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Last week I emailed about the clarity and contentment that result from reflective study of one’s Self (Svadyaya), which is rooted in higher consciousness and virtue, versus the self that’s guided by ego. But I failed to mention something really important that I still have to remind myself of regularly!!!
When delving into practices like mindfulness, Ayurveda, and Yoga that help you to re-align with your authentic Self . . .
– it’s a process, that takes time
– it can stir up uncomfortable emotions
– it can seem like everything around you is wrong, for a time
– you might feel like you want to quit
– you might try to sweep the debris you discover back under the rug
– you’ll begin to adapt your behaviors and thoughts
– you’ll notice new spaces where opportunities live
– you won’t give up because you’ll be hooked on the sweetness of positive potential
– it will hit you one day, that although some moments thoroughly sucked, the discomfort was worth what you’ve gained in the process!
Some of you may be thinking, “I really don’t get it. Why would I embark on such a grueling journey?!”
The answer is simple: it must be worth it!
Regardless of what comes up through any process of introspection and reframing, you will persevere when you feel (not think, logic, or rationalize) that the rewards far outweigh the discomfort.
But I can understand any doubt or aversion to this viewpoint. Don’t get me wrong. I have tried to avoid reaching my truest potential.
I took the “medicine” that numbed my nervous system. I silenced my voice for portions of a bureaucratic career. I changed my behaviors because I was labeled sensitive. I burnt a hole in my gut, and then my spirit, when repeatedly told I was not enough, and I needed to try harder.
I purged, hid, and contorted a lot of my-Self because our society had convinced me of a different worthiness. The rub was, the more I tried to conform, the greater dis-ease I experienced and the less worthwhile any of it felt.
Dis-ease and desperation drove me back to my-Self. Or was it my natural baseline of benevolence, a.k.a. Sattva, that always endured? Either way, after years of bowing to individualism, authority, and polarization, it was time to nurture my roots, tend to my heart, and re-center the core of my being.
Boom! Done! Right?
No. Remember, it’s a process. Wah Wah.
So why do I embark on this journey?
It’s been incredibly, unexpectedly, and irreversibly worth it! And here’s why.
Ayurvedic health strategies, like seasonal food routines and herbal medicine, have helped me reclaim my body from burn-out (literally, from the inside out).
Subtle Yoga practices, like alternate nostril breathing and Yoga Nidra meditation, have helped me soothe my nervous system from chronic anxiety.
Child and family healing approaches, like secure attachment and inner-child work, have helped me soften my heart from judgement.
Buddhist philosophies, like interdependence and compassion, have helped me rewire my mind from delusion (i.e., grasping, hatred, and bias).
I may not be 100% well all the time–I’m still human after all–but the prevailing hope and healing from these practices has been worth the effort.
When we look closely, we might see this process and inquiry mirrored in nature, especially in the northern hemisphere as the Spring Equinox arrives.
Did slowing down to nourish and hibernate this winter have benefit? Will the excess of water in boot-sucking mud still lead to cleansing and rejuvenation? Is patient waiting for right circumstances worth the blossoming that will come?
I think nature and I would agree here. As the sun shines stronger, the earth thaws, waterways fill, and foliage unfurls, I’m reminded of hope again. My joints and muscles are thawing from stiffness and I can move into Yoga poses that felt difficult a month ago. Bodily fluids are circulating and clearing with greater vigor and my excessive thirst is subsiding.
For some of us, me included, this could get uncomfortable too. Fortunately, Ayurveda teaches that Spring is a unique time for clearing undigested matter (Aama) that sat stagnant inside the body through winter. As these toxins begin to circulate, aggravating skin, muscles, respiration, or digestion, we can rely on natural health practices rooted in thousands of years of experiential evidence.
Given the opportunity to recalibrate one’s health this season, I’m inspired! I hope you’ll enjoy the newly minted Spring Ayurvedic Wellness Tips below and the numerous spring-themed workshops to support your re-alignment in Self. Check them out online or in-person. And stay tuned for more details on similar offerings in April.
If instead you’re seeking a more personalized plan of action, book a private Holistic Health Counseling session today, offered online or in-person for individuals and families. We can hone in on food, herbs, daily routine, or meditation strategies that could bring your unique Self into a state of greater harmony.
I’m here to serve. Please reach out with feedback or requests.
In love,
Sarah