sore, you have overlooked the law of karma and pushed the body too hard and far – a less than ideal choice and the discomfort is a karmic result.
Karma is a present (now, in the moment) showing of the past.
How to make the most of your freedom of choice and in influencing your karma is by practising these three steps:
1. While on the yoga mat become a witness of each choice you make as you move in to and out poses. Influence your future by being present in the now.
2. Through the discomfort felt in a pose or use any resistance in the body during a pose as an opportunity to investigate: “What are the consequences of the choice I’m making?” and “Will this choice bring comfort?” When you are off your yoga mat pose the same questions – “Which choice is most likely to bring happiness and fulfilment to me and to those affected by my choice?”
3. Begin awareness to your heart, to its guidance towards comfort and discomfort, ease and hardship, gratitude and ingratitude. The reason behind heart awareness as it is the connection between the body and mind. When a choice is ‘right’ the body will respond accordingly, so move forward with confidence. Sitting within the body, become mindful of the sensations that arise from thoughts, situations and intentions, this will help in determining how the body, mind and heart will indicate a choice of true happiness and success. The heart will also indicate which choices will bring unfavourable consequences and therefore similar karma.
Respect the marvellous intelligence of the body, mind and heart, listen to the messages in each moment to nourish the kind of karma you wish to travel through lives with.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Law Two: Law of Giving and Receiving: Monday
Law Two: Law of Giving and Receiving: Monday
The second law speaks to the human body connection with the universal body – the dynamic exchange between the two. Your body and mind are in constant flow and exchange with the universe. Stopping or limiting the flow is like a river that has stopped flowing, stagnate. We need to be open to giving and receiving to maintain the flow, and the most important aspect is the intention behind the giving and receiving.
The intention behind giving and receiving should be to create happiness for all involved, giver and receiver. The gifts the giver receives back are always proportional to the giving. Giving needs to be unconditional and from the heart, it shouldn’t be given with expectations of what the giver should receive in return. The energy from giving unconditionally and from the heart will increase each and every time you give in this way. The more you give, the more you’ll want to give because of what it will bring to your life.
During your time on the yoga mat, you are giving to yourself each and every time you step onto your mat. You are the giver and receiver during your yoga time. The Law of Giving and Receiving is visible during a yoga practice is alive in each and every breath. If you were to hold your breath in, you would be begin to feel uncomfortable, as it is something that is meant to be released. If you were to hold you out of the body, you would begin to feel uncomfortable, as it is something that is meant to be received, taken in, it is something that you need.
With each pose (asana) some muscle relax, others contract, the very nature of giving and receiving holding and releasing.
Three steps for putting Law Two: Giving and Receiving, into effect in your life:
1. Maintaining breath awareness ; the natural flow and exchange of our breath with the environment. Additionally, when you are feeling like things aren’t go as you had planned in life, bring your awareness to the breath and the effortlessness of giving and receiving.
2. Start to create a sense of gratitude for the gifts of your life. While you are on your yoga mat be grateful for the body and what it is able to do right then, for the mind and breath. Enjoy the sensations of the body- contractions and expansions. Your existence, the marvellous capabilities of the body and mind need to be acknowledged and to be grateful for.
3. Bring the intention of surrendering to the needs of the body, rather than forcing the body into a pose. Practise listening to the body, muscles and joints.
Off the yoga mat have the intention of giving a gift to someone each and every day, whether that be a kind word, a compliment, a smile or a small gift. Correspondingly be open to receiving the gifts from others and nature throughout the day. By commitment to the Law of Giving and Receiving you will continue to circulate love, affection, appreciation, acceptance and care to others and to nature.
The second law speaks to the human body connection with the universal body – the dynamic exchange between the two. Your body and mind are in constant flow and exchange with the universe. Stopping or limiting the flow is like a river that has stopped flowing, stagnate. We need to be open to giving and receiving to maintain the flow, and the most important aspect is the intention behind the giving and receiving.
The intention behind giving and receiving should be to create happiness for all involved, giver and receiver. The gifts the giver receives back are always proportional to the giving. Giving needs to be unconditional and from the heart, it shouldn’t be given with expectations of what the giver should receive in return. The energy from giving unconditionally and from the heart will increase each and every time you give in this way. The more you give, the more you’ll want to give because of what it will bring to your life.
During your time on the yoga mat, you are giving to yourself each and every time you step onto your mat. You are the giver and receiver during your yoga time. The Law of Giving and Receiving is visible during a yoga practice is alive in each and every breath. If you were to hold your breath in, you would be begin to feel uncomfortable, as it is something that is meant to be released. If you were to hold you out of the body, you would begin to feel uncomfortable, as it is something that is meant to be received, taken in, it is something that you need.
