Be strong then, and enter into your own body;
there you have a solid place for your feet.
Think about it carefully!
Don’t go off somewhere else!just throw away all thoughts of
imaginary things,
and stand firm in that which you are. -Kabir
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is stand firm. This has been a challenge for me recently. I have been learning how to listen to my heart instead of simply my head, learning how to accept and honor my own needs without feeling obligated to explain or justify them to anyone else, learning to say “no” to stepping off center because of “shoulds” or guilt, and to stand firm in my own sense of integrity.
I had a real physical sense of how this feels in a yoga class the other day. We were doing chair pose which involves bending your knees with your weight on your heels and sitting back as if in a chair, with your thighs as parallel to the floor as possible and your arms stretched out. The only way to maintain balance in that pose is to keep your weight centered and to stand firm even though you are sitting. I used to hate that pose but as I came to understand it as a practice for standing firm and being grounded in my own sense of self, I have come to love it.
Are you standing firm in your own integrity or are you allowing yourself to step off center?
Thanks for the inspiration. Guilt, most often, is usually what takes me offtrack. This is what we spoke about and I am glad to see that it is something that often needs to be reinforced in your mind.
Kevin
I try to find a place of balance by walking on the beach. The cellphone is in the car and my mind is on the ocean, waves, seagulls, sunset, and breeze.
The ocean represents something much greater than me and I seek oneness with the water and sand. Within a two mile walk my issues take on a new perspective. The importance that I give them seem to deminish. I walk away with a new point of view and courage/energy/purpose to address my concerns.
Kevin,
What a delight to hear from you.
I try to let guilt be my warning signal that I am about to step off center instead of my motivation to do so. :)
All the best,
Deb
Bob,
I envy your proximity to the beach. :)
I find the ocean such a healing and centering place. It certainly helps me rise above the moment and see a bigger picture.
Thanks for reminding me that I need to find a way to get to the ocean soon.
Big hug,
Deb
Another soulful meditation on this strange, challenging, and wonderful process called life.
Fascinating how your conception of the ansana shifted to reveal its power and relevance to your life (and my life, too). Thank you, Deb, for being open to receiving deep wisdom despite discomfort.
I need to try that asana. ‘Nuff said.
Hey Toni,
Yes, give it a try and let me know what happens. :)
Deb