According to psychologist Carl Jung, through self-reflection we’re faced with our “shadow”—aspects your psyche that you prefer not to look at and keep them hidden in the darkness. However, if you do some “shadow work” you shine a light on the dark side of yourself to face your negative tendencies or #samskaras
Working through your samskaras (those consistent negative behaviors/patterns) via deep inquiry can transform your relationship with yourself and others. Learn to redirect your shadow self through a consistent #yoga practice and #meditation.
Even try using mantras in your meditation, like “Sa Ta Na Ma”, the mantra for #change and to break addictions or habits.
Sa – Infinity
Ta – Life
Na – Death
Ma – Rebirth
Sit in an upright position. Close your eyes and focus on your third eye center, which stimulates the pineal-pituitary centers in the brain.
On “Sa” touch your index finger with the thumb with gentle pressure, Jnana Mudra (knowledge, release from limitations)
On “Ta” touch your middle finger with the thumb with gentle pressure, Shuni Mudra (patience, wisdom)
On “Na” touch your ring finger with the thumb with gentle pressure, Surya Mudra (vitality)
On “Ma” touch your pinky finger with the thumb with gentle pressure, Buddhi Mudra (aids clear communication)
Try this for 5-minutes before you settle into deeper meditation.
Visit “JennyGB Yoga” on YouTube for some guided meditations.
Uncertainty is difficult to cope with at the best of time. This year has brought us #uncertainty on a scale that many of us haven’t experienced before. From wondering what our jobs will look like in a month—if we’re lucky enough to still have one; to not knowing when we’ll be able to see, let alone hold, our family and friends again. It’s challenging to maintain a structured, future-orientated existence when the future feels like it’s changing under our very feet.
Throughout this year, plans ranging from family reunions, dinners and playdates, to holidays and birthdays, moving house and work trips have been put on hold indefinitely or cancelled. The world looks and feels very different from last year, but also from last month, and no one really knows what next month will look like, let alone next year. We’re not equipped to handle this level of uncertainty, and not knowing how long it’s going to last can make it difficult to maintain our #motivation and #optimism.
Some of us tentatively make plans, at least half-convinced that these plans will never see the light of day. To make plans in the current climate means to knowingly risk financial and emotional disappointment. Important life #decisions are put on hold because we have no idea what life will bring us next. We’re all walking on eggshells just trying our best to steer a steady course towards our goals.
What makes this all the more frustrating is that we lack absolutely any control over the circumstances.
From the global health situation to the political situation, all we can do is try to navigate these turbulent waters without compromising our sense of #Self, our grounding #values and our #well-being. Yes, this means adapting many things we used to take for granted, but the important thing is that we do #adapt! Finding ways to nurture our flexibility of #mind and #spirit, our #tolerance for #change, our ability to see blessings and lessons—this is the key to surviving AND thriving in a climate of total uncertainty.
This is life now: you get to LIVE it.
Make plans, make decisions, but don’t get attached to them; use new criteria and guidelines to make choices that are comfortable for you, but still make those choices. Don’t forget to LIVE.
To know clearly. To go through life with clarity and wisdom.
It’s something we all wish for, because when we can’t identify the truth of a situation, we often get hurt or disappointed.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras differentiate beautifully between these two states of being: right #knowledge is built on perceiving the truth of a situation (1.7), and false knowledge is created by our misperceptions (1.8). This false knowledge is what leads to pain and strife, conflict and misunderstanding, intolerance and hatred.
How can we achieve clarity? How can we find right knowledge? The #Sutras tell us that “the source of right knowledge is built on clear sense perception, logic and verbal communication.” These are not elements that always come naturally to us. Our #perceptions and logic are often clouded by past experiences, emotional reactions and expectations, while #authentic and #honest #communication can seem challenging and unpleasant.
Yet if we want to avoid the pitfalls of false knowledge, it’s vital that we find the ability to see each situation, person, or event as new. To examine it based solely on its own factors without interference from past #patterns and #expectations. When we can see it clearly for what it is, rather than what we assume or expect it to be, we can use logic to come closer to right knowledge. Precise communication then empowers us to ask for any clarification or information we might still need.
To perceive right knowledge, rather than our projection of the truth, we must, therefore, be willing to communicate bravely. We can do this by being honest and #authentic about our motivations and asking the questions that we need to ask in order to better understand a situation. In this way, #communication enables us to learn more about ourselves, the exact circumstances, and our interactions with the world around us.
It’s our best tool for finding the #truth.
Clear communication can help us see beyond the filter of misperception, steering us away from hurt and pain so that we can move forward in #positivity and #confidence.
BALANCING OUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
It can sometimes seem like the #balance of our emotional #well-being hangs on a knife’s-edge, and all it takes is a nudge to make us feel like we need to start over. We’re scared of stumbling back into negative thought #patterns and feeling spirals, so it’s tempting to protect ourselves from these ‘nudges’ by limiting our exposure to stressors.
In times of crisis and social upheaval, though, these ‘nudges’ often come in the form of news, awareness and educating oneself about what’s going on around us. So where is that fine line? The balance between ‘the news just depresses me’ and ‘it’s important to stay aware and educated so we can address the issues of our time’?
That fine line starts with our own definition of ‘balance.’ Often we mistake ‘balance’ for ‘feeling full of love and gratitude all the time.’ But one of the most transcendental aspects of the human experience is those emotions that signal to us that something isn’t right: sadness, anger, fear.
Without these powerful emotions, inner work and #self-improvement would be impossible—they’re the catalysts that wake us up and inspire #change.
‘Balance’ is being in the flow of emotions, experiencing them fully and letting them go. It’s being able to return to love and #gratitude after experiencing anger or sadness. Most importantly, it’s trusting your ability to do so. Only when you have #faith in impermanence and your ability to re-center yourself will you be empowered to feel all of your transient human emotions fully and freely.
So educate yourself and read the news, but don’t flood yourself with stressful stimuli. Feel the anger, fear and hurt fully—they’re justified—but don’t wallow in them. Be #compassionate with yourself when you’re feeling low, and love yourself back to the #Light. Anger may inspire #change, but #Love will cement it.