With each pose (asana) some muscle relax, others contract, the very nature of giving and receiving holding and releasing.
Three steps for putting Law Two: Giving and Receiving, into effect in your life:
1. Maintaining breath awareness ; the natural flow and exchange of our breath with the environment. Additionally, when you are feeling like things aren’t go as you had planned in life, bring your awareness to the breath and the effortlessness of giving and receiving.
2. Start to create a sense of gratitude for the gifts of your life. While you are on your yoga mat be grateful for the body and what it is able to do right then, for the mind and breath. Enjoy the sensations of the body- contractions and expansions. Your existence, the marvellous capabilities of the body and mind need to be acknowledged and to be grateful for.
3. Bring the intention of surrendering to the needs of the body, rather than forcing the body into a pose. Practise listening to the body, muscles and joints.
Off the yoga mat have the intention of giving a gift to someone each and every day, whether that be a kind word, a compliment, a smile or a small gift. Correspondingly be open to receiving the gifts from others and nature throughout the day. By commitment to the Law of Giving and Receiving you will continue to circulate love, affection, appreciation, acceptance and care to others and to nature.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, by Deepak Chopra and David Simon
Overview:
The seven spiritual laws related to the seven days of the week so are easy (in theory) to apply and to make each day filled with a different purpose. These laws help the yogi bring the principles of yoga to life on and off the mat; balance, flexibility and vitality. The gift of time you give yourself on the mat, is practice you’re the gift of life off the mat.
The application of these seven laws to your life should begin with Law One on Sunday and continuing to the Law Seven on Saturday. Just like the benefits of a Gratitude diary, reviewing, refreshing and reflecting upon each law in the morning and evening, will help keep you focused and to cultivate a more balanced happy life.
Week Day Spiritual Law
Sunday Law of Pure Potentiality
Monday Law of Giving and Receiving
Tuesday Law of Karma (or Cause and Effect)
Wednesday Law of Least Effort
Thursday Law of Intention and Desire
Friday Law of Detachment
Saturday Law of Dharma (or Purpose in Life)
Law One: Law of Pure Potentiality: Sunday
This law of success speaks to core of our being. The core of each of us being pure awareness – the source of joy in our lives! The pure awareness defined in this law, is of all possibilities and triggers all forms of creativity.
Pure Potentiality means knowledge, intuition, balance, harmony and bliss – who wouldn’t want all of these things in their lives, daily. Enacting this law brings these into your life as the reference point of where the knowledge, intuition, balance, harmony and bliss, is based is within one-self rather than objects or things outside the self.
Object based referencing is influenced by situations, circumstances, people and things. Object referencing is about seeking approval by others to feel comfortable and worthy. Always being someone who lives in a state of object referencing, life is lived in a state of fear, because all thoughts and actions are in hope of a response.
So the soul or ego can become the reference point by which we view and live in the world.
The ego, is the object reference point, yet the ego is not our true self. The ego is a mask we wear in playing the roles in our lives; child, friend, parent, lover, employee…
This social/ego mask flourishes on approval, control and power. This social/ego mask lives in fear of losing approval, control and power.
Alternatively, your true self, the soul, is resistant to criticism, fears no challenge that comes before them, and views themselves and others as equal, no-one above or below. Your true self recognises that everyone is the same just in different disguises, different ego masks.
Law one; Law of Pure Potentiality, reminds us that with each movement there are infinite possibilities from the space of silence. The greater the silence, the greater possibility for movement. During your yoga practice draw close awareness to this silence within yourself during each poses and between each pose.
Following the next three things while being on and off the mat:
1. Foster stillness and quietness in body and mind. Perform this by focusing your attention on the inner stillness between movements and poses. To extend this law, sit quietly by yourself in meditation after your time on your yoga mat, letting your awareness stay with pure potentiality, pure awareness, where everything is connected.
2. The gift of your time on the yoga mat and also while off your yoga mat, draw your inner awareness to the stillness within, while the world outside is busy. Watch a sunset, listen to the ocean or breeze, smell a flower, feel the breeze of our skin, possibilities are endless.
3. Practice non-judgement; let go of judging your abilities when performing your yoga poses. Add a mantra such as “Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs’ and bring awareness to self-acceptance if the goal of your yoga.
The seven spiritual laws related to the seven days of the week so are easy (in theory) to apply and to make each day filled with a different purpose. These laws help the yogi bring the principles of yoga to life on and off the mat; balance, flexibility and vitality. The gift of time you give yourself on the mat, is practice you’re the gift of life off the mat.
