Finding YOURSELF!

In these tough times how do we find our true self? Have we already found it?

Over the past few months, I'm sure we've all caught ourselves saying, "this is crazy!" Our minds are filled with numerous questions, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed. It feels like there's no reliable source we can turn to. That's where I come in! THIS IS HAPPENING, but instead of letting our minds create scenarios that might not even exist, let's use this time to discover ourselves! Let's take this opportunity to slow down a little. Often, we don't recognize what's happening in life because we're too preoccupied or stressed about other things. Most of us are extroverts, and now is the time to embrace being an introvert.

Yes, we're all experiencing cabin fever, and I completely get it—I am too. I'm very social and enjoy being around people, so this is challenging for me. However, a couple of weeks in, I noticed I became more creative. I started making videos on IG, began this blog, and pursued teacher training. These were things I always wanted to do but never did because I was so focused on work and other aspects of my life. I used to feel a bit envious of my friends who were so creative, thinking I had so many ideas but couldn't put pen to paper. I returned to my planner, which is designed for my mindset (creative but unsure how to make it happen), and spent a lot of time reflecting. One morning, I opened my planner and saw the quote, “Use your alone time wisely. Ask yourself what you really need when you get space, and make it count.” That resonated with me, and knowing Yoga was my passion, I picked up my iPhone and made my first video. I've always been the kind of person who would give you the shirt off my back. I always wanted to help others, and now was my opportunity. This is my chance to look deep within and use all those things for the greater good. Discovering who you are can be easy for some, but it's very hard for most of us. We're consumed by things like, do I like my job? Can I pay rent? When will I get a promotion? Why am I fighting with my friend? This, my friends, is your EGO taking you hostage! It overwhelms your mind, and when you stress about these things, you're feeding your EGO, making it a recurring issue! So this is me telling you to tell your EGO next time to go F*&ck Off! :)

I am currently studying for my yoga certification and have been studying the philosophy of yoga and came across two terms that I want to share with you all.

1. Santosha (one of the 5 Niyamas) is the practice of contentment. It involves not coveting or desiring others' possessions and accepting your current state. Practicing santosha means embracing what you already have, appreciating it, and progressing from there. The Bhagavad Gita advises us not to seek happiness outside ourselves. Many pursuits in life lead us to look externally for joy (e.g., finding a partner, falling in love, having children, buying a home, purchasing a car, securing a new job, completing a degree, getting a promotion). As we move from one goal to the next, achieving each for a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and "happiness," we find ourselves managing happiness, sadness, fear, love, and loss. In the West, we often celebrate major milestones. We celebrate "the destination," like high school or college graduations, with ceremonies, gifts, and parties. We overlook the small steps along the way, such as improving a grade or passing a tough class. Securing a good job or a promotion is celebrated, but the people you meet and the lessons you learn during the journey are undervalued. Everything we need is within us. We require nothing external to be happy. Santosha is about acceptance and contentment. If you are searching for happiness, you need not look further because it is already within you.

2. Svadhyaya (one of the 5 Niyamas) involves the practice of self-study. This entails delving deeply into oneself to understand your strengths, weaknesses, external desires, and innermost aspirations. It is about discerning which desires should be quieted and identifying what hinders your contentment. By learning about yourself, you can connect to something greater. The more you understand who you are not, the clearer your sense of self becomes. The ego can mislead you, prompting actions and words that don't truly represent you. There is a part of the self primarily focused on survival, pursuing desires relentlessly. Another aspect of the self engages in judgments and criticisms, causing us to doubt ourselves and question our truths. Through self-study, we discover what we individually need to draw closer to unity with the universe.

I truly believe that by practicing even one of these Niyamas, you will begin to identify your desires and necessities in life. Your worries and stress will gradually diminish. This isn't to say we shouldn't remain AWARE of the current COVID-19 situation. It's crucial to stay informed and safe, but I suggest using this downtime to recharge and discover our needs, as this is the first step toward creating a better world and achieving a positive outcome from the current events. By working together, we can achieve a great deal!

Hope everyone is safe!

MUCH LOVE

XOXO

P.S. The Niyama information is from my online yoga school.