Allowing for the Process of Acceptance
14 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Consciousness, India 2010, Sattva Yoga, Yoga Classes Jupiter, Yoga Juno Beach, Yoga Meditation, Yoga Palm Beach Gardens, Yoga Philosophies, Yoga Tequesta
The journey of self discovery is a challenging road filled with highs and lows and some eyebrow raising unknowns. We seldom need help with the highs, or even the unknowns, but the lows, well, that can be a problem. We can be crusing along feeling pretty good about our progress, rolling around in the comfort of syncronicity, then without warning, a shift occurs, and we find ourselves sidelined, distressed. We know we can’t make sense of it, yet we try, creating more confusion. The questions of how did this happen, how did I get here, nag at our reason, begging to be answered, but the only answer that really works, or even fits, is pure acceptance of what is.
Swiftly finding our way to acceptance is personal and may not be as swift as we would like. It is useless to try to rationalize our way there because the rational mind has left the building, and we find ourselves keeping company with negative, irrational thoughts that move us in a downward spiral much farther away from acceptance than we ever want to go. So we try to stay in upward spiral. Some may run it out in the park, or work it out in the gym. Others immerse themselves in hobbies, or seek counceling. Meditation and journaling have been helpful for many. How about a good ‘ol cry, or a full on pity party? That works too. Whatever the vehicle, the PROCESS of arriving at acceptance is vital to getting back on track and needs to be respected as a sacred time of transformation and compassion for the self, no matter how undignified you may feel about it, no matter how long it takes.
Acceptance and transformation walk hand in hand and allow us to re-commit to the journey, the highest road within us. Questioning doesn’t work. Seeking wastes energy. Negativity creates a breading ground for fear. As my teacher Anand Mehrotra says “Have more love in your heart than fear. It is too much to ask to not be afraid. Our love can trump the fear.”