The application of these seven laws to your life should begin with Law One on Sunday and continuing to the Law Seven on Saturday. Just like the benefits of a Gratitude diary, reviewing, refreshing and reflecting upon each law in the morning and evening, will help keep you focused and to cultivate a more balanced happy life.
Week Day Spiritual Law
Sunday Law of Pure Potentiality
Monday Law of Giving and Receiving
Tuesday Law of Karma (or Cause and Effect)
Wednesday Law of Least Effort
Thursday Law of Intention and Desire
Friday Law of Detachment
Saturday Law of Dharma (or Purpose in Life)
Law One: Law of Pure Potentiality: Sunday
This law of success speaks to core of our being. The core of each of us being pure awareness – the source of joy in our lives! The pure awareness defined in this law, is of all possibilities and triggers all forms of creativity.
Pure Potentiality means knowledge, intuition, balance, harmony and bliss – who wouldn’t want all of these things in their lives, daily. Enacting this law brings these into your life as the reference point of where the knowledge, intuition, balance, harmony and bliss, is based is within one-self rather than objects or things outside the self.
Object based referencing is influenced by situations, circumstances, people and things. Object referencing is about seeking approval by others to feel comfortable and worthy. Always being someone who lives in a state of object referencing, life is lived in a state of fear, because all thoughts and actions are in hope of a response.
So the soul or ego can become the reference point by which we view and live in the world.
The ego, is the object reference point, yet the ego is not our true self. The ego is a mask we wear in playing the roles in our lives; child, friend, parent, lover, employee…
This social/ego mask flourishes on approval, control and power. This social/ego mask lives in fear of losing approval, control and power.
Alternatively, your true self, the soul, is resistant to criticism, fears no challenge that comes before them, and views themselves and others as equal, no-one above or below. Your true self recognises that everyone is the same just in different disguises, different ego masks.
Law one; Law of Pure Potentiality, reminds us that with each movement there are infinite possibilities from the space of silence. The greater the silence, the greater possibility for movement. During your yoga practice draw close awareness to this silence within yourself during each poses and between each pose.
Following the next three things while being on and off the mat:
1. Foster stillness and quietness in body and mind. Perform this by focusing your attention on the inner stillness between movements and poses. To extend this law, sit quietly by yourself in meditation after your time on your yoga mat, letting your awareness stay with pure potentiality, pure awareness, where everything is connected.
2. The gift of your time on the yoga mat and also while off your yoga mat, draw your inner awareness to the stillness within, while the world outside is busy. Watch a sunset, listen to the ocean or breeze, smell a flower, feel the breeze of our skin, possibilities are endless.
3. Practice non-judgement; let go of judging your abilities when performing your yoga poses. Add a mantra such as “Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs’ and bring awareness to self-acceptance if the goal of your yoga.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Transitions...
How did you bring or start 2011?
How where you physically around the transition between 2010 and 2011?
Where were you mentally and emotionally? What parts of 2010 brought you to these points? Do you want to bring these aspects into 2011 or to leave them in 2010?
2010 for me was a transition within itself. Some aspects I intend to keep and develop further, other aspects I intend to keep the lessons but not the events. Let’s go through the questions.
I start 2011 in silence (all forms of communication- body language and verbal) and 9hours of mediation over 10 days at the Vipassana Centre at Blackheath. {Can recommend it to everyone}
Physically prior to this inner journey, I had been suffering from quite severe abdominal pain for approximately 3months before the course was to start. Knowing my tendency to hold unease, stress, worry in my tummy, I had put the pain down to these things. Even so, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything sinister as I didn’t want to deal with the pain while sitting through hours of meditation. I knew the course would be hard enough. After numerous doctor visits and doctors sending me for x-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests and CT-scans before the course, nothing concrete for a results. Overall physically 2010 was left in random and uncertain pain with no known reason…would my 2011 be random, filled with uncertainty and the journey continuing to unfold in an unknown form…let us wait to see (or experience:). I’m strongly senses I will be practicing the Buddhist notion of being still and the right action appearing without effort, stress, worry or being busy in the wrong way. Just like in yoga, when we exert ‘least effort’ to achieve our ideal asana.
Emotionally, I was stressed and uncertain (exciting and nervous) of what 2011 would mean in my life. 2010 as mentioned was a time of transition, chapters of my life, which I had been writing for many many years, were being closed and the final sentences written (well that is what I thought:-). The main life changer was moving from a university student to adult in real world;) Would I find the job I was hoping for and had been working towards for 7years? Would this job allow me to continue to build my business the way I dream? Not wanting to disappoint anybody I cared for (self and others), I don’t know the answers or how to go about finding the answers. Time is what I think would be the answer. Overall emotionally 2010 was left with excited and unease of the unknown and a search for direction and a sense of my new self.
