This time of year for me always signifies the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Just like the trees prepare to let go of their old leaves, sometimes we too must learn how to let go so we can make room for what's next.
I taught my last Pangu yoga class in Raleigh and moved out of my acupuncture office last week, and it couldn't have happened at a more perfect time of year. I love what I've done in this city, and its hard to let go, but sometimes we have to walk away so that we can create something new. I told my students in class "I don't think of this as the end of something, but rather the expansion of something else."
Sometimes we walk away with the intention never to return again, and sometimes we walk away so we can regroup and come back to our goal or ambition with fresh perspective, creativity and inspiration.
I love my work. It's one of my passions and I don't ever want that to change. Though it's hard to deal with instability and unknowns, I also believe that a break every now and then is a VERY GOOD THING. Our obligations and commitments can threaten to turn into things we disdain. I once heard someone say "Everything you are carrying, you picked up." Sometimes we have to make room in our lives, for less. Yes, its a paradox. However, being untethered allows us freedom, spontaneity and room for inspiration. When I let go of expectation and let go of others' expectations to shape or frame what I'm trying to create then I don't have to commit to fulfilling those expectations. These are expectations I have created myself or people have manufactured [for me] on their own.
Do you have an obligation that you disdain? Ask yourself, why do I feel obligated to do this? Is there another opportunity to explore so I don't have to keep living up to someone else's expectation? How can I free up some of this time and reclaim my life?
For instance, maybe it's a job and you are obligated to your boss, and you feel there is really no other way. In that type of situation, the question is perhaps, "how much are you willing to let go in order to have what you want in other areas of your life"? Maybe you start looking for a lower paying job but you end up having more time for your relationships, creativity, health and contribution. Sometimes we have to give up one resource for another in order to live a life that's meaningful. And it’s not always safe, secure or comfortable. Sometimes it takes a unique idea, sometimes it takes bravery, and sometimes it just takes time.
What if you tried NOT to put a time limit on it? There is no guarantee when things will change or when you'll be ready to do something, or the timing will be right. The world is not a stable place, as much as we want it to be, so we can't always make decisions on a time table that we've manufactured. That alone takes so much pressure off, making room for enjoyment, unexpected opportunities, unforeseen chances to do something we love, or meeting someone who might change the trajectory of our whole lives.
We cannot deny the unpredictability of life. When we hold on too tightly to a plan we risk missing out on other things. Sometimes the best way is to let go of the idea that life has clear guidelines. As the leaves drift effortlessly to the earth, the promise of Spring is there, but we never know exactly when that will be. Instead, what if we choose to see the world as a place of infinite possibilities, being ever responsive to new circumstances and resolve to being the best human being we can be?
My sister sent me a quote recently and I loved it.
It may be that
When we no longer
Know what to do
We have come to our real work.
And when we no
Longer know
Which way to go
We have begun our real journey.
With Peace,
Anisha
August 2016 | What Adds Value To Your Life?
I’ve been off social media for almost two months now.
I came to a realization early this summer. My energy was going to things that weren’t really important: people I hardly knew, stories and dramas, and it was taking energy away from the relationships and goals I deeply care about. With all our upcoming transitions, including the move, I felt pulled in so many directions, spinning many different plates and something had to change. Facebook was a beginning. A friend then (synchronistically) loaned me a book discussing minimalism.
It helped immensely.
I now own about 1/3 of the material possessions I had in June. This path has gradually helped me eliminate other distractions from my life as well. When I took a step back to reevaluate my priorities, certain things just didn’t matter as much as I thought they did - like relationships I was clinging to, silly activities that took my energy and time, and bad habits. As I have begun to identify and remove these things from my life, I have more space to focus on things I truly feel passionate about. The things we often desperately hold on to in search of security often drain the satisfaction from our lives, leaving us overwhelmed and discontent.
I have to say, I feel more content, fuller and richer, not with possessions but with experiences, and that feeling isn't going anywhere because it isn't dependent on the external world or anyone else's life; it depends on me, the choices I make. I'm finding my way back to a simpler life while still remaining engaged with the world. I'm both rediscovering and newly discovering what I'm enthusiastic and energized about, what deserves my attention, so that I can live a life that is deeply meaningful. I want to show up everyday and demonstrate my love and passion through actions and interactions.
So I continue to ask myself, and now I ask you: have you ever asked yourself WHY you do what you do?
For instance, why do you earn money? Is it so you can earn MORE money? Does it always make sense to work a soul crushing job for most of your life, never take vacations, so you can retire for a few years? Why do you get on social media? To broadcast or get validation? Is it boredom? Is it a need for connection; if it is, is it really happening? Do these choices add VALUE to your life? Or do they make you feel discontented?
I’m not saying social media doesn't add value or that I won’t ever use it again. But WHY we do anything matters and gives that action substance, or not. I started to wonder if my choices were fueling inspiration and connection or dissatisfaction and misery. I needed to quit certain habits entirely for a while. With more space apart from my habitual behavior, I now feel I can be more deliberate about how I spend time and make different choices. I want to spend my time LIVING, experiencing the world, and genuinely engaging and connecting with the people I love. Nothing new or truly innovative has ever come from maintaining the status quo.
So I say this to you as much as I say it to myself: don’t be afraid to buck convention, become unfettered from the unnecessary and be a crusader for what is truly a rich life. In the wake of what are often difficult but rewarding choices, you can set yourself free.
(For more information about Minimalism, check out www.theminimalists.com)
With Peace,
Anisha
June 2016 | When Everything Seems To Be Going Wrong
All I have to do is read the news each day to remind myself that there is always, always something to be thankful for. No matter how good or bad things seem in my life, someone, somewhere in the world is desperately fighting for theirs. I often think that happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. I often imagine all the wondrous things I could embrace if I wasn't so tightly wrapped around my struggles. Each day I want to choose to look at what I have rather than what I have lost. I can be a victim to the world and its people and say, "Look at what the world or that person has taken away from me." Or I can decide what to do with what I have left.
When times are tough, remember that no pain comes without a purpose. As I say this to you I'm truly saying it to myself. Every wound teaches us something. Every successful endeavor requires some type of worthy effort, and sometimes, struggle, to get there. Struggle doesn't mean failure. Things come together, not always immediately, but eventually. If you believe in something, keep trying. Try not to let the past darken the future. Patience and optimism are key. Complaining really doesn't ever get me anywhere and won't make my tomorrow any brighter. As long as I think that the cause of my problem is “out there” --somewhere else – as long as I think that someone or something else is responsible for my aches and pains, my situation is hopeless. What if I took action instead? What if I used what I learned to improve my life? What if I could make a change and not look back? I can't be perfect, but I can keep trying. I can try my best to introduce these ideas into my life more often. How about you? Through this process, we can keep our life force strong, vibrant and healthy, avoiding a further depletion and decline of health. Remember that energy follows attention.
Optimism (and less complaining) = Healthy Qi (Life Force).
For me, I know that true happiness arrives at my doorstep when I stop complaining about my problems and I start being grateful for the problems I don't have.
With Peace,
Anisha