“The wound is where the light enters” Rumi

 

“A crisis is a terrible thing to waste” Stanford economist Paul Romer

 

Tapas can take us to the place where all of our resources are used up, where there is nothing left but weakness, where all our so called “props” have been taken away.  It is in this barren place, where we have exhausted all that we have and all that we are, that new strength is shaped and character is born if we choose to fearlessly open ourselves to the experience, it is perhaps the greatest gift life could offer us.

We have 2 choices in these difficult times - to break down or to break open.  We can’t prevent these times of catharsis in our lives or know their shape or outcome, but we can prepare ourselves for them through our daily practice, through building our ability to stay in unpleasantness, and through the small, daily choices we make.

In yoga having a daily disciplined practice is referred to as Sadhana and is is like doing a small controlled burn on ourselves. It is the discipline of putting ourselves in places where the old debris that has collected in us can be removed.  We engage in this process when we pay attention to the amount and kind of food we put in our body, when we move and exercise our bodies through walks, yoga and other activities, when we expand our mental ability or study scripture with like minded people.  This process begins to remove unwanted pounds, lazy habits, and unexercised heart and mind, and an unheard spirit.  Practice and all is coming!!!  From Rolf gates

 

In those times when we don’t know how to get through the next minute of what seems unknown and overwhelming to us can we hold on until we are somehow blessed by our struggle?

 

Tapas is growing our ability to stay in the unknown and the unpleasantness, rather than run in fear.  It is the willingness to be both burned and blessed.

 

Is there a situation in your life right now that is uncomfortable in some way? A person? Relationship? Your work environment? A health crisis? Your living environment? If you put it in the context of “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste”, can you take a few minutes to write out what the “crisis” is, what your part in it is and what you can learn from it?  This is powerful work and next week in the cleanse we will dive deeper into our exercise of self study! 

Can you write out a couple of practices you can commit to daily (your personal Sadhana) to bring you to and through the holidays?  

For example:

When your eyes open in the morning, you will say guide me.

When you close your eyes at night, you will say thank you.

Can you take 2 minutes in quiet meditation

Can you write for a minute?

Can you get outside early in the morning?

Create your own self care habits to nurture your physical, mental and spiritual self no matter what life is presenting you right now.  I promise, its worth the effort and will help you to develop the awareness of your own uniqueness right now!