What brought me to these points; finishing uni (continuing saga!!!), having big dreams for Yoga Wise, questioning career opportunities, redefining numerous relationships, vocalising these changes and finding myself single.
What I am bring into 2011 is the lessons learnt and a willingness to continuing questioning where I am, where do I want to be, am I on the right path and am I going about it in the right way.
The word I have given to 2011 for me is strength. What would be your word?
How where you physically around the transition between 2010 and 2011?
Where were you mentally and emotionally? What parts of 2010 brought you to these points? Do you want to bring these aspects into 2011 or to leave them in 2010?
2010 for me was a transition within itself. Some aspects I intend to keep and develop further, other aspects I intend to keep the lessons but not the events. Let’s go through the questions.
I start 2011 in silence (all forms of communication- body language and verbal) and 9hours of mediation over 10 days at the Vipassana Centre at Blackheath. {Can recommend it to everyone}
Physically prior to this inner journey, I had been suffering from quite severe abdominal pain for approximately 3months before the course was to start. Knowing my tendency to hold unease, stress, worry in my tummy, I had put the pain down to these things. Even so, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything sinister as I didn’t want to deal with the pain while sitting through hours of meditation. I knew the course would be hard enough. After numerous doctor visits and doctors sending me for x-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests and CT-scans before the course, nothing concrete for a results. Overall physically 2010 was left in random and uncertain pain with no known reason…would my 2011 be random, filled with uncertainty and the journey continuing to unfold in an unknown form…let us wait to see (or experience:). I’m strongly senses I will be practicing the Buddhist notion of being still and the right action appearing without effort, stress, worry or being busy in the wrong way. Just like in yoga, when we exert ‘least effort’ to achieve our ideal asana.
Emotionally, I was stressed and uncertain (exciting and nervous) of what 2011 would mean in my life. 2010 as mentioned was a time of transition, chapters of my life, which I had been writing for many many years, were being closed and the final sentences written (well that is what I thought:-). The main life changer was moving from a university student to adult in real world;) Would I find the job I was hoping for and had been working towards for 7years? Would this job allow me to continue to build my business the way I dream? Not wanting to disappoint anybody I cared for (self and others), I don’t know the answers or how to go about finding the answers. Time is what I think would be the answer. Overall emotionally 2010 was left with excited and unease of the unknown and a search for direction and a sense of my new self.
What brought me to these points; finishing uni (continuing saga!!!), having big dreams for Yoga Wise, questioning career opportunities, redefining numerous relationships, vocalising these changes and finding myself single.
What I am bring into 2011 is the lessons learnt and a willingness to continuing questioning where I am, where do I want to be, am I on the right path and am I going about it in the right way.
The word I have given to 2011 for me is strength. What would be your word?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Dreams and Aspirations
We would love to hear from you with your dreams and aspirations.
Please post of our Blog to share, be supported, be encouraged and to encourage others to dream and aspire as well.
Please post of our Blog to share, be supported, be encouraged and to encourage others to dream and aspire as well.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
How we define ourselves to ourselves and others?
There are times when we reflect on our understanding of 'me/I' either by choice, or a curve ball from life or a comment from a friend... There are many reasons to begin this endeavor of growth.
What would be the result of hearing you are/where a no-one, you where nothing? Or if you thought this about yourself without outside influence.
I have no doubt it would be unsettling to say the least. I would hope that the unsettling feelings did not stay for long, while insight and self awareness began to shine through. As Buddhist psychology suggests (in contrast mostly to western philosophy) when interpreting emotions a simply- positive, neutral or negative label or recognition or acknowledgment needs to happen for growth. Feel it, understand it in terms of positive, neutral or negative and move forward with the lesson and knew found knowledge.
The unsettling we can say, would be negative, only to be turned into a positive.
"What is needed as a starting point is a sense, no matter how tentative, that your own life is worth some attention, and that your own self is worth discovering."(Dowrick, 1991)
My understanding, as I stand in my shoes and my life experiences, one way to become a 'no-one' or lost is through losing yourself in another. The no-oneness is really a misplacement of identity or adapting an identity. While living in this adapted self, a person listens to the messages from their surroundings/the outside world, rather than trusting in, or seeing the worth of, or having even a sense of their own inner messages/desires/needs/wants.
