5 THINGS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT OUR MIND
The roots of Yoga, Ayurveda and Tantra come from the quest for our true selves. Ultimately, this all boils down to one thing LOVE. It is a quest for understanding how to LIVE AND HOW TO LOVE.
These are some brutal truths that we need to understand in order to free us from being a slave to our minds.
AVOIDANCE comes in many forms. We are masters at playing this game. Avoidance feels good in the moment, because we dodged a bullet. We got out of answering a question or facing a conflict. EVERY time we avoid discomfort, we strengthen our fear, shame, procrastination or resentment. WHAT YOU AVOID COMPLETELY CONTROLS YOU.
HEALING AND GROWTH require us to stand up to avoidance and discomfort.
IDENTITY isn't set in stone. It is created from our habits, beliefs and stories that we play on repeat. We mold our identity by what we do over and over and over and over. We don't mold identity by wishing for a new one. Change starts with repetition. If we start to put things into practice, we create new patterns. You are NOT who you think you are. You are who you practice being!
Your mind is constantly registering itself based on your surroundings. What we "TAKE IN" programs our brain. The people we talk to, the things we listen to all make a huge impact on our minds. Who we surround ourselves with, reprogram us. It takes courage to weed out what isn't supporting our growth.
EMOTIONAL REGULATION IS KEY! Feeling our emotions is not enough. A healthy mind comes from being able to identify where your feelings and thoughts came from. This will stop you from being hijacked by your emotions. The unregulated feel stuck and paralyzed. The regulated are able to move forward.
SUFFERING IS UNAVOIDABLE. This is written in the Yoga Sutras. In fact, this has been written about over and over. No one escapes some form of pain. Pain is our biggest teacher! There is a difference between meaningless pain and meaningful pain. Purpose doesn't remove suffering, but it gives us the stamina to move forward. When we accept pain as a tool to help us grow, it doesn't make it easier, but it gives us the courage to move through it.
We must remember, OUR BRAINS LIE TO US CONSTANTLY! Our brains invent stories that feel true. These stories are often build on past wounds, and emotional residue. Understanding this, empowers us to question our reactions instead of obeying them. Obeying the lies that come from the brain is just another form of slavery.
We can overcome all of these!
Confront your avoidance.
Practice being who you are
Be extremely selective with what you TAKE IN.
Ask yourself why do I feel the way I do.
Ask yourself why do I think the way I think.
Ask yourself why do I act the way I act.