From the outside one may look self-less as opposed to selfish. Poignantly, they may become self less while being self-less in actions and intentions. There is nothing wrong with being self-less in actions and intentions, I believe it is something we should aim to do more and be more.
Stephanie Dowrick (1991) transcribes a conversation and enlightening occasion for one of her 'teachers' with powerful ending; 'Love thyself, and then you can love thy neighbour'.
A similar link can be seen; only through knowing oneself can we know another.
Another avenue is misplacing feelings in relationships. The feelings being spoken of here are - two individuals become one identity. Two individuals when in a committed relationship need to be one functioning unit- not, one identity, as then the unit will fall down. We can infer it comes back to, know and love thyself, then, know and love thy neighbour. Respect, value and love---self and other, as separate individuals, regardless of how much the two have in common. This will promote intimacy within closeness and independence.
We also need to acknowledge we are in control of how we think, feel and understand ourselves. We need to be aware of who is doing the thinking, feeling and understanding of 'self'. We influence and are influence by people around us. Becoming aware of how much power and control we give to these outside influences is important. If there is not a balance, a loss of self will undoubtedly ensue.
The analogy of a tree is applicable here- trees are grounded in where they stand; they stand tall, proud and strong while swaying and being flexible in the wind; they move with ease and grace. We need to stand tall, proud and strong in who we are, what we believe and how we influence others (positively we would hope for :-). We need to be flexible and move with ease and grace as changes and outside influences impact upon who we are and what we believe.
We are always SOME ONE and are always SOME THING in this world.
If you ever doubt this, please know there is someone who believes in you- ME.
Whether we have met or not, I believe in who you are and what you have to offer this world, the people around you and most importantly what you have to offer yourself. See the beauty and worth in yourself and achieve your greatness.
If you shine, you give permission to those around you to shine also.
What would be the result of hearing you are/where a no-one, you where nothing? Or if you thought this about yourself without outside influence.
I have no doubt it would be unsettling to say the least. I would hope that the unsettling feelings did not stay for long, while insight and self awareness began to shine through. As Buddhist psychology suggests (in contrast mostly to western philosophy) when interpreting emotions a simply- positive, neutral or negative label or recognition or acknowledgment needs to happen for growth. Feel it, understand it in terms of positive, neutral or negative and move forward with the lesson and knew found knowledge.
The unsettling we can say, would be negative, only to be turned into a positive.
"What is needed as a starting point is a sense, no matter how tentative, that your own life is worth some attention, and that your own self is worth discovering."(Dowrick, 1991)
My understanding, as I stand in my shoes and my life experiences, one way to become a 'no-one' or lost is through losing yourself in another. The no-oneness is really a misplacement of identity or adapting an identity. While living in this adapted self, a person listens to the messages from their surroundings/the outside world, rather than trusting in, or seeing the worth of, or having even a sense of their own inner messages/desires/needs/wants.
From the outside one may look self-less as opposed to selfish. Poignantly, they may become self less while being self-less in actions and intentions. There is nothing wrong with being self-less in actions and intentions, I believe it is something we should aim to do more and be more.
Stephanie Dowrick (1991) transcribes a conversation and enlightening occasion for one of her 'teachers' with powerful ending; 'Love thyself, and then you can love thy neighbour'.
A similar link can be seen; only through knowing oneself can we know another.
Another avenue is misplacing feelings in relationships. The feelings being spoken of here are - two individuals become one identity. Two individuals when in a committed relationship need to be one functioning unit- not, one identity, as then the unit will fall down. We can infer it comes back to, know and love thyself, then, know and love thy neighbour. Respect, value and love---self and other, as separate individuals, regardless of how much the two have in common. This will promote intimacy within closeness and independence.
We also need to acknowledge we are in control of how we think, feel and understand ourselves. We need to be aware of who is doing the thinking, feeling and understanding of 'self'. We influence and are influence by people around us. Becoming aware of how much power and control we give to these outside influences is important. If there is not a balance, a loss of self will undoubtedly ensue.
The analogy of a tree is applicable here- trees are grounded in where they stand; they stand tall, proud and strong while swaying and being flexible in the wind; they move with ease and grace. We need to stand tall, proud and strong in who we are, what we believe and how we influence others (positively we would hope for :-). We need to be flexible and move with ease and grace as changes and outside influences impact upon who we are and what we believe.
We are always SOME ONE and are always SOME THING in this world.
If you ever doubt this, please know there is someone who believes in you- ME.
Whether we have met or not, I believe in who you are and what you have to offer this world, the people around you and most importantly what you have to offer yourself. See the beauty and worth in yourself and achieve your greatness.
If you shine, you give permission to those around you to shine also.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)